Our approach to
Cost Transparency
You can rely on us to take charge, guide you through the legal process and keep you up to date. You can also rely on us to charge you fairly and at an openly-published rate.
Our fees
Wills
Type of work
Fee
VAT
Outlay
Total
Will
1 Standard Will from
£350
£70
£420
2 Standard Wills from
£500
£100
£600
1 Complex Will from
£700
£140
£840
2 Complex Wills from
£1,100
£220
£1,320
1 Codicil from
£150
£30
£180
2 Codicils from
£250
£50
£300
Powers of Attorney
Type of work
Fee
VAT
Outlay
Total
Power of Attorney (POA)
1 POA from
£300
£60
£83
£443
2 POAs from
£500
£100
£166
£766
POA Revocation, when done with new POA from
£100
£20
£120
Home or Hospital Visit from
£150
£30
£180
Executries
Our Pricing for Administering an Executry Estate in Scotland*
Fees: When someone dies there is a need to wind up their affairs by collecting in their assets, settling any liabilities and then making over the remaining assets to whoever is entitled to them. This is referred to as “administering an estate” or “Confirmation” in Scotland.
In Scotland: The first step is to ascertain what assets an individual held as well as any debts and liabilities that they may have owed.
If necessary an application for Confirmation is then prepared. This will ultimately have to be submitted to the appropriate Sheriff Court.
A return to HMRC is prepared for inheritance tax purposes. The form of that return (as well as whether there is any tax to pay) will depend on the assets and liabilities of the deceased, whether they had made any gifts in lifetime and who their estate is to pass to. In the majority of cases, particularly (but not always) where Inheritance Tax is not payable the return is submitted to the Sheriff court along with the application for Confirmation.
In some circumstances the Inheritance Tax return has to be given to HMRC before the application for Confirmation is submitted to the court. After the relevant grant of Confirmation is received the executors can go about collecting in the estate and if necessary realising assets.
Where the individual left a Will we are obliged, under Law Society of Scotland rules, to intimate to the surviving wife/husband and to the children of the individual that, in place of their entitlement, if any, under the Will they can make a claim to legal rights in the individual’s estate which is a claim to a share of the net movable estate (all of the estate apart from houses and other land and buildings). If executors instruct us not to write to the husband/wife or children, we are obliged to cease acting in the administration of the estate at that time.
Following the estate being collected in the executors can settle any debts and liabilities that remain outstanding and then pay out entitlements due to beneficiaries. An executry account is then produced detailing the receipts and payments made during the estate administration.
Finally, any remaining balance is then paid out to the beneficiaries.
How do we Charge for the Administration of an Estate?
We charge on the basis of the time spent in dealing with the matter at a blended rate which takes account of the varying inputs of a partner, solicitor, paralegal and other fee earners. In most cases we will have the fee assessed by an independent party, either the Auditor of the Sheriff Court or Scottish Law Accountant based on our letter of engagement. “
By way of example, the following costs are indicative of the fees which will be charged.
Type of work
Cost estimate
'Straightforward' Estate
£2,500 to £6,000 (plus VAT)
'Medium' Estate
£5,000 to £20,000 (plus VAT)
'Complex' Estate
£20,000+ (plus VAT)
A ‘Straightforward’ Estate
This assumes that the following factors apply:
- There is a valid Will.
- There is no more than one property.
- There are no more than 4 bank or building society accounts.
- There are no other intangible assets (such as stocks and shares).
- The value of the estate does not exceed £200,000.
- There are between one and three beneficiaries.
- There are no disputes between beneficiaries (or executors) on division of assets (if disputes arise this is likely to lead to an increase in costs).
- There is no inheritance tax payable and the executors do not need to submit a full account to HMRC.
- There are no claims made against the estate.
- The executors provide clear and timely instructions.
- It is not necessary to submit an income tax return on behalf of the executors.
- Only a short form executry account is required.
A ‘Medium’ Estate
This assumes that the following factors apply:
- There is a valid Will. There is no more than one property.
- There are multiple bank or building society accounts but held at no more than four institutions.
- There are other intangible assets (such as stocks and shares) but held at no more than three institutions (and that there are no certificated or unlisted investments).
- There are both residuary beneficiaries as well as pecuniary and specific legatees.
