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Milburns Solicitors Limited
Milburns Solicitors is the trading name of Milburns Solicitors Limited a company incorporated and registered in England and Wales with company number 8759066 whose registered office is at 21-23 Oxford Street, Workington, Cumbria CA14 2AL. Our VAT number is 256 6811 40.
The Legal Ombudsman
We want to give you the best possible service. However, if at any point you become unhappy with the service we have provided to you or you have concerns about your bill then you should inform us immediately so that we can do our best to resolve the problem for you.
We have a procedure in place which details how we handle complaints which is available from our Business Manager, Louise Storr, at our Workington Office. We have eight weeks to consider your complaint. If we are unable to help you, then you can have the complaint independently looked at by the Legal Ombudsman.
The Legal Ombudsman can investigate complaints up to six years from the date of the problem happening or within three years of when you found out about the problem. If you wish to refer your complaint to the Legal Ombudsman this must be done within six months of our final response to your complaint. If you would like more information about the Legal Ombudsman their contact details are as follows:
Visit www.legalombudsman.org.uk
Call 0300 555 0333 between 8.30am to 5.30pm.
Calls to 03 numbers will cost no more than calls to national geographic numbers (starting 01or 02) from both mobiles and landlines.
Calls are recorded and may be used for training and monitoring purposes.
For minicom call 0300 555 1777
Email enquiries@legalombudsman.org.uk
Legal Ombudsman
PO Box 6806,
Wolverhampton,
WV1 9WJ
Do not send original documents to the Legal Ombudsman. They will scan any documents you send to them to make computer copies and then destroy the originals.
- SRA Code of Conduct - Milburns Solicitors follow the SRA Code of Conduct - please follow this link to read the full Code of Conduct.
- Professional Indemnity Insurance - we have Professional Indemnity Insurance cover with a AAA rated insurance company to a value of £6 million per claim.
- GDPR and Privacy Notice - please view our news article from 20 July 2018 for further information.
Our Prices
Purchase of residential property
Our fees cover all work (*) required to complete the purchase of a residential property including dealing with registration at the Land Registry and dealing with the payment of Stamp Duty Land Tax (Stamp Duty)
Every conveyancing transaction is unique. Our prices depend on the value of the property based on the following table:-
Up to £70,000 £410 plus £82 vat total £492
Up to £80,000 £430 plus £86 vat total £516
Up to £90,000 £450 plus £90 vat total £540
Up to £100,000 £475 plus £95 vat total £570
Up to £110,000 £500 plus £100 vat total £600
Up to £120,000 £525 plus £105 vat total £630
Up to £130,000 £550 plus £110 vat total £660
Up to £140,000 £575 plus £115 vat total £690
Up to £150,000 £600 plus £120 vat total £720
Up to £160,000 £625 plus £125 vat total £750
Up to £170,000 £650 plus £130 vat total £780
Up to £200,000 £700 plus £140 vat total £840
Up to £250,000 £770 plus £154 vat total £924
Up to £300,000 £890 plus £178 vat total £1,068
Up to £350,000 £1,010 plus £202 vat total £1,212
Up to £500,000 £1,250 plus £250 vat total £1,500
£500,000 and above 0.25% of the value of the property
Milburns charge an electronic money transfer fee of £20 plus £4 VAT for the cost of sending the purchase monies to the sellers solicitors on completion.
There may be extra charges depending on the precise circumstances of the property such as:-
• if the property is Leasehold there will be an extra £500 plus £100 vat (with a minimum fee for our legal fees of £1000 plus £200 vat)
• purchase of a new build property there will be an extra £500 plus £100 vat (with a minimum fee for our legal fees of £1000 plus £200 vat)
• purchase of property with the assistance of a Help-to-Buy Equity Loan £200 plus £40 vat
• Help-to-Buy ISA £50 plus £10 vat (for each ISA)
• Leasehold solar panels at the property an extra £1000 plus £200 vat
• if more than one person is purchasing a property a Declaration of Trust may be required at a cost of £150 plus £30 vat
Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties such as Land Registry fees. We handle the payment of disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.
