Integrity Is at The Heart of What We Do
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Our Legal Fees
- Probate and Estate Administration Costs (Uncontested with all assets in the UK)
Our costs and timescales are dependent upon the complexity of the matter and size of the estate, but in most cases, we are able to provide you with a fixed fee for the work to be carried out, before we proceed.
If we are unable to offer with a fixed fee, we will provide you with our hourly rates together with an estimate of the time it will take to complete the matter.
All our fixed fee costs are plus VAT (currently 20%) and disbursements.
Disbursement are costs incurred during the process of the matter, which we pay on your behalf to third parties i.e. Court fees and Land Registry Fees.
The below estimates are for guidance purposes only as each estate varies.
1.1 Solely Obtaining the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration
This is a limited service and is execution only and relies on you providing valuations and all relevant information to us, to enable us to solely obtain the Grant of Probate.
In these circumstances we will usually charge a fixed fee as set out as follows for undertaking the work detailed:
| 1. Our fees for a basic application for a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration are £950 plus VAT of £190, making a total of £1,140 and an additional fee for disbursements i.e. the court fee. This is a basic application where we will complete and submit the probate application to the Probate Registry but where no claim is required for Residence Nil Rate Band and the HMRC long form application IHT0 is not required. |
| 2. Our fees for an application where there is no inheritance tax payable but the estate requires a residence nil rate band application and or a long form HMRC application (IHT 400) is 1% of the gross value of the estate plus VAT and and disbursements. We will complete and submit the probate application to the Probate Registry and prepare and submit the IHT400 and supporting schedules to HMRC. Please note, this does not include work required if agricultural relief or business property relief is to be claimed which will incur additional fees. |
| 3. Our fees for an application where there is inheritance tax payable is 1% of the gross value of the estate plus VAT and disbursements. We will complete and submit the probate application to the Probate Registry and prepare and submit the IHT400 and supporting schedules to HMRC, including those to claim transferable nil rate band and residence nil rate band where applicable. We will also complete form IHT423 if applicable to arrange payment of inheritance tax. Please note, this does not include work required if agricultural relief or business property relief is to be claimed which will incur additional fees. |
Once the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration are obtained this is forwarded to the Executors to enable them to administer the estate and our involvement ceases.
1.2 Full Estate Administration
In most cases we are able to provide a fixed fee, subject to the circumstances of each case as follows:
| 1. Estates with a gross value under £250,000 – our fees are normally £3,000 plus VAT of £600, making a total of £3,600 plus disbursements. |
| 2. Estates with a gross value up to £325,000 – our fees are normally £4,000 plus VAT of £800 making a total of £4,800 plus disbursements. |
| 3. Estates with a gross value between £325,001 – £1,500,000 our fees are normally 1.5% of the gross value of the estate plus VAT and disbursements. For instance if the gross value of the estate was £750,000, our fees would be £750,000 x 1.5% = £11,250 plus VAT of £2250, total £13,500 plus disbursements. |
| 4. Estates with a gross value between £1,500,001 to £3,000,000 our fees are normally 1.35% of the gross value of the estate plus VAT and disbursements. For instance if the gross value of the estate was £1,800,000 our fees would be £24,300 plus VAT of £4860, making a total of £29,160 plus disbursements. |
1.3 Disbursements
These include but are not limited to:
| Probate fee | £273 plus additional copies of the Grant £1.50 each |
| Bankruptcy searches | £2 for each beneficiary if based in the UK |
| Statutory advertisements | Approximately £200 plus VAT of £40.00 (total approximately £240) |
| Land Registry Fees | From £3 but dependent on the Estate |
| Electronic Identity Search Fees | £18 plus VAT of £3.60 per person (if based in UK), total £21.60 |
| Financial Assets Search | Approximately £185 plus VAT of £37 (approximately total £222) |
| Property Valuations & Share Valuations | Dependant on the fees charged by the Valuer |
The average hourly charging rate for team members is: £300 plus VAT of £60 per hour.
Full details of individual’s charge out rates are included in the client care pack that is sent to you following instruction.
