FEES
RJS Solicitors provide a bespoke service, tailored to our client’s specific needs. We make our costs transparent to enable clients to make an informed choice. We have set out detailed costs estimates on our website for a selection of services.
The prices quoted on our website are for guidance only, but cost estimates, a client care letter and terms of business will be provided to clients once we have formally been engaged. All cost estimates will be subject to review depending on the nature of the matter as it progresses, but clients can rest assured of being updated if there are any changes to costs.
A ‘disbursement’ is an expenditure incurred which is necessary to progress the matter on which you have instructed us. Court fees, search fees, and land registry fees are examples of disbursements.
We try to inform you in advance of the disbursements you should expect to pay and why they are necessary. If there are any changes, we keep you informed and explain why the change is necessary.
An administration fee of £60 (£50 plus £10 vat) will be charged for any fees up to £1,198.80 (£999 plus £199.80 vat)and an administration fee of £120 (£100 plus £20 vat) will be charged for any fees over £999 (£999 plus £199.80 vat). The administration fee covers the administrative costs we incur in relation to things such as bank charges (excluding CHAPS), postage charges, administration support dealing with the compliance aspect of your file (excluding substantial photocopying costs).
Our hourly rates, dependent on who is involved in the matter and range from £180 (£150 plus £30 vat) to £390 (£325 plus £65 vat). These hourly rates only form a basis for our fees and are only for the specific types of work referred to below; they are not necessarily the hourly rates which apply to the businesses other workstreams.
VAT is charged at 20%.
Please Click Here to learn more about the RJS team, their experience and qualifications.
For more information about SRA Transparency Rules please Click Here.
Please find details of our Complaints Policy Here.
Please Contact Us if you require any further assistance regarding our fee structures.
Litigation – Debt Collection
People
Partner Simon Gilbert (qualified in 2011) heads up the Litigation team working with Elliott Hodge (qualified in 2017) and Anna Mottram (qualified in 2022). All have experience in all aspects of Debt Recovery, having between them 1 to 11 years of experience in this area.
For more information about our team, their qualifications and how to contact them, please Click Here
Process
Unfortunately, the time taken to resolve litigious matters (including debt recovery work) is hard to predict. After all, much depends upon the complexity of the matter, the cooperation of the opposing party, and the workload of the relevant Court(s). However:
RJS will prepare the required Letter of Claim within no more than five days of your instructions being confirmed; similarly, RJS will prepare the Court Claim (if required) within five days of such instructions being confirmed. Once proceedings have been issued, it usually takes approximately 3-4 weeks to obtain Default Judgment (assuming the party does not file an Acknowledgment of Service). If Default Judgment is obtained, the debtor may settle the Judgment Debt quite promptly (usually within 14 days). However, If enforcement action is needed, the recovery of the Judgment Debt will take longer.
For more information on debt recovery services, key stages and timescales for uncontested debt of £5,000 or less please Click Here for a downloadable guide please
Price
Fixed Costs for Uncontested Debt of £5,000 or less
In the event of a defence being filed, the fixed prices illustrated will not apply. For uncontested debts over £5,000 but less than £10,000 RJS Solicitors agree a fixed cost before work commences.
For all other uncontested debts, and for contested debts of any value, fees will be charged by reference to our hourly rate and will be disclosed to our client in a preliminary cost estimate.
Disbursements are payments which we make to third parties and which arise in the course of providing our services. For recovery of an undisputed debt, the only likely disbursement you will incur is a court fee, which is payable at Stage 2 of the process, to issue court proceedings. The table below sets out the appropriate fee payable to the court, which is based on the amount of the debt plus the interest element of your claim. The Court Fee is automatically added to the value of the claim and will be recoverable (if the claim succeeds).
Disbursements, including court fees and costs of enforcement are charged at cost to the client, we have identified below those disbursements where VAT is chargeable to you.
The disbursements we anticipate are set out below. This is not an exhaustive list and other disbursements may arise.
Disbursements (VAT is not charged on Court Fees)
WILLS
People
Jenny Walker (qualified in 2007) heads up the Private Client team, working alongside Rebecca Vasey (qualified in 2008) and Paul Green, who also has over 15 years of experience.
The team have between them 15-16 years of experience in all aspects of advising families, planning and drafting Wills.
For more information about our team, their qualifications and how to contact them, please Click Here
Process
For more information on Wills please Click Here
Every client’s circumstance is individual, RJS Solicitors will tailor their service to a client’s specific needs. Below is a guideline to help our clients make an informed choice.
There are occasions when clients require a home visit to discuss their Wills. You will not be charged for travel time if your appointment is within 7 miles of our office (ST4 8GB). However, a travel cost of £60.00 (£50 plus £10.00 vat) will be charged for any visits which exceed 7 miles.
Price
Additional fees relating to Will preparation (for example, personal wishes letter, codicil to existing Will and HM Land Registry charges)
and
Additional estate planning advice outside the scope of drafting a Will (for example, relating to inheritance tax or potential claims made against the estate) fees will be charged by reference to our hourly rate and will be disclosed to our client in a preliminary cost estimate.
TRUSTS
People
Jenny Walker (qualified in 2007) heads up the Private Client team, working alongside Rebecca Vasey (qualified in 2008) and Paul Green, who also has over 15 years of experience.
The team have between them 15-16 years of experience in this area.
