Price Transparency & Our Fees

Below you will find estimates of how much some of our services may cost.

Experience and Qualifications

In all of the service areas listed below, we use a range of teams and individuals to carry out your work and this will vary depending upon the complexity of the work that you provide and we will then try and match the type of work to the experience and qualifications of the teams and individuals.

For the avoidance of doubt, we have different levels of experience and their hourly fees are accordingly different to reflect their expertise and experience.  They are as follows:

• Directors, Partners, Senior Solicitors & Fee Earners of equivalent experience (8 years)   £300.00 plus VAT
• Solicitors, Senior Legal Executives & Fee Earners of equivalent experience                      £250.00 plus VAT
• Legal Executives, other Solicitors & Fee Earners of equivalent experience                         £200.00 plus VAT
• Trainee Solicitors, Paralegals and other Fee Earners                                                               £150.00 plus VAT

Our team of specialist solicitors have years of experience in dealing with different types of legal work.  Usually, the Directors/Partners head up teams of solicitors who are then supported by Trainee Solicitors and Paralegals.  Many of our Senior Solicitors have been working in the areas for in excess of 10 years and in some cases more than 30 years leading some of our most high profile cases to a successful conclusion.

Our Solicitors have experience in all aspects of legal work and who are usually specialised in.  They delegate themselves to ensure that their knowledge stays up to date in order to give you the best possible service.  They normally have between 1-10 years of experience in the area.  We always make sure that junior solicitors and members of staff are supported and supervised appropriately so that the quality of the advice is not affected regardless of who is working on your case.

We also employ a team of Trainees and Paralegals who do much of the day to day work on cases and whilst they are not legally qualified, they often have between 0-10 years’ experience have received training within our firm and who work under the direct supervision of a Solicitor with at least 5 years post qualification experience.

Conveyancing Fees – Instant Online Calculator

If you are looking for Conveyancing services, we suggest you use our free online conveyancing calculator which will fully outline all of your potential costs, and a copy will be emailed to you for your records.

Wills or Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) Fees – Instant Online Calculator

If you are looking to have a Will or Lasting Power of Attorney written, we suggest you use our free Wills Fee Calculator which will ask you a series of questions to determine if your estate is simple and straightforward or if it is consider complex. If it is simple, you will be able to view and print a full quotation online.

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Conveyancing – Property Purchase or Remortgage

Our fees cover all of the work* required to complete the purchase of your new home, including dealing with registration at the Land Registry and dealing with the payment of Stamp Duty Land Tax (Stamp Duty) if the property is in England, or Land Transaction Tax (Land Tax) if the property you wish to buy is in Wales.

The easiest way to get an accurate fee list is to use our free online conveyancing calculator. After you enter a few details about the property you will be able to view a fully detailed list of all the legal fees, all dispursements and taxes to complete your transaction. Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as Land Registry fees. We handle the payment of those expenses, on your behalf, to ensure a smoother process.

Purchase of a freehold property valued at £150,000

• Legal fee £875.00
• Search fees £318.98
• HM Land Registry fee £100.00
• Electronic money transfer fee £18.00
• VAT £175.00
• Stamp Duty Land Tax: £0.00

Estimated total: £1,486.98

Purchase of a leasehold property valued at £150,000

• Legal fee £875.00
• Leasehold fee £400.00
• Search fees £318.98
• HM Land Registry fee £100.00
• Electronic money transfer fee £18.00
• VAT £255.00
• Stamp Duty Land Tax: £0.00

Estimated total: £1,966.98

Re-mortgage a property valued at £150,000

• Legal fee £650.00
• Search fees £302.49
• HM Land Registry fee £30.00
• Electronic money transfer fee £18.00
• VAT £130.00

Estimated total: £1,130.49

Stamp Duty or Land Tax (on purchase)

This depends on the purchase price of your property. You can calculate the amount you will need to pay by using HMRC’s website or our free online conveyancing calculator will do this for you also.

How long will my house purchase take?

How long it will take from your offer being accepted until you can move in to your house will depend on a number of factors. The average process takes between 8-15 weeks.

It can be quicker or slower, depending on the parties in the chain. For example, if you are a first time buyer, purchasing a new build property with a mortgage in principle, it could take up to 12 weeks. However, if you are buying a leasehold property that requires an extension of the lease, this can take significantly longer, between 3-5 months. In such, a situation additional charges would apply.

