https://londonrjs.co.uk/news daily 0.75 2023-09-27 https://londonrjs.co.uk/news/debt-collection monthly 0.5 2023-09-26 https://londonrjs.co.uk/news/yzbu6a8sdzhx0ih3q0ajasru7nicph monthly 0.5 2023-09-26 https://londonrjs.co.uk/news/2y7jx14dfn6w1n123f7qnoxwopb735 monthly 0.5 2023-09-26 https://londonrjs.co.uk/news/o57vd9v2eegyva56j8kzh0sqr97wct monthly 0.5 2023-10-12 https://londonrjs.co.uk/home daily 1.0 2021-10-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e3ddcfacbe6623a7778b8ef/1581194841890-T8TOWB81OQSUO2UKO8HW/image-asset.jpeg Home - How we do it Rice-Jones & Smiths solicitors have been providing legal services for over 200 years. Combining traditional values and experience with state of the art technology, we are able to deliver first class legal services, at affordable prices. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e3ddcfacbe6623a7778b8ef/1581195979675-DAU54F177SYIAJ9CAKF9/535_Ely-Place_london.jpg Home - Who we are https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e3ddcfacbe6623a7778b8ef/1582492232131-ABIZ62IXOGCNLBTROMZC/image-asset.jpeg Home - Track your conveyancing Track your Conveyancing https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e3ddcfacbe6623a7778b8ef/1581199078027-F7BSL0W91ROYN31EKBDO/image-asset.jpeg Home - What our clients say https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e3ddcfacbe6623a7778b8ef/1581196180732-TFSJ0L4OA01SJGNFRF6Q/image-asset.jpeg Home - What we do Rice-Jones & Smiths solicitors have been providing legal services for over 200 years. Combining traditional values and experience with state of the art technology, we are able to deliver first class legal services, at affordable prices. https://londonrjs.co.uk/contact daily 0.75 2021-10-04 https://londonrjs.co.uk/john-petrou daily 0.75 2020-02-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e3ddcfacbe6623a7778b8ef/1581341779563-DMI5XJ9UZ80MES72XU23/JSP+New+Pic.jpg John Petrou John Petrou John is one of the founding partners of RJS in London. He has gained a wealth of experience over his 35 years of practice in the field of property law, having started his legal career as a criminal and matrimonial lawyer. He advises on the full range of property work from purchases, sales, lease extensions, lease renewals, landlord & tenant issues, enfranchisement of blocks of flats, and lettings, to wills & probate. He deals with wide range of private clients who need good commercial advice coupled with common sense. He has built up a considerable following of all manner of clients since the 1980s, many of whom have been recommended by previous clients. He strives to act on each transaction with a view to making sure your needs and expectations are met in the hope you will return to him and the firm for all your future legal needs. John is a keen cyclist and rower and whenever he gets a chance, he can often be seen at weekends cycling on the roads of Surrey. He has rowed the Thames over several years from its navigational source to Greenwich, and also around the canals of Venice in the Vogalonga event. He is also proud to be an ambassador for the Queen Elizabeth Foundation (QEF) which is a charity which helps disabled people from all walks of life. Direct Dial: 020 7831 2506 https://londonrjs.co.uk/david-kain daily 0.75 2024-06-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e3ddcfacbe6623a7778b8ef/1634722287680-DQSGFI9AVUBVXZ88EN89/DJK%2B2021%2BPicture.jpg David Kain - David Kain With over 25 years in real estate, David is a highly experienced conveyancer who routinely deals with complex property transactions. As well as residential and commercial conveyancing, David deals on a daily basis with property development and specialist lending, acting for both lenders and borrowers as well as joint ventures, land promotion and options. The nature of the transactions he deals with often require a pragmatic and problem solving approach to get the deal done. Direct Dial: 020 7183 4502 https://londonrjs.co.uk/family daily 0.75 2020-02-09 https://londonrjs.co.uk/wills-probate daily 0.75 2021-04-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e3ddcfacbe6623a7778b8ef/1581201635962-K4P2R5QYDAX47O72M1C3/image-asset.jpeg Wills & Probate - Wills Wills form a central part of many clients' estate planning. Our advice in this area extends well beyond the document itself. Clients often wish to review their affairs when considering a will and are concerned to ensure proper management of their assets to support them during their lifetime as well as making provision for their chosen beneficiaries after death. Our work includes: Wills and inheritance and succession matters, including lifetime planning to mitigate taxation on death Foreign matrimonial property and succession laws, in the context of purchasing overseas property and estate planning generally Review of life policy and pension scheme death in service benefits to ensure tax efficiency Advice on all types of powers of attorney and advance medical directives ("living wills") Applications to the Court of Protection for statutory wills for incapacitated persons or for permission for attorneys to undertake lifetime planning on their behalf. PROBATE AND ESTATE ADMINISTRATION – FEE STRUCTURE Non-contentious When a person passes away and leaves a Will, sometimes a Grant of Probate is