- There are no disputes between beneficiaries (or executors) on division of assets (if disputes arise this is likely to lead to an increase in costs).
- The value of the estate is between £200,000 and £750,000.
- There may be a need to submit an inheritance tax return but there is no need to claim any relief or exemption (other than spouse or charity exemption).
- There are no claims made against the estate.
- The executors provide clear and timely instructions.
- An income tax return on behalf of the executors is required.
- A standard executry account is required.
A ‘Complex’ Estate
This assumes that the following factors apply:
- There is a valid Will. There is one or more properties.
- There are multiple bank or building society accounts.
- There are other intangible assets (such as stocks and shares) potentially including certificated or unlisted investments.
- There are both residuary beneficiaries as well as pecuniary and specific legatees.
- There are no disputes between beneficiaries (or executors) on division of assets (if disputes arise this is likely to lead to an increase in costs).
- The value of the estate exceeds £750,000.
- There may be a need to submit an inheritance tax return and claim reliefs and exemptions.
- There are no claims made against the estate.
- The executors provide clear and timely instructions.
- An income tax return on behalf of the executors is required.
- A fully detailed executry account is required.
Where the individual has not left a Will additional processes are required including a petition to the court to have one or more of the beneficiaries appointed as executor(s) and a Bond of Caution (an insurance policy covering any beneficiaries omitted from the distribution of the estate) and commonly the Insurers will require a family tree to be prepared or at least checked by a firm of genealogists prior to granting the Bond. The additional work involved in these processes will be charged for separately and there are dues payable to the Court for lodging the Petition which are currently £19 and the premium on the Bond of Caution which is normally based on the value of the estate and the number and relationship of the beneficiaries to the individual.
The above indicative fees do not include disbursements such as the Court dues payable to obtain Confirmation. These vary depending on the size of the estate involved but are currently no fee for an estate below £50,000, £266 for an estate below £250,000 and £532 for an estate over £250,000. Individual certificates, required for each asset, are available from the court at a cost of £8. Nor do the above fees include the cost of any formal conveyancing required in order to deal with the property – any such work shall be charged for separately. It should also be noted that the above fees are based on an assumed set of circumstances. In each case the exact cost will depend on the individual circumstances of the matter and large or complex estates will typically attract a higher fee.
Our initial meeting to provide advice and assistance to executors carries a fee of £275 (plus VAT at 20%) if we are not instructed in the administration of the estate.
If we are only instructed to obtain the Confirmation on behalf of the executors and not to deal with the administration of the estate the minimum fee for this work will be £2,000 (plus VAT at 20% and outlays) but the exact cost will depend upon the individual circumstances of the case, the work involved and the value and complexity of the estate.
Rates and costs are current but may be amended at any time. VAT (Value Added Tax) is currently 20%. Different prices apply for commercial property.
*We are a national law firm with offices in different locations. Prices for this service may vary, depending on staff, office and other variable costs beyond our control. The range of prices shown is intended however to be indicative both of minimum and maximum prices. Details will be clearly set out in your engagement letter and terms of business issued when we are instructed. 20 September 2022 version.
Family Law
Our Pricing for Family Law Advice*
Due to individual and differing circumstances in family law matters it is difficult to predict with certainty the total cost of our services. To better assess your circumstances, what steps require to be taken and what the likely costs are we would arrange an initial meeting/telephone consultation with you.
Initial meeting
The cost of an initial meeting with us varies depending on the team member with whom you meet. It ranges from £250 plus VAT to £325 plus VAT. An initial meeting usually lasts about an hour.
Thereafter, we charge on an hourly basis for our services in the family law team. Depending on the nature and complexity of the matter, the legal work undertaken by us may be completed one or several members of the team.
The number of hours spent on your case will be determined by the complexity of the case and your personal circumstances. At our initial meeting/consultation we will discuss the likely cost of your case with you. This will only be an indicative guide as it is impossible for us to predict with certainty at that early stage any unforeseen circumstances. If any additional costs arise we will discuss this with you at the earliest opportunity.
Our hourly rates do not include any outlays which may be required to be paid on your behalf. These vary depending on the nature of your case and we will discuss them with you at the initial meeting or at the earliest possible opportunity thereafter.
Agreements
There are some services where we can give you an indicative range of costs. These are for the preparation of agreements such as prenuptial agreements or cohabitation agreements.