Typical disbursements will include:-
• Land Registry fees
The registration fee charged by the Land Registry will depend on a number of factors such as whether or not the property you are buying is already registered at the Land Registry the purchase price and whether or not the transaction is a purchase of the whole of an existing Land Registry title or part of a Land Registry title. Information regarding the fees payable to the Land Registry are available on their website http://landregistry.data.gov.uk/fees-calculator.html
There will also be a number of land registry searches which usually cost in the region of £10
• Searches
The precise searches to be carried out depend on the location of the property. The usual searches are a:
local search – the cost of this search depends on which local authority the property is situate. Copeland Borough Council currently charge £132 and Allerdale Borough Council charge £106
coal mining search (if in a coal mining area) – the cost of this search is typically £41.20
a water and drainage search – the cost of this search is typically £52.90
• Stamp Duty
This depends on the purchase price of your property and a number of other factors such as whether or not this will be a second property or holiday home. This sum can be calculated using HMRC’s website - https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/calculate-stamp-duty-land-tax/#/intro
If the property you are buying is Leasehold, there are likely to be further disbursements as follows:-
• notice of transfer fee – this fee (if chargeable) is often set out in the Lease. Often the fee is between £20 and £100 plus vat.• notice of charge fee (if the property is to be mortgaged) – this fee is often set out in the Lease. Often the fee is between £20 and £100 plus vat
• These fees vary from property to property and can on occasion be significantly more than the ranges given above. We can give you an accurate figure once we have received appropriate information from the sellers solicitor.
• You should also be aware that Ground Rent and Service Charge are likely to apply throughout your ownership of the property – we will confirm the Ground Rent and anticipated Service Charge when we receive this information.
How long it will take from your offer being accepted until you move into your house will depend on a number of factors. The average process takes between 6 – 12 weeks. It can be done quicker or slower depending on the parties in the chain. For example if you are a First Time Buyer with a mortgage in principal and there is no chain it could take 6 weeks. However if you are buying a Leasehold property that requires an extension or alteration of the Lease, this can take significantly longer often between 6 – 12 months. In such a situation additional charges would apply.
Typical stages in the transaction are as follows:-
• Taking your instructions and giving you initial advice
• Checking finances are in place to fund the purchase
• Receiving and advising you on contract documents
• Carrying out searches
• Obtaining further documentation if required
• Making any necessary enquiries of the sellers solicitors
• Giving you advice on documents and information received
• Taking you through the conditions of your mortgage offer
• Obtaining your signature on the legal documentation
• Agreeing a completion date (being the date from which you will own the property)
• Exchanging contracts and notifying you when this has happened
• Arranging for all monies needed to be received from the Lender and yourself
• Completing the purchase
• Dealing with the payment of Stamp Duty
• Dealing with registration at the Land Registry
All our conveyancing work is carried out by a team of experienced conveyancers most of whom are Solicitors and Legal Executives who are many years qualified. Details of our Legal Advisers can be found here.
*Our fee assumes that:-
a) This is a standard transaction and that no unforeseen matters arise including for example (but not limited to) a defect in title which requires remedying prior to completion or the preparation of additional documents ancillary to the main transaction
b) The transaction is concluded in a timely manner and no unforeseen complications arise
c) All parties to the transaction are co-operative and there is no unreasonable delay from third parties providing documentation
d) No indemnity policies are required. Additional disbursements may apply if indemnity policies are required
Sale of residential property
Our fees cover all work (*) required to complete the sale of a residential property
Every conveyancing transaction is unique. Our prices depend on the value of the property based on the following table:-
Up to £70,000 £410 plus £82 vat total £492
Up to £80,000 £430 plus £86 vat total £516
Up to £90,000 £450 plus £90 vat total £540
Up to £100,000 £475 plus £95 vat total £570
Up to £110,000 £500 plus £100 vat total £600
Up to £120,000 £525 plus £105 vat total £630
Up to £130,000 £550 plus £110 vat total £660
Up to £140,000 £575 plus £115 vat total £690
Up to £150,000 £600 plus £120 vat total £720
Up to £160,000 £625 plus £125 vat total £750
Up to £170,000 £650 plus £130 vat total £780
Up to £200,000 £700 plus £140 vat total £840
Up to £250,000 £770 plus £154 vat total £924
Up to £300,000 £890 plus £178 vat total £1,068
Up to £350,000 £1,010 plus £202 vat total £1,212
Up to £500,000 £1,250 plus £250 vat total £1,500
£500,000 and above 0.25% of the value of the property
Milburns charge an electronic money transfer fee of £20 plus £4 VAT for the cost of sending monies to the mortgage company to pay off a mortgage on completion
There may be extra charges depending on the precise circumstances of the property such as:-
• if the property is Leasehold there will be an extra £500 plus £100 vat (with a minimum fee for our legal fees of £1000 plus £200 vat)
• sale of a property subject to a Help-to-Buy Equity Loan £200 plus £40 vat
• Leasehold solar panels at the property an extra £1000 plus £200 vat
Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties such as Land Registry fees. We handle the payment of disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.