Key stages of conveyancing on a house purchase:

The precise stages involved in the purchase of a residential property vary according to the circumstances. However, below we have suggested some key stages that you may wish to include:

1. Take your instructions and give you initial advice
2. Check finances are in place to fund purchase and contact lender’s solicitors if needed
3. Receive and advise on contract documents
4. Carry out searches
5. Obtain further planning documentation if required
6. Make any necessary enquiries of seller’s solicitor
7. Give you advice on all documents and information received
8. Go through conditions of mortgage offer with you
9. Send final contract to you for signature
10. Agree completion date (date from which you own the property)
11. Exchange contracts and notify you that this has happened
12. Arrange for all monies needed to be received from lender and you
13. Complete purchase
14. Deal with payment of Stamp Duty/Land Tax
15. Deal with application for registration at Land Registry
16. Exchange contracts and notify you that this has happened
17. Arrange for all monies needed to be received from lender and you
18. Complete purchase
19. Deal with payment of Stamp Duty/Land Tax
20. Deal with application for registration at Land Registry

*Our fee assumes that:

• this is a standard transaction and that no unforeseen matters arise including for example (but not limited to) a defect in title which requires remedying prior to completion or the preparation of additional documents ancillary to the main
  transaction
• this is the assignment of an existing lease and is not the grant of a new lease
• the transaction is concluded in a timely manner and no unforeseen complication arise
• all parties to the transaction are co-operative and there is no unreasonable delay from third parties providing documentation
• no indemnity policies are required. Additional disbursements may apply if indemnity policies are required.

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Probate – Applying for the grant, collecting and distributing the assets

Apply Personally

1. We offer a free initial appointment during which we can go through the Will or discuss the intestacy with you. You are welcome to apply for Probate personally for which there will be no cost to you from our firm. There is a fee of £273 payable directly to the courts.

Need a little help?

2. Grant Only We can apply for Probate / Letters of Administration on your behalf. You will need to provide us with the date of death valuations for the estate, after which we will be able to submit the Probate application. Our costs for this are £800+Vat in addition to the £273 court fee for estates that are under the inheritance tax allowances. If there is a report of the estate to HMRC, as inheritance tax is payable, or if we need to claim additional tax reliefs, our costs for this are £1000+Vat in addition to the £273 court fee.

Let us deal with it all for you

3. Full Administration: as part of our full administration service we will:-

• Provide you with a dedicated and experienced probate practitioner to work on your matter
• Identify the Executors or Administrators & Beneficiaries
• Obtain date of death valuation for assets and liabilities of the estate
• Prepare the relevant Inheritance Tax Forms *if applicable
• Prepare the Legal Statement for the Executors to approve and sign
• Submit the application for Probate or Letters of Administration
• Collect in all assets
• Prepare Estate Accounts detailing all transactions of the estate
• Settle any additional taxes due *see FAQ’s
• Distribute the estate

Full Administration Price Example:

Here at Hopkins we quote our work on an hourly rate basis to ensure you only pay for the work we have carried out.

For a simple estate, we estimate our costs to be in the region of £2000-£3000 (+VAT at 20%). Typically speaking this will be where:-

• There is a Will, which we have access to or there is no Will, but all beneficiaries have been identified
• The estate value is less than £325,000 or The estate value is less than £650,000, with the deceased having been a widow and having received their spouses estate
• All assets are in the UK
• There is no more than one property
• There are approximately 8-10 assets, including banks, building societies, share holdings, pensions or life insurance policies
• There are no disputes between beneficiaries in relation to the estate
• There are no claims made against the estate
• There are no other intangible assets
• The estate is solvent

Complex Estates

Where a full account (IHT400) is required to be submitted to HMRC, or if the estate is liable for Inheritance Tax, our costs are likely to increase. We would estimate our costs to be in the region of £3,000-£5,0000 (+VAT at 20%).

There may be increased costs as further work is required, however we are also able to assist with complex estates, including but not limited to when:

• An original will has been lost and only a copy remains
• An original will is damaged
• There are assets outside of the UK
• Beneficiaries need to be traced
• There are a significant number of assets and liabilities
• The estate is insolvent

Please raise any such queries at your free no obligation initial appointment with us. During which we can give you an estimated cost, specific to the details you have presented to us. We will talk you through why exactly this may take further time for us to deal with and provide you an estimated hourly rate quote at this appointment.