Depending on the nature and complexity of the agreement, which we will discuss with you at the initial meeting, the likely costs of preparation will range from £800 to £1,500 plus VAT and outlay. As we charge on an hourly basis, it may be that the final cost for the agreement will be higher than this if there are complicating factors which we do not foresee at the initial meeting. These could include multiple amendments or more detailed negotiations with your spouse or partner which require us to spend more time on your matter. We will keep you up to date of any likely increases in cost as your transaction moves along.
There may also be outlays payable and our total cost does not include that. These are variable depending on the case and we will keep you advised as the transaction moves along if there are outlays that we don’t foresee at our initial meeting.
Fixed fees
We offer two services on a fixed fee basis. These are for a ‘Simplified Divorce’ and an ‘Undefended Divorce’.
Type of work
Cost estimate
A 'Simplified Divorce'
£400 plus VAT and court outlay
An 'Undefended Divorce'
£1,200 plus VAT and court outlays
What is a ‘Simplified Divorce’?
We offer this service for a fixed fee of £400 plus VAT and court outlay.
Our fixed fee includes meeting with you or having a telephone consultation and obtaining the relevant information to advise and assess if simplified divorce is appropriate. We would also discuss next steps with you if it is appropriate. Thereafter we would draft the form and arrange signature and also notarise the application. We would then submit the paperwork to the court for you.
The court outlay is £125 however this increases annually. There may be further outlays if service by Sheriff Officers is required on your spouse. Service is usually carried out by Recorded Delivery mail.
Our fixed fee service only covers the services mentioned above. If additional work is required we would have a further discussion with you about that to advise of any additional costs.
What is a ‘Undefended Divorce’?
We offer this service for £1,200 plus VAT and court outlays.
Our fixed fee for this includes meeting with you or having a telephone consultation. During that consultation we will obtain relevant information to advise and assess whether undefended divorce is appropriate. If it is appropriate we would thereafter discuss next steps. Our fixed fee thereafter includes drafting the relevant writ and inventory of productions and submitting to the court. It includes serving the papers on your spouse by Recorded Delivery mail. A further charge may be applicable if we require to serve the papers by Sheriff Officers. It also includes the preparation and notarisation of affidavits and thereafter submission of everything to the court with a Minute for Decree.
Court outlays include a Minute for Decree fee which is £70 and an Initial Writ fee which is £159. These fees increase annually. Again, if service by Sheriff Officers is required there is a further cost for this but we will advise you of that and the likely cost if that is required.
Our fixed fee service only covers the services mentioned above. If additional work is required we would have a further discussion with you about that to advise of any additional costs.
Rates and costs are current but may be amended at any time. VAT (Value Added Tax) is currently 20%. Different prices apply for commercial property.
*We are a national law firm with offices in different locations. Prices for this service may vary, depending on staff, office and other variable costs beyond our control. The range of prices shown is intended however to be indicative both of minimum and maximum prices. Details will be clearly set out in your engagement letter and terms of business issued when we are instructed. 1 January 2022 version.
Residential Property
Our Pricing for Purchasing a Residential Property*
Our fees vary according to the value of the property, type of property, whether the property is already land registered or about to be registered in the Land Register of Scotland for the first time, the area in which the property is situated, etc.
You should contact one of our solicitors for a specific and detailed estimate of the fees but as a guide our fees in relation to the purchase of residential property start at £1,100 minimum plus VAT. In addition to your fees for a purchase, you will also require to pay various outlays.
Outlays can include:
Type of work
Cost estimate
Registration fees for registering the title deed and Standard Security in the Land Register of Scotland – amount varies according to the value of your property
Example: the registration fee for a £250,000 house would be £530
Registration fee for Advance Notices in the Register of Scotland to warn the Keeper of the transaction
£20 per deed
-
Search fees when you are purchasing a new build property (as the builders do not normally provide the necessary searches)
£310
Rates and costs are current but may be amended at any time. VAT (Value Added Tax) is currently 20%. Different prices apply for commercial property.
Our Pricing for Selling a Residential Property (Legal Work)*
Our fee varies according to the type of property, whether the property is already land registered or about to be registered in the Land Register of Scotland for the first time, the area in which the property is situated, the value of the property, etc.