Typical disbursements will include Land Registry fees to obtain up to date title information. This cost is typically £6 to £20 depending on the precise circumstances
How long it will take from an offer being accepted until completion of the sale will depend on a number of factors. The average process takes between 6 – 12 weeks. It can be done quicker or slower depending on the parties in the chain. For example if you are selling to a First Time Buyer with a mortgage in principal and there is no chain it could take 6 weeks. However if there are many parties in the chain it can take substantially longer
Typical stages in the transaction are as follows:-
•Taking your instructions
•Preparing and submitting Contract to the buyers Solicitors
•Obtaining further documentation if required
•Answering enquiries of the buyers solicitors
•Obtaining your signature on the legal documentation
•Agreeing a completion date
•Exchanging contracts and notifying you when this has happened
•Completing the sale
•Paying off any mortgage on the property
•Accounting to you for the net proceeds of sale
All our conveyancing work is carried out by a team of experienced conveyancers most of whom are Solicitors and Legal Executives who are many years qualified. Details of our Legal Advisers can be found on our website.
*Our fee assumes that:-
a) This is a standard transaction and that no unforeseen matters arise including for example (but not limited to) a defect in title which requires remedying prior to completion or the preparation of additional documents ancillary to the main transaction
b) The transaction is concluded in a timely manner and no unforeseen complications arise
c) All parties to the transaction are co-operative and there is no unreasonable delay from third parties providing documentation
d) No indemnity policies are required. Additional disbursements may apply if indemnity policies are required
Dealing with the administration of an estate – applying for Grant, collecting in and distributing the assets
Milburns charge fees based on two factors. Firstly an hourly charging rate depending on the legal adviser carrying out the transaction. Details of hourly charging rates are set out below.
Directors, Consultants and Solicitors who have been qualified for 8 years or more £220
Solicitors and Legal Executives who have been qualified for 4 years or more £195
Other Solicitors, Legal Executives and Fee Earners of equivalent experience. £160
Trainee Solicitors and other Fee Earners of equivalent experience. £122
In addition we charge a fee depending on the value of the estate:-
•0.5% of the value of property and 1% of the value of other assets. A reducing scale of charges will apply where the value of the estate exceeds the following band limits £1,000,000, £4,000,000, £8,000,000 and £12,000,000
The number of hours of the legal adviser’s time it takes to administer an estate varies hugely depending on the size and the composition of the estate. Everyone’s estate is different. If the estate is small and simple Milburns legal fees could be in the region of £2,000 up to £6,000 plus VAT. However if the estate is large and complex then legal fees could be in the region of £15,000 to £30,000 plus VAT. Factors which make the estate complex and the administration more costly are typically:
•There are questions as to the validity of the Will.
•There are multiple properties.
•There are multiple financial institutions involved.
•There are multiple beneficiaries.
•There are disputes between the beneficiaries as to the division of the estate.
•Inheritance Tax is payable.
•There are claims against the estate.
Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties such as Court fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.
Likely disbursements in relation to the administration of an estate are as follows:-
•Probate application fee £155
•£7 swearing of the Oath (per Executor)
• Bankruptcy search against the deceased £2
•Bankruptcy only Land Charges Department searches £2 per beneficiary
•Approximately £95 post in the London Gazette – protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors
•Approximately £150 post in a local newspaper – protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors
Potential additional costs –
If there is no Will or the estate consists of any shareholdings (stocks and bonds) there are likely to be additional costs which could range significantly depending on the estate and how it is to be dealt with. We can give you a more accurate estimate once we have more information.
If any additional copies of the Grant are required they will cost 50p each (usually 1 copy is required for each asset)
Dealing with the sale or transfer of any property in the estate is not included
How long will this take?
On average estates are dealt with within 6 – 12 months. However if the estate is large and/or complex administration can take much longer.
As part of the fee we will:-
•Provide you with a dedicated and experienced Probate advisor to work on your matter. Most of our legal advisors are Solicitors or Legal Executives many years qualified
•Identify the legally appointed Executors or Administrators and beneficiaries
•Accurately identify the type of Probate application you will require
•Obtain relevant documents required to make the application
•Complete the Probate application and relevant HMRC forms
•Draft a legal Oath for you to swear
•Make the application to the Probate Court on your behalf
•Obtain the Probate
•Collect and distribute all assets in the estate
•Prepare Estate Accounts
Obtaining Grant of Probate
If we are required to only obtain the Grant of Probate from information supplied to us by you and we are not dealing with any other aspect of the estate administration then the breakdown of costs is likely to be as follows:-
Milburns Solicitors legal fees - £600
VAT thereon - £120
Disbursements:-
Probate Court fee - £155 (plus 50p per copy)
£7 swearing of the Oath (per Executor)
Bankruptcy search against the deceased - £2
Referral Fees
We do not pay referral fees.