For more information about our team, their qualifications and how to contact them, please Click Here
Process
For more information on Trusts please Click Here
Price
Any disbursements payable in relation to any of the above services will be notified to the client as soon as possible.
Additional advice will be charged at our hourly rate.
LASTING POWERS OF ATTORNEY
People
Jenny Walker (qualified in 2007) heads up the Private Client team, working alongside Rebecca Vasey (qualified in 2008) and Paul Green, who also has over 15 years of experience.
The team have between them 15-16 years of experience in this area.
For more information about our team, their qualifications and how to contact them, please Click Here
Process
For more information on Lasting Powers of Attorney please Click Here
A lasting power of attorney (LPA) is a legal document that lets you appoint one or more people (known as ‘attorneys’) to help you make decisions or to make decisions on your behalf. You can only put an LPA in place whilst you are capable of understanding the nature and effect of the document. If you lose this capacity, you cannot enter into a LPA and no one can do so on your behalf. Appointing Attorney(s) should the need arise, will give you peace of mind and possibly avoiding complex, expensive Court of Protection fees.
Health & Welfare Lasting Powers of Attorney – enables the chosen Attorney(s) to decide on necessary daily living arrangements, for example, place of residence, medical and care.
Financial Lasting Powers of Attorney – enables the chosen Attorney(s) to decide on financial dealings, for example, buying or selling property, paying bills and general management of monies.
Price
ENDURING POWERS OF ATTORNEY
People
Jenny Walker (qualified in 2007) heads up the Private Client team, working alongside Rebecca Vasey (qualified in 2008) and Paul Green, who also has over 15 years of experience. The team have between them 15-16 years of experience in this area.
For more information about our team, their qualifications and how to contact them, please Click Here
Process
For more information on Enduring Powers of Attorney please Click Here
An Enduring Power of Attorney enables someone in good health to make decisions for their future in the event of being unable to make those choices later in life. However, unlike other kinds of Powers of Attorney it can continue in force after the person granting it loses mental capacity. Therefore, it can be used to manage the affairs of people who have lost the ability to deal with their own affairs, without the need to apply to the Court of Protection.
Price
Enduring Powers of Attorney court of protection fees are listed below.
PROBATE AND ESTATE ADMINISTRATION
People
Jenny Walker (qualified in 2007) heads up the Private Client team, working alongside Rebecca Vasey (qualified in 2008) and Paul Green, who also has over 15 years of experience.
Our solicitors have experience in all aspects of Probate and the administration of Estates, having between them 15-16 years of experience in this area of law.
For more information about our team, their qualifications and how to contact them, please Click Here
Process
For more information on probate and estate administration – services, key stages and timescales please Click Here for a downloadable guide please Click Here
Price
RJS is committed to helping clients obtain Grant of Probate or Grant of Letters of Administration on a fixed fee basis.
Fees will be charged according to our hourly rate and disclosed to our client in a preliminary cost estimate. A value element may be applied in addition to the hourly rates set out below relevant to the size of the estate. This would be discussed with you. All estates are unique and the costs in dealing with them depend on how much work is required.
For guidance only please see the below which are based on both assets and domicile of the deceased being in England and Wales.
Invoices will be issued periodically from the commencement of the matter.
The disbursements we anticipate are set out below. This is not an exhaustive list and other disbursements may arise.
Disbursements
Once the Grant is obtained, further work and administration may be necessary. For guidance, the estimated total fees for the administration of a ‘simple’ estate is approximately 1% to 2% of the value of the assets, so for an estate worth £300,000, the fee would be approximately £3,000 to £6,000.
All fees are exclusive of disbursements
Please contact us for a bespoke quote and any other enquiries related to Probate matters.
RESIDENTIAL CONVEYANCING
People
Richard Scholes and Jenny Walker head up the Residential Property Conveyancing team. Richard (who has over 25 years’ experience and qualified in 1992) is supported by Stephanie Woodhouse, and Jenny Walker (who qualified in 2007). Our solicitors have experience in all aspects of Residential Conveyancing.
For more information about our team, their qualifications and how to contact them, please Click Here
Process
For more information on Residential Conveyancing services, key stages and timescales please Click Here for a downloadable guide please Click Here
Price
Our fees cover all stages of the work required to complete the sale of your home and the purchase of your new home. This includes dealing with the Land Registry and 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 is in Wales.
Conveyancer’s Fees
Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties which we handle on your behalf and charge at cost.
The list below is not an exhaustive list, so on some occasions other disbursements may arise.
Disbursements
HM Land Registry Registration Services Fees – For indicative guidance only, please Click Here
Stamp Duty or Land Tax – Payable on purchases in excess of £125,000 as follows:
All fees mentioned above may vary from time to time and are subject to change and additional fees which may be incurred during the conveyancing process
Anticipated Disbursements.
These fees vary and can on occasion be significantly more than the ranges given above. An accurate figure may be given up on sight of your specific documents.
It should be noted that ground rent and service charges are likely to apply throughout your ownership of the property. These details may be confirmed once we have receipt of the information.
Additional fixed charges for Conveyancing – Occasionally additional matters arise unexpectedly during the conveyancing process. We will advise you as soon as possible of any additional fees (above the fee charged for the initial sale and/or purchase) which will be incurred in order to satisfy the requirements.
Additional Fixed Charges for Conveyancing
This list is for guidance only and not intended to be exhaustive. The fees stated are exclusive of disbursements.