We can either act to obtain the grant of probate and letters of administration or we can act in the administration of the entire estate.
1.4 Timescales
Obtaining the Grant of Probate will usually take between 12-20 weeks once all information has been received to enable the application to be prepared and you have signed and returned the application to us.
Estate administration can take between 3-18 months depending on the complexity of the estate.
1.5 Stages of Probate – full estate administration service (not included in Grant Only Service)
- Provide you with a dedicated and experience probate solicitor to work on your matter.
- Identify the legally appointed executors or administrators and beneficiaries.
- Advise the executors or administrators of the work that is required to administer the estate.
- Liaise with you and obtain details and valuations of all of the assets and liabilities of the estate as required for the Probate Registry application and any HMRC inheritance tax Applications.
- Obtain the relevant documents required to make the application and apply for an IHT reference number if required.
- Draft and submit the Probate Application and any relevant HMRC forms after they are approved by you.
- Obtain the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration as the case may be and provide you with a copy.
- Collect in all of the assets / transfer assets – as applicable.
- Discharge all estate liabilities from funds available.
- Advise separately on any trust arising under the Will or intestacy.
- Prepare estate accounts showing full details of all assets, liabilities, financial transactions and distribution of the estate.
- Distribute the estate in accordance with the terms of the Will or the intestacy rules.
1.6 Matters not included in our fees:
- Registering the death.
- Arranging the funeral.
- Administering assets outside of England and Wales.
- Administration of an estate which is or become insolvent.
- Work involved in any dispute in connection with the estate. For instance, disputes between executors / beneficiaries, claims made against the estate by creditors or by an individual who claims that the deceased did not make adequate financial provision for them, or that the Will is invalid.
- 6Property work such as conveyancing involved with the sale of property or the transfer of property to beneficiaries or updating Land Registry records.
- Work arising from gifts made by the deceased during his or her lifetime.
- Any work required re the rectification or variation of a Will or variation of intestacy laws.
- Preparation and submission of income tax or capital gains tax returns.
- Registering a trust on the HMR Trust Registration Service.
- Work involved in tracing missing beneficiaries or executors.
All work will be carried out by our probate and estate administration team. For further information about the team please see Legal Services.
1.7 WILLS
For Wills, we offer a fixed price of £ 200 Plus VAT of £40 for a single Will or £300 plus VAT of £60 for Mirror Wills. We charge an additional £30 for home visits.
1.7.1 Time Scales
We aim to provide you with a draft for approval within 7 working days of taking your instructions. Please note that the above timescales are variable due to a number of factors.
2. Conveyancing Fees
2.1 Sale of a Freehold Residential Property
| Hervey Dickens Legal Fees | Sales Price Freehold £80,000 to £250,000 | Sales Price Freehold £251,000 to £500,000 | Sales Price Freehold £501,000 to £750,000 | Sales Price Freehold £751,000 to £1,000,000 | Sale Price Freehold £1,0000,000 and over |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hervey Dickens Legal fees | £850.00 | £950.00 | £1,050.00 | £1,150.00 | Please call 01322949579 for a quotation |
| Bank Transfer fee | £30.00 | £30.00 | £30.00 | £30.00 | |
| Money Laundering Searches | £8.00 | £8.00 | £8.00 | £8.00 | |
| VAT on our legal fees | £170.00 | £190.00 | £210.00 | £230.00 | |
| TOTAL HERVEY DICKENS LEGAL FEES INCLUSIVE OF VAT | £1,058.00 | £1,178.00 | £1,298.00 | £1,418.00 | |
| Additional Costs/Disbursements | |||||
| Official Copy entries (each title) | £8.00 | £8.00 | £8.00 | £8.00 | Please call 01322949579 for a quotation |
| ESTIMATED TOTAL CONVEYANCING COST | £1,066.00 | £1,186.00 | £1,306.00 | £1,426.00 | Please call 01322949579 for a quotation |
***Important Information***
Our legal fee quoted above is for us to carry out the legal work for your sale. The additional costs detailed above are those we have to pay to other organisations and are essential to the conveyancing process. These additional costs are estimates and may vary depending on location of your property. We handle the payment of these disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.
