Our costs

Conveyancing

Residential Conveyancing generally consists of the following types of matters:

Freehold sales and purchases;
Leasehold sales and purchases;
Mortgages or re-mortgages;
Transfers of Equity.

This firm’s legal costs and disbursements for acting in Residential Conveyancing matters take into account a number of factors, including but not limited to, whether the property is freehold or leasehold, the type of property (i.e. existing or new build) as well as individual circumstances such as whether there is any mortgage involvement.

Some examples of this firm’s typical legal costs are as below. Please also refer to the tab “Additional Costs” for details of other costs which may be payable in respect of your transaction.

As the below is a guide only, please do get in touch with us with details of your matter, so that we can provide an accurate quotation for you.

Example Legal Costs for a Property Price between £200,000.00 – £250,000.00 is as follows:

Freehold Sale – From £1,200.00 plus VAT and disbursement

Leasehold Sale – From £1,450.00 plus VAT and disbursements

Freehold Purchase – From £1,200.00 plus VAT and disbursements

Leasehold Purchase – From £1,450.00 plus VAT and disbursements

Mortgage/Remortgage – From £600.00 plus VAT and disbursements

Please complete the “Contact us for a Conveyancing Quote” Form below and an appropriate member of the team will get in touch. Alternatively, if you would prefer, please telephone one of our offices and we will be happy to help.

There will be additional costs on top. These are fees and charges that may form part of the process, such as referral fees (if any), notice & deeds charges, search fees, land registry fees, freeholder information packs, bank charges and Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT)or Land Transfer Tax (LTT) (in Wales). They are likely to be £2,985 in total, including VAT where relevant.

In calculating the additional costs above we have assumed that we are not acting for a first time buyer and the purchaser does not own an interest in another dwelling and the property price is £250,000.

SDLT and LTT does not apply to sales and remortgage and will only apply to certain purchases.

You may also be responsible for paying the legal costs of your lender. These are likely to be £100 + VAT and are included in the average price above.

These fees assume that the transaction is of a standard nature and has no unforeseen issues that may lengthen the process or increase the costs.

Estimated average prices are based on recent instructions. The actual cost to you will depend upon a number of factors which we will discuss with you before the transaction commences.

Our costs are based upon our average fixed fee charge but we may occasionally introduce an hourly rate of £195 + VAT per hour if appropriate, which can vary and will be discussed with you if necessary.

Our price takes account of the work involved, the transactional risk, the deadlines involved, the benefit of our professional insurance cover and a number of other factors which may be relevant in the conveyancing process.

Our people involved in doing the work will include: Georgia Cavill, Emily House (Bridgwater), David Chapman (Minehead), Andrea Parsons (Martock), Bill Osborn (Yeovil), Nigel Mills (Exeter), Marie Cude (Wellington), Russell Munster (Ilminster). Find out a bit more about them here.

The work we will carry out involves the following (if relevant):

Checking that your financial arrangements are in place
Obtaining Land Registry entries and drafting a contract for sale (approximately 1 week)
Completing incidental information re fixtures and fittings and other inclusions and exclusions (approximately 1 -2 weeks)
Receiving contracts and other property information (approximately 1 week)
Undertaking searches and enquiries on the property (immediately)
Raising requisitions on title and other issues (approximately 2-3 weeks)
Preparing for exchange and completion (approximately 1 week)
Dealing with the payment of SDLT (approximately 1 week post completion)
Dealing with Land Registry applications (approximately 1 week post completion)
Liaison with your lenders throughout
Overall control of the transaction throughout, including liaison with estate agents, removal firms etc.

Our fees do not, of course, include any external costs and charges that you may incur as part of the process (e.g. estate agents commission, removal costs, environmental remediation costs etc.) Get in touch if you wish to instruct us on your matter.

We also undertake:

Transfers of equity on a divorce
Commercial and Agricultural property transactions
New build properties
Lettings (landlord and tenant)
Property disputes
Tax advice
Environmental matters
Planning matters

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Probate

This estimate is an average price based upon recent instructions. The actual cost to you will depend upon a number of factors which we will discuss with you before the transaction commences.