Essential Disbursements

• £273 court fee payable to HMCTS, plus £1.50 per copy of Probate / Letters of Administration
• £2 + VAT – Bankruptcy Check for each beneficiary
• £3 + VAT – to obtain the most recent title, this is applicable to all registered UK properties

Additional Disbursements

• Legal and Public Notices: you may wish to place section 27 notices to ensure no debts of the estate have been missed. These are carried out externally and prices range from £150-£400 (+Vat at 20%)
• Asset Search: you may wish to carry out an search to ensure you have located all assets involved within the estate. These are carried out externally and prices range from £150-£180 (+Vat at 20%)
• Share Valuation: if the estate holds a number of shareholdings across various companies we ask an independent stockbrokers to obtain the probate value for these. They will also deal with the sale or transfer of these shares.
• Property Valuation: If an estate is taxable we advise you obtain a RICS survey to be carried out on the property these are £180-£250 (+VAT at 20%). Where an estate is not taxable we recommend you obtain three free estate agents valuations
• Sale or Transfer of a Property: our Conveyancing team can assist you with the sale or transfer of the estate property, this however is not included in our Probate quote. Whilst this can be done during the administration and we will handle the sale proceeds and utilities. The cost of this work is quoted outside of this process
• Update of Property Title: if the Will contains a property trust, or right for an individual to reside in the property. The executors are required to:
  • Update the property title, this would be carried out by our conveyancing team as detailed above at a fixed cost
  • Report the Trust to HMRC via the TRS: there is no cost for this, and needs to be carried out by the Executor / Trustee.
• Tax Returns – should you not have a financial advisor we are happy to refer you to an independent IFA or suitable accountant to assist with any tax returns required. Their costs will be advised at the time of speaking directly with them

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Employment Tribunal Fees

Employment Tribunals are difficult to predict, many cases settle before a hearing takes place. Others are heard part way and then sometimes dismissed or withdrawn. There are cases that progress all the way to a final hearing and on occasion an appeal.

We calculate our fees on an hourly rate plus VAT which is currently at 20%.  Whilst it is difficult to predict the number of actual hours we would work on a case; the following fee estimates will give you an indication as to the average costs you could incur should you instruct us to commence or defend a claim. This includes full case preparation and representation at the final hearing.

• A simple case would involve a single claim for unfair/constructive or wrongful dismissal only, with no complicating factors and limited to a one-day hearing. On average in cases of this nature, our fee would range between £6,000 to £7,000 plus VAT.
• A medium complexity case involves a claim for unfair/constructive or wrongful dismissal as well as one further complicated claim such as, whistleblowing or discrimination, and is limited to a two-day hearing. On average in cases of this nature, our fee would range between £8,000 to £16,000 + VAT.
• A high complex case involves claims of unfair/constructive or wrongful dismissal, and two or more of the complicated claims and requires a final hearing of 3 or more days. On average in cases of this nature, our fees would range between £17,000 to £25,000 +VAT.

Factors that could make a case more complex could include:

• If it is necessary to make or defend applications to amend claims or provide further information about an existing claim.
• Defending claims that are brought by litigants in person.
• Making or defending a costs application.
• Complex preliminary issues such as whether the claimant is disabled, (if this is not agreed by the Respondent).
• The number of witnesses and documents.
• If it is an automatic unfair dismissal claim, for example dismissal for blowing the whistle.
• Allegations of discrimination which are linked to the dismissal.
• Judicial Mediation.

We charge on an hourly rate which varies depending on the member of staff dealing with your matter.  Our lowest hourly rate is £200 plus VAT and our highest hourly rate is £250 plus VAT.  The seniority of the members of staff dealing with your case will depend on its complexity.  We will discuss this with you when you instruct us.

At all times we will discuss with you the estimated time and costs as your case progresses so that you are fully aware of the costs and the work you have instructed us to do on your behalf throughout your claim. This will allow you to manage your finances and your expectations in relation to your matter.

You should always check whether you have legal expenses cover on any of your insurance policies, such as buildings and contents or car insurances, road recovery and even credit cards.  Such insurance may be able to cover the cost of defending or raising your employment related claim by covering our fees.  We will always discuss with you whether you have this in the first instance, that way, we can advise you of your options should you have legal expenses insurance in place.

Expenses (also known as disbursements)

In addition to our fees above, there are certain expenses that would be incurred.  These are payments made to third parties for example, a Barrister, when we may need specialist advice such as assessing prospects of success or Tribunal representation.  Barristers’ fees for attending and preparing for a tribunal hearing are estimated between £750 – £1000 plus VAT per day, depending on the experience of the Barrister. We will discuss with you in advance whether a Barrister is required based on the complexity of your case and advise you of their fees so that you can consider the overall costs of your claim.