Bank Transfer fee – this represents the cost of one bank transfer only.
Unregistered land – most houses are now registered at the Land Registry, however if a property is unregistered additional work will be involved which may incur a further charge.
The fees quoted in the tables assume that the matter is straight forward and that no unforeseen matters arise that may increase the cost we charge for the service.
How Long will your sale take?
How long it will take for your sale to be finalised will depend on a number of factors. On average, for a straight forward matter, we would expect the sale process to take between 8 to 12 weeks from the date that we receive all the completed property forms from you, the client. It can be quicker or slower, depending on the parties in the chain.
Who will carry out this work for you?
Any conveyancing work conducted on your behalf, will be carried out by suitably qualified legal staff from our residential property team.
The team is led by Partner Sheila Masinde. To view profiles of the partners, solicitors and other qualified individuals in the team, please see our ‘Legal Services’ page.
2.2 Sale of a Leasehold Residential Property
| Hervey Dickens Legal Fees | Sales Price Leasehold £80,000 to £250,000 | Sales Price Leasehold £251,000 to £500,000 | Sales Price Leasehold £501,000 to £750,000 | Sales Price Leasehold £751,000 to £1,000,000 | Sale Price Leasehold £1,0000,000 and over |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hervey Dickens Legal fees | £950.00 | £1,050.00 | £1,150.00 | £1,250.00 | Please call 01322949579 for a quotation |
| Bank Transfer fee | £30.00 | £30.00 | £30.00 | £30.00 | |
| Money Laundering Searches | £8.00 | £8.00 | £8.00 | £8.00 | |
| VAT on our legal fees | £190.00 | £210.00 | £230.00 | ||
| TOTAL HERVEY DICKENS LEGAL FEES INCLUSIVE OF VAT | £1,178.00 | £1,298.00 | £1,418.00 | £1,538.00 | |
| Additional Costs/Disbursements | |||||
| Official Copy entries (each title) | £8.00 | £8.00 | £8.00 | £8.00 | Please call 01322949579 for a quotation |
| ESTIMATED TOTAL CONVEYANCING COST | £1,186.00 | £1,306.00 | £1,426.00 | £1,546.00 | Please call 01322949579 for a quotation |
***Important Information***
Our legal fee quoted above is for us to carry out the legal work for your sale. The additional costs detailed above are those we have to pay to other organisations and are essential to the conveyancing process. These additional costs are estimates and may vary depending on location of your property. We handle the payment of these disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.
Bank Transfer fee – this represents the cost of one bank transfer only.
Unregistered land – most houses are now registered at the Land Registry, however if a property is unregistered additional work will be involved which may incur a further charge.
The fees quoted in the tables assume that the matter is straight forward and that no unforeseen matters arise that may increase the cost we charge for the service.
How Long will your sale take?
How long it will take for your sale to be finalised will depend on a number of factors. On average, for a straight forward matter, we would expect the sale process to take between 8 to 12 weeks from the date that we receive all the completed property forms from you, the client. It can be quicker or slower, depending on the parties in the chain.
Who will carry out this work for you?
Any conveyancing work conducted on your behalf, will be carried out by suitably qualified legal staff from our residential property team. The team is led by Partner Sheila Masinde. To view profiles of the partners, solicitors and other qualified individuals in the team, please see our ‘Legal Services’ page.