It is important to speak to one of the conveyancing solicitors in your area to get a detailed estimate but as a guide our fees for the legal work involved in the sale of a residential property start at £[935] minimum plus VAT. This does not include estate agency costs.
In addition to the fees, various outlays are payable.
These typically include:
Type of work
Cost estimate
Searches with Property Enquiry Reports, Coal Reports, Property and Personal Searches
Approx £175
Registers of Scotland fee to discharge any mortgage
£80 or £60 for digital discharge
Registers of Scotland Advance Notice fee
£20
Our pricing for Re-mortgage of Residential Property (Conveyancing)*
The fee for this type of transaction varies depending on whether or not the property is already land registered or about to be registered in the Land Register of Scotland for the first time, the value of the property and the extent of the title. Our starting fee for this work is £550 minimum plus VAT.
Various outlays will be payable in addition and these very much depend on what the specific lender requires.
As a guide, these outlays might include:
Type of work
Cost estimate
Registers of Scotland registration fee for the mortgage Discharge
£80 or £60 for digital discharge
Registers of Scotland registration fee for the new Standard Security
additional £80
Registers of Scotland Advance Notice for the new Security
£20
Search fees
approximately £175
If a full first registration in the Land Register of Scotland is necessary to facilitate the remortgage we can provide clients with a full estimate of both the fees and outlays once we have looked at the title. Additional costs for Plans Reports (£114) and/or copy deeds should be anticipated.
Rates and costs are current but may be amended at any time. VAT (Value Added Tax) is currently 20%. Different prices apply for commercial property.
Our pricing for Discharge of Security Work*
For a basic Discharge the fee is £325 plus VAT (it may be possible that there is a reduced fee for a digital Discharge) and the usual outlays would be £80 to register the Discharge in the Land Register or £60 for digital discharge. This is very much the basic cost for a simple case and extra work may be required in some situations. For example, if the property is not land registered then there may be further complications that require additional work to be carried out. This would be charged at an additional hourly rate of £275 maximum. We can advise clients on a case by case basis.
Rates and costs are current but may be amended at any time. VAT (Value Added Tax) is currently 20%. Different prices apply for commercial property.
*Blackadders LLP are a national law firm with offices in different locations. Prices for this service may vary, depending on staff, office and other variable costs beyond our control. The range of prices shown is intended however to be indicative both of minimum and maximum prices. The pricing shown for property sale and purchase is for urban properties with title already registered in the Land Register. Details will be clearly set out in your engagement letter and terms of business issued when we are instructed. Version 4, 1 January 2023.
Employment
Our pricing for Employment Law Advice*
If you are seeking advice in relation to employment law, an initial consultation would last between 45 and 60 minutes and our charge would be capped at £300 plus VAT for this service. However, before this consultation would take place we may have an initial telephone call without personalised advice being given predominantly to assess whether we can act for them.
After the initial consultation, our solicitor requires to determine whether the case is a simple case, moderately complex or highly complex case. There are prices for these tiers below. Importantly these costs work as an approximate guide. There are various complicating factors which may cost extra including but not limited to: resisting costs applications, including expert witnesses, the level of support required by the client etc. We will give you full pricing details tailored to your case when you instruct us.
Type of work
Cost estimate
A simple case (a hearing lasting for up to 2 days)
approximately £5,000 to £15,500 plus VAT
A medium complexity case (a hearing lasting between 3 and 5 days)
approximately £15,500 to £29,500 plus VAT
approximately £29,500 or more plus VAT
Rates and costs are current but may be amended at any time. VAT (Value Added Tax) is currently 20%.
*We are a national law firm with offices in different locations. Prices for this service may vary, depending on staff, office and other variable costs beyond our control. The range of prices shown is intended however to be indicative both of minimum and maximum prices. Details will be clearly set out in your engagement letter and terms of business issued when we are instructed. 1 January 2023 version.
How our fees are calculated
Level
Fee per hour
Partner
£325
Legal Director
£300
Associate
£280
Senior Solicitor
£260
Solicitor
£240
Paralegal Manager
£240
Paralegal
£195
Trainee
£165
Other work
All other private client work and advice, including tax and succession planning, Guardianship Applications, Creation and Administration of Trusts, Succession and Tax Planning are charged on a time-spent basis in line with our general fees.