The charge is based upon our average hourly charging-rate of £275 per hour plus vat, which may vary. There will be additional fees and charges that need to be paid as part of the process, such as Probate Registry fees, £300 plus sealed copies at £16 each, and Trustee Act Notices, £325 plus vat (if required).

Our people involved in doing the work will include: Hilary Quantick, Suzi Koszler-Allen, Adam Hillier, Alex Parris, Lauren Costelloe, Zara Mawbey, Andrew Lewis and Lynsey Dryden. Find out a bit more about them here.

Our costs and timescales are based on the assumption that the estate is relatively simple, all based in the UK, that there are no Trusts and that there are few, if any, assets that would complicate the process or lengthen our time estimates.

The work we will carry out involves the following (if relevant):

Ascertain the legally appointed executors or administrators and beneficiaries.
Ascertaining the assets comprised in the estate.
Ascertaining and paying any tax on the estate including HMRC tax forms (within 6 months).
Applying for a grant of probate or letters of administration, (approximately 3-6 months).
Obtaining the Grant of Probate.
Collecting in the assets comprised in the estate.
Deciding upon and executing distributions of the estate in accordance with the Will or intestacy rules (approximately one month thereafter).

Get in touch if you wish to instruct us on your matter.

We also undertake:

Estate planning
Will-writing
LPAs
Trusts & settlements

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Motoring Offences

The provision of advice and representation at the Magistrates Court in relation to summary only road traffic offences dealt with at a single hearing.

We charge £500 + VAT on average for this work.

This estimate is just an average price based on recent instructions; the actual cost to you will depend on a number of factors which we will discuss with you if you decide to instruct us.

The charge is based on our standard fixed fee rates of £500 + VAT for the first hearing and an additional £250 + VAT for each following hearing. There may be other costs on top. These are fees and charges we will need to pay on your behalf as part of the process, such as counsel’s or expert’s fees. They are likely to be £900 to £1,000 in total, + VAT where relevant. Our people involved in doing the work are Sally Donaldson.

The work we will carry out involves the following (if relevant):

Ascertaining the charge brought (approximately 1 weeks)
Taking your instructions, advising on and entering a plea (approximately 1 -2 weeks)
Consideration of prosecution evidence (approximately 2-3 weeks thereafter)
Preparing you for a court attendance
Advising on likely sentence
Attendance at Court in order to deal with the hearing, and any consequent sentencing (1 day)
Advising on possible appeals
Our fees do not include any external costs and charges that may be incurred as part of the process (such as fines, penalties or criminal liabilities). Further, if you appeal, this will entail additional cost. You will also be responsible for these items. Get in touch if you wish to instruct us on your matter.

We also undertake:

Duty Solicitor work
Criminal work generally
Police Station advice
Prison Liaison work

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Debt Claim

These estimates are simply an average price based upon recent instructions. The actual cost to you will depend on many factors which we will discuss with you before the transaction commences.

The charge is based on our average hourly charging-rate of £195 per hour, which may vary. There may be additional costs such as Court fees, counsel’s fees and enforcement process fees which can vary considerably and are totally dependent upon the value of the transaction and the instruction of counsel. For example Court fees can range from £25 to 4.5% of the claim value and counsel fees (if instructed) can range from £350 + VAT to in excess of £5,000 +VAT depending upon the level of involvement.

In normal cases the expectation will be that the debtor will pay the majority of these costs. However, this may not be possible and if not, you will remain liable for our costs and charges.

Our people involved in doing the work will include: Andrew Lovett.

The work we carry out may involve:

Ascertaining the position re: the debt (approximately 2-3 weeks)
Liaison with your debtor and others in an effort to resolve matters (approximately 6 weeks)
Filing documentation at Court (if necessary, 2-3 weeks thereafter)
Representation at any hearing (1 day)
Consequent attendance to ensure the debt is duly paid

Our fees do not include any external costs and charges that may be incurred as part of the process (e.g. damages, fines, penalties or other liabilities). Get in touch if you wish to instruct us on your matter.