2.3 Purchase of a Freehold Residential Property
| Hervey Dickens Legal Fees | Purchase Price Freehold £80,000 to £250,000 | Purchase Price Freehold £251,000 to £500,000 | Purchase Price Freehold £501,000 to £750,000 | Purchase Price Freehold £751,000 to £1,000,000 | Purchase Price Freehold £1,0000,000 and over |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hervey Dickens Legal fees | £1050.00 | £1,150.00 | £1,250.00 | £1,350.00 | Please call 01322949579 for a quotation |
| Bank Transfer fee | £30.00 | £30.00 | £30.00 | £30.00 | |
| Money Laundering Searches | £8.00 | £8.00 | £8.00 | £8.00 | |
| VAT on our legal fees | £210.00 | £230.00 | £250.00 | £270.00 | |
| TOTAL HERVEY DICKENS LEGAL FEES INCLUSIVE OF VAT | £1,298.00 | £1,418.00 | £1,538.00 | £1,658.00 | |
| Additional Costs/Disbursements | Please call 01322949579 for a quotation | ||||
| Land Registry Fee (depend on purchase price) | £40-£135.00 | £135.00 | £270.00 | £270.00 | |
| Property Searches (Local Search, Drainage and Environmental Search) | £209.00 | £209.00 | £209.00 | £209.00 | |
| Land Registry Search fee per title | £4.00 | £4.00 | £4.00 | £4.00 | |
| Bankruptcy Search fee per name | £2.00 | £2.00 | £2.00 | £2.00 | |
| ESTIMATED TOTAL CONVEYANCING COST | £1,553 .00 to £1,648.00 | £1,768.00 | £2,023.00 | £2,143.00 | Please call 01322949579 for a quotation |
Please note the total estimated cost does not include Stamp duty tax.
Referral Fee (if any)
If applicable Hervey Dickens Solicitors will pay the fee of up to £200.00 for a referral made by an approved third party
***Important Information***
Our legal fee quoted above is for us to carry out the legal work for your purchase. The additional costs detailed above are those we have to pay to other organisations and are essential to the conveyancing process. These additional costs are estimates and may vary depending on location of your property. We handle the payment of these disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.
Bank Transfer fee – this represents the cost of one bank transfer only.
Unregistered land – most houses are now registered at the Land Registry, however if a property is unregistered additional work will be involved which may incur a further charge.
The fees quoted in the tables assume that the matter is straight forward and that no unforeseen matters arise that may increase the cost we charge for the service.
How long will your purchase take?
How long it will take for your purchase to be finalised will depend on a number of factors. On average, for a straight forward matter, we would expect the purchase process to take between 6 to 12 weeks from the date that we receive all the completed property forms from the seller’s solicitors. It can be quicker or slower, depending on the parties in the chain.
Who will carry out this work for you?
Any conveyancing work conducted on your behalf, will be carried out by suitably qualified legal staff from our residential property team. The team is led by Partner Sheila Masinde. To view profiles of the partners, solicitors and other qualified individuals in the team, please see our ‘Legal Services’ page.
2.4 Purchase of a Leasehold Residential Property
| Hervey Dickens Legal Fees | Purchase Price Leasehold £80,000 to £250,000 | Purchase Price Leasehold £251,000 to £500,000 | Purchase Price Leasehold £501,000 to £750,000 | Purchase Price Leasehold £751,000 to £1,000,000 | Purchase Price Leasehold £1,0000,000 and over |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hervey Dickens Legal fees | £1,050.00 | £1,150.00 | £1,250.00 | £1,350.00 | Please call 01322949579 for a quotation |
| Bank Transfer fee | £30.00 | £30.00 | £30.00 | £30.00 | |
| Money Laundering Searches | £8.00 | £8.00 | £8.00 | £8.00 | |
| VAT on our legal fees | £210.00 | £230.00 | £250.00 | £270.00 | |
| TOTAL HERVEY DICKENS LEGAL FEES INCLUSIVE OF VAT | £1,298.00 | £1,418.00 | £1,538.00 | £1,658.00 | Please call 01322949579 for a quotation |
| Additional Costs/Disbursements | Please call 01322949579 for a quotation | ||||
| Land Registry Fee (depend on purchase price) | £40-£135.00 | £135.00 | £270.00 | £270.00 | |
| Property Searches (Local Search, Drainage and Environmental Search) | £209.00 | £209.00 | £209.00 | £209.00 | |
| Land Registry Search fee per title | £4.00 | £4.00 | £4.00 | £4.00 | |
| Bankruptcy Search fee per name | £2.00 | £2.00 | £2.00 | £2.00 | |
| ESTIMATED TOTAL CONVEYANCING COST | £1,553.00 - to £1,648.00 | £1,768.00 | £2,023.00 | £2,143.00 | Please call 01322949579 for a quotation |
Please note the total estimated cost does not include Stamp duty tax.
