Probate

Acumon is licensed by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales to carry out non-contentious probate, which means we can take an estate from the first valuation through to the final distribution — the grant application, the inheritance tax forms, the estate accounts — without you needing a solicitor. Because we are tax specialists first, reliefs and exemptions that others miss are found as a matter of course, and every fee is fixed and agreed before we start.

Fixed Fees, Not Percentages

Many executors are shocked by probate costs. Traditional solicitors typically charge around 2% of the estate value, so a £300,000 estate can mean roughly £6,000 in fees and a £500,000 estate around £10,000. Acumon charges a transparent fixed fee of £1,995 to £4,995 depending on the estate's complexity — agreed in writing before any work starts.

Cost comparison for a £500,000 estate: traditional solicitor at 2% — £10,000; Acumon fixed fee — £1,995 to £4,995; potential saving — £5,005 to £8,005. The only significant extra is the probate application fee payable to the court, currently £300 in England and Wales (no fee for estates of £5,000 or less).

What Our Probate Service Covers

- Initial consultation and a fixed-fee quote - Estate valuation: property, investments, business interests, personal possessions and asset tracing - Inheritance tax reporting: the full IHT400 return where required, or the simpler excepted estate declaration (form IHT205 was abolished for deaths on or after 1 January 2022) - Probate application and Probate Registry liaison through to the grant of probate or letters of administration - Debt identification and settlement, asset collection and property sale support - Estate income tax and capital gains tax returns during the administration period - Detailed estate accounts and final distribution statements for beneficiaries - Ongoing communication with beneficiaries so you are never the one fielding difficult questions

Minimising the Tax on the Estate

Inheritance tax is where the right adviser earns their fee many times over. The nil-rate band is £325,000 and the residence nil-rate band a further £175,000 where a home passes to direct descendants — up to £500,000 per person, and up to £1 million for a married couple or civil partners, since both bands transfer between spouses. Both bands are frozen until at least April 2030, pulling more ordinary estates into the 40% net each year (reduced to 36% where 10% or more of the net estate goes to charity; the residence band tapers away for estates over £2 million).

We optimise nil-rate band claims, business property relief and agricultural property relief, charitable legacy planning, and the capital gains position on assets sold during administration — decisions such as whether the estate or the beneficiaries should sell can change the tax bill materially. Our team includes former HMRC specialists, so returns are prepared the way the reviewer expects to see them.

ICAEW Authorisation: Accountants Doing Probate

Probate is a reserved legal activity, and Acumon is licensed by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales to carry out non-contentious probate. For most estates — where no one is disputing the will — an accountancy firm is a natural fit: the bulk of probate work is valuation, tax and accounts, which is precisely what chartered accountants do. If a dispute does arise, we say so straight away and help you find the right contentious specialist.

How the Process Works

1. Initial consultation — we assess the estate and agree a fixed fee 2. Valuation — assets and liabilities identified and valued at the date of death 3. Inheritance tax — IHT400 or excepted estate reporting prepared; IHT is due by the end of the sixth month after the death, and where a full IHT400 is needed, the probate application follows 20 working days after it goes to HMRC. We advise on funding options, including HMRC's Direct Payment Scheme from the deceased's bank accounts and paying tax on property in instalments 4. Grant application — submitted to the Probate Registry with the £300 fee 5. Collection and settlement — assets gathered, debts and expenses paid 6. Tax during administration — estate income tax and CGT returns filed 7. Estate accounts — a full record for beneficiaries and executors 8. Distribution — legacies paid and the residue transferred, with final statements

Probate Case Study

The Challenge: A client in his 80s owned a substantial hotel business and sought to minimise inheritance tax liabilities while ensuring his estate passed efficiently to his children. The estate's complexity, combined with business property relief considerations, required sophisticated tax planning and probate administration expertise.

Our Approach: We deployed our combined expertise in tax planning, investment management, and probate administration to develop a comprehensive strategy that maximised available reliefs and exemptions, then implemented it with meticulous attention to detail, ensuring all arrangements were legally sound and tax-efficient.

The Outcome: The client's estate will pass to his children with maximum tax efficiency, resulting in tax savings of approximately £2 million.

What You Get With Acumon

• Fixed fees of £1,995 to £4,995, agreed in writing before work starts
• ICAEW licence to conduct non-contentious probate — no solicitor needed
• Inheritance tax planning built in: nil-rate bands, BPR, APR and charity reliefs
• Full estate administration from valuation to final distribution
• Estate income tax and CGT returns during administration handled
• Clear estate accounts and regular updates for beneficiaries
• Former HMRC specialists on the team
• Trust creation and administration where the will or tax planning requires it

Why Acumon for Probate?

• Licensed by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) to carry out the reserved legal activity of non-contentious probate
• Typical probate fees range from £1,995 to £4,995, depending on estate complexity and value
• Many solicitors typically charge approximately 2% of the estate value
• For a £300,000 estate, solicitor fees would be approximately £6,000; Acumon's fixed-fee structure could save over £3,000
• For a £500,000 estate: traditional solicitor (2% fee) £10,000 vs Acumon fixed fee £1,995-£4,995, potential savings £5,005-£8,005
• Case study: hotel business owner's estate achieved tax savings of approximately £2 million
• 90+ UK-based professionals including former HMRC tax specialists

Get a Fixed-Fee Quote

Tell us what you need and we'll come back within one business day with a clear scope and a fixed price — no hourly-rate surprises. Call 020 8567 3451 or use the form and we'll be in touch.