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Employment Law

Our fees for employment work are based on the time spent for a particular piece of work.

Slade De Lacey undertakes employment work and charges £305 per hour plus VAT.

Get in touch if you wish to instruct us on your matter

TYPE OF MATTER	TIME SCALES	COST
General advice. This would include taking instructions, meetings or telephone calls to discuss a matter, writing letters to employers or other solicitors, negotiation etc.	Any new matter with any degree of complexity will take at least an hour to take instructions. Normally, we would ask for two hours on account of costs. Work is usually undertaken within 48 hours.	£225 – £450
Advising on potential unfair or constructive dismissal.	Depending on the amount of documentation and complexity of matter, then a review will take up to two hours.	£225 – £450
Advising on restrictive covenants.	Normally, an answer can be given within an hour. Unless complicated or a detailed written report is required.	£225
Discrimination advice.	An initial review is likely to take an hour. Thereafter on an hour by hour basis.	£225
Raising a grievance.	This often requires a couple of hours work, not only to identify the issues but to consider the remedy sought.	£350 – £550
Advising on disciplinary matters.	A brief review of the situation and advice on how to handle meetings is about an hour.	£225
Appeals from disciplinary and grievance matters.	These are often technical documents and can take up to three hours.	Up to £675

TYPE OF MATTER	TIME SCALES	COST
Advising on potential claim.	This is usually at a meeting and can take up to two hours.	£225 – £450
Letter to employer.	Rather than just identifying the issue, normally letters are detailed and seek to provide some sort of remedy. Often this provokes a response and possibly negotiation. The initial letter can take up to two hours to produce.	Up to £450
Advice on ACAS early conciliation.	This will need to be completed by the employee but advice usually takes half an hour.	£115
Reading into case.	Most cases will involve a degree of detailed reading. Depending on the volume a usual case will involve perhaps 25 – 50 pages. An hour and a half will give these documents a first read through.	£350
Preparing an ET1. This is the claim you will bring.	A relatively straight forward case will involve two the three hours drafting.	£450 – £700
TOTAL STAGE ONE	The stage up to issuing proceedings usually takes between seven and ten hours.	£1,500 – £2,250
Case management conference	Assuming by phone then one hour.	£225
Drafting a list of documents.	On average an hour’s work	£225
Review other side’s list of documents and reading those documents.	Dependent on the volume but often between one and two hours.	£225 – £450
Meeting to discuss evidence and to take a witness statement.	Usually a couple of hours.	£450
Drafting witness statements.	Dependant on how many witnesses and detail required, but rarely less than a couple of hours per statement.	£450
Speaking to the other side.	It is normal to have conversations with the other side’s solicitors. This may result in a negotiated settlement. One or two hours may be spent in this activity.	£225 – £450
Preparing for the hearing.	Either this will be preparation for the hearing or drafting instructions to Counsel. This can take between two and three hours.	£450 – £700
Instructing counsel.	If a specialist barrister is instructed a meeting will normally take place.	£225
TOTAL STAGE TWO	This is when most of the work is undertaken. The tribunal wants all cases to be properly prepared although this is sometimes conflicts with the timetable of the parties, especially if it is likely the matter will settle. Ten to fifteen hours would be a norm.	£2,250 – £3,500
One day hearing.	The court day is 10.00am to 4.00pm with a one hour lunch break. It would be usual to arrive an hour early and to debrief after. This is therefore an eight hour day.	£1,800
More complicated matters	Many hearings last more than one day, especially if the matter is complex or there are a number of witnesses. Day rate.	£1,800
TOTAL FOR COMPLETE HEARING	The most simple of cases will take approximately 25 hours.	£5,500
More complex matters.	A more complicated matter with a two day hearing and may take 40 hours preparation and need the services of a barrister. A barrister may cost £1,500 – £3,000 a day, together with his preparation time.	£10,000 – £15,000

Most wrongful claims are constructive dismissal claims. Wrongful dismissal hearings may follow a similar schedule as above, especially if the wrongful dismissal claim becomes an unfair dismissal claim, which is not uncommon.