Referral Fee (if any)
If applicable Hervey Dickens Solicitors will pay the fee of up to £200.00 for a referral made by an approved third party
***Important Information***
Our legal fee quoted above is for us to carry out the legal work for your purchase. The additional costs detailed above are those we have to pay to other organisations and are essential to the conveyancing process. These additional costs are estimates and may vary depending on location of your property. We handle the payment of these disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.
Bank Transfer fee – this represents the cost of one bank transfer only.
Unregistered land – most houses are now registered at the Land Registry, however if a property is unregistered additional work will be involved which may incur a further charge.
The fees quoted in the tables assume that the matter is straight forward and that no unforeseen matters arise that may increase the cost we charge for the service.
How long will your purchase take?
How long it will take for your purchase to be finalised will depend on a number of factors. On average, for a straight forward matter, we would expect the purchase process to take between 6 to 12 weeks from the date that we receive all the completed property forms from the seller’s solicitors. It can be quicker or slower, depending on the parties in the chain.
Who will carry out this work for you?
Any conveyancing work conducted on your behalf, will be carried out by suitably qualified legal staff from our residential property team. The team is led by Partner Sheila Masinde. To view profiles of the partners, solicitors and other qualified individuals in the team, please see our ‘Legal Services’ page.
3. Immigration Fees
Hervey Dickens Solicitors Firm Costs plus Disbursements and Barrister’s Fees
We charge fixed fees for immigration applications. Our charges are dependant on the complexity and circumstances of each case. For example we charge as low as £250 for form completion and biometric application services whilst human rights cases may attract higher fees as they are not straightforward cases.
We offer a half an hour consultation for £100 plus VAT and we will advise whether we are able to assist you.
Our services are provided by experienced immigarion solicitors. Please see our legal services page.
| 3.1 Naturalisation or Registration as a British Citizen (Adult) | |
|---|---|
| a. Naturalisation as a British Citizen non-complex case (Adult) | £2,000 – £2,500 |
| b. Registration as a British Citizen (by descent/double descent) non-complex case (Adult) | £3,000 – £3,500 |
| c. Naturalisation as a British Citizen complex case (Adult) | £3,000 – £3,500 |
| d. Registration as a British Citizen (by descent/double descent) complex case (Adult) | £4,000 – £5,000 |
| e. Registration of a Child as a British Citizen in the UK | £3,000 – £4,000 |
| 3.2 Registration of a Child as a British Citizen from abroad/Application for first British Passport from the UK or abroad | |
|---|---|
| a. Registration of a Child as a British Citizen from abroad | £4,000 – £5,000 |
| b. Application for a first British Passport from the UK or from abroad (Adult or Child- complex) | £3,500 – £4,500 |
| c. Application for a first British Passport from the UK or from abroad (Adult or Child- non-complex) | £2,000 – £3,000 |
| 3.3 Pre-Settled status under EU Settlement Scheme (per applicant) | |
|---|---|
| a. Pre-Settled/settled status (not complex) | £1,500 – £2,000 |
| b. Pre-Settled/settled status (complex) | £2,500 – £4,000 |