Expenses may also include travel and overnight accommodation if the location of the Tribunal is outside of the Nottinghamshire region.

We handle the payment of the expenses on your behalf to ensure a smooth process and will interim invoice you each month so that you do not have any unwanted surprises and you can manage your financial considerations of your claim.

Key Stages

The fees set out above cover all the work in relation to the following key stages of a claim:

• Taking your initial instructions, reviewing the papers, and advising you on merits and likely compensation (this is likely to be revisited throughout the matter and subject to change depending on the progress of the claim and information disclosed).
• Entering into mandatory pre-claim conciliation to explore whether a settlement can be reached.
• Preparing a claim or a response on your behalf.
• Reviewing and advising on a claim or a response from the other party.
• Exploring settlement and negotiating settlement through process.
• Preparing or considering a schedule of loss.
• Preparing for (and attending) a Preliminary Hearing.
• Exchanging documents with the other party and agreeing a bundle of documents
• Taking witness statements, drafting statements, and agreeing their content with witnesses.
• Preparing bundle of documents.
• Reviewing and advising on the other party’s witness statements.
• Agreeing a list of issues, chronology and or cast list if ordered by the Tribunal.
• Preparation and attendance at final hearing, including instructions to a Barrister.

The stages set out above are an indication of what may take place in a typical case, but if some stages above are not required, the fee may be less than the estimates we have provided.  You may wish to handle the claim yourself and only have our advice in relation to some of the stages and this can also be arranged on your individual needs.

How long will my matter take?

The time it takes from taking your initial instructions to the final resolution of your matter depends largely on the stage at which your case is resolved.  For example.

• If a settlement is reached during the pre-claim conciliation stage, your case is likely to take between 4-6 weeks.
• If your claim proceeds to a final hearing, your case is likely to take between 8 to 12 months as a minimum. However, this is just an estimate as it can be difficult to provide an accurate timescale given that the listing of any matter at the Employment Tribunal is managed by the Region in which the claim has been submitted to. Availability and timeframes for when a hearing can be heard, varies from tribunal to tribunal.

We will of course keep you up to date at all times as the matter progresses, and we have more information.

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Debt Collection – Undisputed

Anyone wishing to proceed with a debt collection claim should note that:

• The VAT element of our fee cannot be reclaimed from your debtor.
• Interest and compensation may take the debt into a higher banding, with a higher cost.
• The costs quoted below are not for matters where enforcement action, such as the bailiff, is needed to collect your debt.

Court claim fee

These costs apply where your claim is in relation to an unpaid invoice which is not disputed and enforcement action is not needed. If the other party disputes your claim at any point, we will discuss any further work required and provide you with revised advice about costs if necessary, which would be on an hourly rate

Debt value                          Court fee                  

Up to £300                             £35.00

£300-500                               £50.00

£500-1,000                            £70.00

£1,000-1,500                         £80

£1,500-3,000                         £115

£3,000-5,000                         £205

£5,000-10,000                       £455

£10,000+                                 5% of the claim value

Our hourly legal fees

£275+VAT – Partners/Senior Solicitors and Fee Earners of equivalent experience (8 years)

£220+VAT – Solicitors/Senior Legal Executives and Fee Earners of equivalent experience

£195+VAT – Legal Executives and other Solicitors and Fee Earners of equivalent experience

£140+VAT – Trainee Solicitors/Paralegals and Other Fee Earners

Key stages:

1. Taking your instructions and reviewing documentation
2. Undertaking appropriate searches
3. Sending a letter before action
4. Receiving payment and sending onto you, or if the debt is not paid, drafting and issuing claim
5. Where no Acknowledgment of Service or Defence is received, applying to the court to enter Judgement in default
6. When Judgement in default in received, write to the other side to request payment
7. If payment is not received within 14 days, providing you with advice on next steps and likely costs

How long will it take to complete the debt collection?

Matters usually take 10-12 weeks from receipt of instructions from you to receipt of payment from the other side, depending on whether or not it is necessary to issue a claim. This is on the basis that the other side pays promptly on receipt of Judgement in default. But if enforcement action is needed, the matter will take longer to resolve. If the claim is disputed then it will take approximately 12 months from when the claim was issued with the court for the case to come to trial