Tribunal hearings tend to take place between four and seven months after the issue of proceedings. However, with a three month time period to bring a claim, a one month ACAS consultation and the Tribunal timetable, a hearing could take place nearly a year after the event.

Compensation in the tribunal is two-fold and limited at the same time:

Basic award at a maximum of approximately £500 per year worked (x1.5 if over 41) – maximum 20 years.
Compensatory award of actual loss. Therefore, if you get a job then you will have ‘mitigated’ your loss.

With the above in mind, care must be taken to only issue if the benefits outweigh the potential costs.

There is no Legal Aid available for employment matters and we do not undertake no win no fee work.

In addition, it is unlikely that you will recover your costs. Unlike the civil courts, Tribunals are reticent in awarding costs unless the parties have been unreasonable or not followed procedure.

These are legally binding agreements used to settle employment disputes. They may follow from a disciplinary matter or a grievance. They are usually prepared by the employer and it is usually the case that the employer pays for the advice.

TYPE OF MATTER	TIME SCALES	COST
Advising on a settlement agreement.	With the background work required in opening a file, taking instructions, giving the advice on the agreement itself and post-advice work, this process is rarely less than one and a half hours work and could run to two and a half.	£350 – £550
Additional advice on a settlement agreement.	On occasion, the facts surrounding the settlement agreement may suggest there has been an unfair dismissal. in this case the fees as above may apply.	£225 – 450
Drafting a settlement agreement.		£350 – £500

Clients can limit the amount of time spent on any particular activity by careful preparation, producing a chronology and summary of events, putting together a bundle of relevant documents, weeding out repeats of e-mails etc. Thinking about what end result is required is also important as it is easier to work towards a specific goal rather than trust an employer or the Tribunal to do so for you.

Every attempt is made to turn around work within 48 hours where initial advice is required. For document drafting a week may be required.

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Immigration Law

Legal fees by application type, per individual (VAT charged in addition for applicants inside the UK) for the typical case. If it appears that the work required will exceed what we would normally expect we will let you know straight away and will agree a specific quote before proceeding.

Entry Clearance Applications

£1,250 – £1,750

Leave to Remain

£1,250 – £1,750

EU Settlement Scheme

£500 – £1,250

Business Migration Sponsorship Licence (per business)

£3,500 – £5,000

Skiller Worker/PBS Applications

£1,250 – £1,750

Student Visas

£1,000 – £1,500

Naturalisation and Registration of British Citizenship

£1,000 – £1,500

Visitor Visas

£750 – £1,250

Urgent Applications for Removal

From £2,750

Deportation

From £4,000

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Keeping You Safe

You, and your money, are targets of fraud. Transactions between professionals and their clients are currently being actively targeted by fraudsters due to the large sums processed by us on your behalf. This is particularly true of law firms that conduct conveyancing transactions, debt recovery actions and estate administrations (payment of beneficiaries) but can apply to any type of professional practice where client money is held.

As you have instructed us to act for you, it is important that you understand:

Your responsibilities to reduce the risks of fraud.

What we do to help ensure that you do not become a victim of fraud.

We will ensure that we know you, our client
We undertake careful checks before taking on any work, to ensure that you are who you say you are. For example, if you are selling a property, we will check that you do own the property to ensure that we do not transfer sale proceeds to a fraudster.
When we send you money, we will check to ensure that we transfer funds to your account.
We will always ask for your bank account details, either in a face to face meeting, or by hard copy letter sent by registered post. We can only make a payment to you as our named client, so please do not ask us to split monies across various accounts, pay other parties or beneficiaries etc. as we do not allow it and you will be able to do this quickly once monies are in your account.
We will provide our bank details at the start of the work and will not email you with changes.
Our bank account details are provided in our initial client care letter to you. We will never advise you of changes to our bank details by telephone or by email.
We will use secure methods of payment.
This invariably means CHAPS rather than immediate faster payments which are difficult to freeze if a fraud is later discovered.
We will take all reasonable steps to keep your data safe.
We have strict policies and procedures in place to keep your data safe. We store your data on encrypted systems that are fully compliant with the current Data Protection Regulations.
We will keep our electronic systems secure and up to date.
We have professional-grade anti-virus and anti-malware software and firewalls in place to help protect from ‘phishing’ and other cyber threats. We also have a policy of promptly installing relevant software updates and security patches on all work devices, including portable devices such as tablets and smart phones.
We will advise you of any known security breaches that may impact you.
A member of our compliance team will contact you by telephone or letter (not email) to advise you of any known security breach that may have compromised your email / information security.
We will only email you regarding your case or transaction using a company email address
i.e. firstname.surname@amicuslaw.co.uk