| c. Surinder Singh Application, Pre-Settled Status/Settled Status | £3,000 – £4,000 |
| 3.4 Application for a family permit for a spouse or dependant relatives, under the EU Settlement Scheme | £2,500 – £3,500 |
| 3.5 Applications under the Immigration Rules, including: | |
|---|---|
| a. Visit visa for tourism, medical, family | £1,500 – £2,500 |
| b. Visit visa (complex) | £3,000 – £4,000 |
| c. Visa as domestic servant | £1,500 – £2,500 |
| d. Ancestry visas | £2,000 – £3,000 |
| e. Other Categories, such as applications on the basis of long residence (20 years), settling in the UK (10 years lawful residence), outside the Rules on Human Rights grounds | £4,000 – £7,000 |
| 3.6 Applications under the Immigration Rules Appendix FM: Family members | |
|---|---|
| a. Leave to Enter or Remain with a partner (non-complex) | £3,500 – £4,000 |
| b. Leave to Enter or Remain with a partner (complex) | £4,500 – £5,500 |
| c. Settlement with a Partner | £3,000 – £4,000 |
| d. Settlement as a Victim of Domestic Violence (Non-Complex) | £3,500 – £4,000 |
| e. Settlement as a Victim of Domestic Violence (Complex) | £4,500 – £6,000 |
| f. Settlement application for a child (indefinite leave to enter) | £4,000 – £5,000 |
| g. Leave to Enter or Remain as a Parent of a Child in the UK | £4,500 – £5,500 |
| h. Adult Dependent Relative | £5,000 – £7,500 |
| i. Adoption (leave to enter ‘’outside the Rules’’ where the adoption is not recognised in the UK) | £5,000 – £7,500 |
| j. De Facto Adoption entry clearance (not complex) | £4,500 – £5,500 |
| k. De Facto Adoption entry clearance (complex) | £6,000 – £7,000 |
| 3.7 Study in the U.K. | |
|---|---|
| a. Student | £3,000 – £3,500 |
| b. Child Student | £3,000 – £3,500 |
| 3.8 Applications under the Points Based System | |
|---|---|
| Innovator Founder | £6,000 – £8,000 |
| Long-Term Work | |
| a. Skilled Worker | £3,500 – £5,000 |
| b. Sponsorship Licence | £5,000 – £6,000 |
| c. Minister of Religion (Tier 2) | £3,000 – £4,000 |
| d. International Sportsperson | £4,000 – £6,000 |
| e. UK Expansion Worker | £7,000 – £10,000 |
| f. Senior or Specialist Worker | £4,000 – £5,000 |
| g. Graduate Trainee | £3,500 – £5,000 |
| h. Settlement under the above categories | £5,000 |
| Short-Term Work | |
| a. Graduate | £3,000 – £3,500 |
| b. High Potential Individual | £4,000 – £5,000 |
| c. Youth Mobility Scheme | £2,500 – £3,000 |
| d. Temporary Work | £2,500 – £3,500 |
| e. Global Talent | £5,000 – £6,000 |
| f. Settlement under Global Talent route | £5,000 |
| g. Service Supplier Visa | £3,000 – £3,500 |
| 3.9 Other Work Routes | |
|---|---|
| a. Representative of an Overseas Business | £5,000 – £6,000 |
| b. Overseas Domestic Worker | £2,500 – £3,000 |
| c. Scale-Up Worker | £5,000 – £6,000 |
| d. UK Ancestry | £2,500 – £3,500 |
| e. Settlement under UK Ancestry route | £5,000 |
| 3.10 Invest in the UK (formerly Tier 1) | |
|---|---|
| a. Investor (extension) | £6,000 – £8,000 |
| b. Entrepreneur (extension) | £6,000 – £8,000 |
| c. Settlement under the above categories | £6,000 |
| 3.11 Other Routes | |
|---|---|
| a. Replacement of your visa with BRP/lost BRP | £1,000 – £1,200 |
| b. British National (Overseas) visa applications | £2,500 |
UK Visa Processing & Decision Waiting Times
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) has published service standards for waiting times for decisions on visa and immigration applications. UKVI also publishes up-to-date information on current processing times for visa and immigration applications submitted both within the UK and outside the UK.
