Insights
Notes on what a quote leaves out
Short pieces on the parts of a legal bill that are set by somebody other than the firm, and on the ones people budget for that no longer exist.
What a quote of “from £750” leaves out
The legal fee is one line of a purchase. Searches, registration and tax are the other four, and they are the ones that move.
The three searches a lender will not let you skip
Local authority, drainage and water, environmental. What each one is for, what it costs, and when a lender insists.
Probate: the fee that is not the solicitor’s
The application fee is paid to the Probate Registry, not to the firm, and copies of the grant are charged per copy.
Disbursements and VAT, told apart properly
A disbursement is money the firm pays out on your behalf. Whether VAT sits on top depends on which it is, and quotes rarely say.
The tribunal fee that no longer exists
Employment Tribunal fees were abolished in 2017 and have not returned. Most people still budget for them, and the fee that does exist sits somewhere else entirely.
Guideline hourly rates, read properly
The rates are a starting point for assessment between parties, not a price list. Grade and region both move the number.