You will provide us with best contact details

On or before the start of our work, we will ask for your contact details, and a preferred way of addressing you in communications. You should use the same email address, telephone number/s, mailing address where-ever possible, and anticipate further checks from us should you use other contact details in future.

You will communicate urgent instructions in person or by telephone

You should not rely on us receiving or reading your emails, particularly if you are providing time-critical instructions.

You will never send us account details by email

We will not accept bank details via email. You should send such details to us by registered post or come into our office personally. Please be understanding should we need to double-check anything that we think looks suspicious – this is for your benefit.

You will take all reasonable measures to keep your data and systems secure

You will keep your computer and relevant mobile devices updated with the latest operating system updates, security patches, and anti-virus software.

You will inform us at the earliest opportunity if your email or devices become infected with a virus or other malware, or you think you have been hacked, or your security otherwise compromised.

Ensure that your PC is protected behind an effective firewall and up-to-date anti-virus. Follow UK Government guidance at cyberaware.gov.uk/ to protect your home and business from cyber-attack and fraud.
Try not to use public Wi-Fi as you may be vulnerable to data interception. If you do need to use it then do not log in to email, online banking or make payments over public Wi-Fi. If essential only do so via an encrypted VPN connection.
If you use webmail for communicating with your professional advisors (Solicitors, Accountants, Financial Advisers etc.), then create a separate account for sharing information.
Do not respond to any messages other than those which are from the professional you are dealing with, including those purporting to be from their colleagues, without separately confirming by phone that such messages are legitimate.
Create strong, unique passwords, especially for your email account e.g. by using 3 random words (ideally including capital letters). E.g. mountainFestivalpidgeon or creating a memorable passphrase enhanced with a mix of letters, numbers, and special characters, e.g. 5hopp!ng@Harr0ds. The longer the words or phrase/sentence, the more secure it is likely to be
Use a password manager where possible, for most of your accounts (but not your online banking accounts). If possible, use 2-factor authentication, and ensure that your password for your password manager is as strong as possible (e.g. enhancing the 3 random word approach with numbers and special characters, e.g. m0unta!nFestivalP!g3on.
If you do not use a password manager, ensure you use a different strong password for each online service.
Never give out your usernames, passwords, or your one-time codes (from your Banking Security Token or mobile device) to anyone, no matter who they claim to be.
Pay little heed to emails. If your Bank or Solicitor (or anyone else legitimate) has something truly important to tell you (like they have detected fraud or need to verify your details) then they will contact you in a more reliable way – they will not use email. If you have concerns, call them using a telephone number from a reliable source (e.g. a printed bank statement or bank card will have phone numbers for your bank).
Exchange sensitive information with your professional advisor only once at the outset of your instruction and ideally in-person. If you need to make a change then do so securely.
Validate calls from your professional advisor using a shared secret which you can establish with them at the outset of your instruction. Agree not to exchange the secret via email.
If you use online banking, then your Bank will have included a message centre enabling you to send & receive messages securely. Only accept notifications and advisories from them using this method of communication; Do not act on telephone or email requests.
Do not invite anyone to remotely connect to your computer for any purpose, including IT support or security help, unless you personally know and trust them. Unsolicited callers are always fraudsters.
Use Block features available on your mobile phone and landline to blacklist any unsolicited callers or those who withhold their number. For example, in the UK the following service can be used: tpsonline.org.uk/

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Providing legal expertise across 10 South West offices

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