UKVI Visa Processing Standard Processing Times
If a UK visa application includes all relevant information and supporting documents (and the Home Office does not need to request further evidence or explanation) then the following waiting time customer service standards should apply:
- Non-settlement visa applications submitted outside the UK: 90% to be decided within 3 weeks; 98% within 6 weeks and 100% within 12 weeks of the application date (where 1 week is 5 working days);
- Settlement visa applications submitted outside the UK: 98.5% of settlement applications to be decided within 12 weeks of the application date and 100% within 24 weeks of the application date (where 1 week is 5 working days);
- Applications for leave to remain submitted within the UK, including as spouses, workers and students: 8 weeks to be decided;
- Applications for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) submitted within the UK: 6 months to be decided;
- Applications for no time limit (NTL) submitted within the UK: 6 months to be decided;
- Organisations seeking to sponsor a worker: 8 weeks;
- Organisations updating their sponsor licence details: 18 weeks.
The processing time standard for applications submitted via the priority service and super-priority service is 5 workings days and the next working day respectively, where these services are available (see further below). Applications for a sponsor licence submitted via the pre-licence priority sponsor licence service should be decided within 10 working days.
These service standards are the visa processing times that UKVI aims to deliver on for the processing of straightforward, complete applications, based on its customer charter. Actual UK visa processing times can vary considerably.
What Factors Affect UK Visa Processing Times?
There are a number of factors which can delay UK visa processing times including:
- •The complexity of the case, for example if it involves an assessment of Article 8 ECHR rights or derivative rights of EEA extended family members;
- Concerns regarding suitability requirements such as criminality;
- Consideration of any adverse immigration history;
- Any concerns regarding the authenticity of documents;
- The volume of documents provided;
- Whether further investigations are required or an interview scheduled;
- The capacity of caseworkers; and
- The time of the year.
There is no published service standard for waiting times for more complex applications and UKVI has a wide margin of appreciation with regard to the timing of their decisions.
Home Office decision-making is sometimes delayed. In the last couple of years, many UK visa applicants have experienced extended waiting times during the Covid-19 pandemic and in response to the humanitarian crisis caused by the invasion of Ukraine.
4. Divorce and Family Matters
4.1 What’s included with a fixed-fee divorce service at Hervey Dickens Solicitors?
Our prices differ depending on whether you are the applicant or respondent. thin your fixed-fee divorce package depends on your role in the proceedings.
4.2 Fixed-fee divorce as the applicant
If you’re applying for a divorce, our fixed-fee service includes:
- Initial options meeting
- Drafting the divorce application
- Issuing to court
- Dealing with any response from the other party
- Preparing and issuing the application for the conditional order
- Preparing and issuing the application for the final order
4.3 Fixed-fee divorce as the respondent
If you’re responding to an application for divorce, our fixed-fee service includes:
- Initial options meeting
- Review of the divorce application from the other party
- Completion of Acknowledgment of Service
- Dealing with the conditional order and any cost orders
- Advising on the impact of the final order
4.4 Are there any situations in which a fixed-fee divorce is not recommended?
Our fixed-fee divorce service does not address children or financial issues. This means that there are situations where a fixed-fee model might not be appropriate. For instance, if there’s a disagreement about finances as the divorce proceeds or the situation becomes more complex in other ways, it would be appropriate to switch to a more bespoke model that’s tailored to your needs.
4.5 How can a fixed-fee divorce solicitor help?
A specialist fixed-fee divorce lawyer can help by offering legal advice tailored to your circumstances. Your solicitor will inform you of the cost of this first-class legal service and what your fixed-fee divorce package will include – however, they’re also on hand to answer any questions you have if you’re ever unsure of what the process involves.
5. Lasting Powers of Attorney
For a Lasting Power of Attorney our fees for the preparation of full lasting power of attorney for either finance or welfare for an individual are £400 plus VAT of £80 for either welfare and financial matters for an individual.
For both finance and welfare for an individual £650 plus VAT of £130
For either finance and welfare for Husband and Wife our fee is £850 plus VAT of £170
For both finance and welfare matters for husband and wife our fee is £1,050 plus VAT of £210.00
5.1 Additional fee
The current Office of Public Guardian application fees are £82 per application (no VAT is chargeable on this disbursement).
5.2 Time Scales
We aim to provide you with a draft for approval within 7 working days of taking your instructions. Please note that the above timescales are variable due to a number of factors.
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