Michael Cook Law Firm
| Our Charges June 2023 |
**Please note that VAT will be applied to our Legal Costs at the current rate of 20% or the
prevailing rate **
Wills
Straightforward simple Single Will – £140.00 + VAT = £168.00
Straightforward simple Mirror Will – £190.00 + VAT = £228.00
Complex Wills (including trusts) charged at an hourly rate of £177.00 per hour.
Lasting Power of Attorney:–
There are two types of Lasting Power of Attorney:
1 Financial
2 Health and Welfare
DIY Lasting Power of Attorney – £120.00 plus VAT = £144.00 (We draft the LPA only. We then send
you the LPA with a factsheet giving you guidance on how to have the same certified and registered)
To do a single Power (either Financial OR Health and Welfare) – £350.00 plus VAT = total £420.00
(incl. VAT)
To do both Powers for a single person – £500.00 plus VAT = total £600.00 (incl. VAT)
To do one Power each for two people – £500.00 plus VAT = total £600.00 (incl. VAT)
To do both Powers for two people – £850.00 plus VAT (2 each 2 clients) = total £1020.00 (incl. VAT)
There will be an additional charge applied in respect of the Court fees to register the Powers
(currently £82.00 per Power of Attorney)
• £82 application fee to register a lasting power of attorney (LPA)
• £41 repeat application fee to register an LPA or EPA
If the person who made the LPA (the ‘donor’) receives certain means-tested benefits when you apply
to register it, you won’t have to pay anything – this is called an ‘exemption’. The benefits are listed in
the form.
If the donor’s income before tax is less than £12,000 a year, you’ll only have to pay half – this is
known as a ‘50% remission’.
Obtaining a Grant of Probate/Letters of Administration Only
We can assist you in obtaining the Grant of Probate (if there is a will) or Letters of Administration (if no
will) on your behalf. Our fixed fee is £600.00 plus VAT = total £720.00 (incl. VAT).
There is also a Court application fee of £273.00 plus £1.50 for each office copy.
Probate – Distribution of Estate once Probate/Letters granted
For distribution of the estate, we charge separate fees to be discussed and these are calculated on a
time spent basis. The exact cost payable will depend on the individual circumstances and complexity
of the matter.
Please note, we charge separately for selling any probate property.Documents/Misc/Fees and Charges pg. 2
Trusts – setting up and advising
Fixed Fee £1500.00 plus VAT= total £1800.00 (incl. VAT) plus disbursements
Family Law
First 15 minutes FREE consultation
Second consultation, case assessment and initial letter to ex-partner £200.00 plus VAT = total
£240.00 (incl VAT)
Divorce
Divorced Fixed Fee £550.00 plus VAT = total £660.00 (incl. VAT). This fee excludes all court fees and
financial matters. The current Court fee is £593.00.
The Fixed Fee is capped at 3 hours’ worth of work. Any time above this 3 hour will be discussed and
charged at the current hourly rate of £177.00
Financial Matters
Financial Consent Order, agreed division of assets, straightforward assets = £500 plus VAT = Total
£600.00 incl VAT
Financial Consent Order, agreed division of assets, complex, multiple assets = £800 plus VAT = Total
£960.00 incl VAT
The current Court fee for filing financial consent order is £53.00
Separation Agreements
Advice, agreed terms with ex-partner, division of assets = £800.00 plus VAT = Total £960.00 incl.VAT
** All Court filing fees are charged separately as disbursements
** All Fixed Fee work is capped at 3 hours’ worth of work. Any time above this 3 hour will be
discussed and charged at the current hourly rate of £177.00
Attendance at Court
£177.00 per hour, plus travel. Costs to be discussed.
Change of Name Deed – Adult (Un-enrolled only)
This is where you just want to be known by another name. We prepare a Change of Name Deed Poll
setting out your new name which enables you to change your records such as driving licence and
passport etc. (However you may need to check with the organisation that they will accept an un-
enrolled Change of Name Deed).
Fixed fee £100.00 plus VAT = £120.00 (cost includes ID check plus one certified copy) – need Birth
Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Decree Absolute
Change of Name Deed – Adult (Enrolled)
In order for a Change of Name Deed Poll to be enrolled a Statutory Declaration with supporting
documentation and a Notice in the London Gazette must be sent with the Change of Name Deed
Poll in order to ‘enrol’ the change of name.Documents/Misc/Fees and Charges pg. 3
are sent to the Royal Courts of Justice and the change of change is put on public record and
advertised in the London Gazette. Enrolment costs £36.00 per person and provides absolute proof
that a person’s name was changed.
Putting your Change of name on Public Record we will need to apply for the Deed to be enrolled with
the Royal Court of Justice with a filing fee currently of £42.44.
Fixed fee £200.00 plus VAT = £240.00 (cost includes ID check plus one certified copy but excludes
above fees) – need Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Decree Absolute
Change of Name Deed – Child
Fixed fee £100.00 plus VAT (cost includes ID check plus one certified copy)
If you are changing the name of a child, the enrolment process includes preparing an affidavit of best
interest and obtaining a statutory declaration from a person who has known you and your child for no
less than 10 years.Documents/Misc/Fees and Charges pg. 4
Sales & Purchases, plus VAT at 20%:-
Price Band Fees
£0 – £100,000.99 £ 500.00
£100,001.00 – £200,000.99 £ 550.00
£200,001.00 – £250,000.99 £ 650.00
£250,001.00 – £350,000.99 £ 700.00
£350,001.00 – £450,000.99 £ 750.00
£400,001.00 – £750,000.99 £ 800.00
£750,001.00 – £850,000.99 £ 900.00
£850,001.00 – £999,999.99 £1000.00
£1,000,000.00 – £99,999,999.99 £1200.00
Transfer for Equity
Fixed fee £250.00 + VAT = £300.00 (Remortgage supplement £100.00 & VAT = £120.00)
Remortgage & Cashback Remortgages
Fixed Fee £250.00 + VAT = £300.00
Additional Conveyancing Charges plus VAT at 20%
Fee for each Telegraphic Transfer £ 20.00
Leasehold Supplement £150.00
Auction Supplement £100.00
Unregistered Supplement (Excl. New Builds) £250.00
Shared Ownership £100.00
Help to Buy mortgage supplement fee (new Builds) £ 50.00
Help to Buy ISA £ 50.00
Gifted Deposit Supplement £ 50.00
Redemption of mortgage £100.00
New Build Supplement (if property under 10 years old) £100.00
ID check fee per person £ 10.00
SDLT return on a purchase £ 50.00
Perfect Portal 24/7 online case tracking fee £ 25.00
Remortgage Supplement (Transfer of Equity matter) £100.00
No Search insurance fee (Rem & Tof E) £ 20.00
Transfer with Remortgage £100.00
Lifetime ISA £100.00
SDLT Return £ 50.00
Disbursements
AML checks £15.60 per person inclusive of VAT
Bankruptcy Search (each) £3.20 inclusive of VAT
Land Registry Office Copies £6.00 including VAT
Land Reg Pre Completion Search £6.00 inclusive of VAT (OS1)
Commercial Law
For clients who instruct us in connection with business related matters such as commercial property,
general commercial or corporate law, our charges will be calculated on Mr Michael Cook, Managing
Director’s hourly rate of £255.00 per hour.