required (or Letters of Administration where there is no Will) for the person entitled to administer the Estate to carry out their duties. Sometimes a Grant is not required, where the Estate is small and certain criteria are met and we give initial guidance as to the most efficient and economical way to collect in, distribute and account for the deceased person’s assets. Peter Burton is the Solicitor in charge of this service. Occasionally it may also be necessary to seek specialist tax advice. If a dispute between beneficiaries arises a case may become contentious which could involve an application to court whilst we undertake such cases this summary of charges is not applicable and we would provide specific fee advice from case to case. In many cases a short form of Return IHT205 is available if the matter is straightforward and fixed fees may be appropriate. These are set out in Section B. In cases where a full report is required in Form IHT400 Section A below applies. Section A Simple Estate Probate process For such an Estate it takes on average between 10 and 20 hours of work and Peter Burton’s hourly rate is £220.00 per hour plus VAT. Other members of our staff assist but no hourly rates for them are payable in addition. We often try to encourage the person in charge of the administration to carry out as much of the everyday work involved as possible themselves, to keep the legal costs down as far as possible, and for us to advise and support them in the initial stages of obtaining the Grant of Probate or Administration and dealing with the transfer of any property as appropriate. Charges range from £1,100.00 to £2,500.00 plus VAT on average and in addition disbursements are payable as set out below. This estimate is applicable for Estates where:- There is a valid Will There is no more than one Property There are no more than 2 bank or building society accounts There are no other intangible assets There are 5-10 beneficiaries and their addresses are known There are no disputes between beneficiaries on division of assets or the Executors or Administrators themselves. If disputes arise this is likely to lead to an increase in costs There are no claims made against the Estate There are no assets outside England and Wales Where there are several beneficiaries and multiple bank accounts and other assets, costs can be at the higher end or greater, but we will never incur the Estate in costs without first giving and agreeing a more detailed estimate. The following disbursements may be payable:- Probate application fee currently £155.00. Please note that these are due to rise very considerably – a detailed estimate should be obtained at the time. Official copies of the Grant – currently £1.50 per copy. Swearing of the Oath (per Executor) – £5 plus £2 per exhibit (Will and any Codicils) HM Land Registry Search fees – £3.00 per item Bankruptcy only Land Charges Department searches (£2.00 per beneficiary) Advertisements in The London Gazette and a local newspaper to protect against unexpected claims from unknown creditors. The cost will depend on the advertising costs of the local newspaper but is usually between £150 and £300. In cases where the Executor or Administrator requires us to do all of the associated work ourselves, this can include the following and be charged accordingly:- Collecting in details of the value of assets and liabilities in the Estate Arranging a valuation of the estate property and personal effects Arranging for contact to be made with all relevant parties Preparing the Inheritance Tax account Preparing the Oath for Executors or Administrators Obtaining a calculation of Inheritance Tax where applicable Advising on minimisation of Inheritance Tax and available exemptions Dealing with correspondence, contacting beneficiaries, collecting in assets and paying debts Arranging for relevant accounts to be prepared where applicable How long will this take? Obtaining a Probate usually takes between 8 and 10 weeks and an average Estate is dealt with within approximately 6 months or sooner. Collecting in assets can take approximately 3 weeks and slightly longer for the assets to be distributed. What this guide does not include:- • Dealing with shareholdings (stocks and bonds) • The sale or transfer of any property in the Estate• Advice on, and accounting for, lifetime giving• Tax planning advice • Advice on trusts in the Will • Advice on, and the preparation of, Deeds of Variation• Will disputes or other potential claims against the Estate Complex and especially large Estates The estimate for a simple Estate above is limited as shown and any potential additional matters such as those not included in that estimate will give rise to additional fees and disbursements. In those circumstances we would provide you with a specific estimate of our proposed fees and any additional disbursements. Section B Fixed Fees These apply where IHT205 procedure is available and we can either:- Obtain the Grant of Probate only and the Executors can administer the Estate or Obtain the Grant of Probate and administer and distribute the Estate How much do these services cost? 1. Obtaining Grant of Probate only:- Fee – £1,000 plus VAT All VAT referred to on this website is at 20% Disbursements – as above 2. To obtain the Grant, provide a full administration service: Fee – in the region of £3,000 plus VAT Disbursements – The potential disbursements are as stated above in Option 1 How long will this take? On average this will take 3-6 months. Obtaining the Grant of Probate takes 10 weeks and time should be allowed for the additional services referred to above. Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney We prepare many Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney and Graham Waite deals with these personally. Our Will preparation service includes:- Interviewing you Taking detailed notes of your circumstance Discussing the various options open to you and subsequently preparing a draft Will for your approval Making any necessary required amendments Preparing an engrossment for you and attending you on Execution of it We also provide free storage of your Will and Lasting Power of Attorney for you. Basic Charge A basic Will costs between £295.00 and £395.00 plus VAT but these can be more, and a more detailed quotation will be given for more complex Wills. Trust advice and detailed IHT planning can be in addition. Lasting Powers of Attorney We prepare both Health and Welfare and Property and Affairs Lasting Powers of Attorney and we would interview you, talk through your circumstances and requirements, prepare a draft Lasting Power of Attorney for your approval, engross it and attend you giving you the relevant certification. Subsequently, we can apply on your behalf for registration to the Court of Protection and see the procedure through. Fees – £310.00 plus VAT £110.00 plus VAT for application to the Court of Protection for Registration Court fee £82.00 per Lasting Power of Attorney. This can be revised from time to time by the Court, in which we case we will of course advise you in advance. These documents are becoming a more essential part of everyday life and are very important. They should also be regularly reviewed to ensure that they are still up to date and that nothing has changed in your circumstances which will require updating them. Updates are available at between £95.00 and £195.00 plus VAT and can be provided within a short timescale. Allow between 7 and 14 days following your interview for the production of a draft Will and an appointment can be made after that for you to sign them. Similarly for Lasting Powers of Attorneys although the Court of Protection procedure allows for between 4 and 8 weeks for registration. We must point out that we do charge for any abortive work carried out by us at our standard hourly rate and aim to keep the time we spend in those circumstances to a minimum. At certain times of the year (usually in the Spring) we do usually offer discounted packages when you use several services together. Always remember to ask. This could make you a considerable saving. https://londonrjs.co.uk/services daily 0.75 2024-06-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e3ddcfacbe6623a7778b8ef/1581196465541-Y2ANA0QYONYXKOE2XUXS/image-asset.jpeg Services - Property Click for information https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e3ddcfacbe6623a7778b8ef/1581196702089-18JHSJD0V9EK0UH61JEL/image-asset.jpeg Services - Family Click for information https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e3ddcfacbe6623a7778b8ef/1581196735054-T7QX0303PO6ACBL0MFY3/image-asset.jpeg Services - Wills & Probate click for information https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e3ddcfacbe6623a7778b8ef/1581196804695-LBNTFBRJIY651WB4CWI5/image-asset.jpeg Services - Dispute Resolution Click for information https://londonrjs.co.uk/michal-czugala daily 0.75 2020-02-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e3ddcfacbe6623a7778b8ef/1581197505919-QJK9RV8GW8CCOJRDBP8P/MichalCzugala.jpg Michal Czugala - Michal Czugala Michal is a Partner at Rice-Jones & Smiths Solicitors specialising in residential property and employment law matters. He advises on and deals with wide range of contentious and non-contentious employment law matters, such as settlement agreements, dismissals, discrimination, whistle-blowing terms of employment and breaches of contract. His property matters include sales and purchases, transfers of equity, lease extensions, tenancy agreements enfranchisement, rights to manage and re-mortgaging. Michal graduated from the University of Hertfordshire with an honours degree in Law and obtained an MA in International Relations from Webster University in Vienna. When he gets a chance, he enjoys watching films and Formula 1. Direct Dial: 020 7269 9973 https://londonrjs.co.uk/conveyancing daily 0.75 2021-05-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e3ddcfacbe6623a7778b8ef/1581200777036-YK686C0XTUBLT6UT20K2/image-asset.jpeg Conveyancing Landlord & Tenant https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e3ddcfacbe6623a7778b8ef/1581200920805-WL5PV6TKS3CRLDK1XYTS/image-asset.jpeg Conveyancing Your Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e3ddcfacbe6623a7778b8ef/1581200733406-83K0Q427RCGAUJG0CJL3/image-asset.jpeg Conveyancing Your Business https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e3ddcfacbe6623a7778b8ef/1582493821914-UOVN7XNZQYFR2775F68D/image-asset.jpeg Conveyancing - Track your conveyancing https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e3ddcfacbe6623a7778b8ef/1582893829568-U49MUCTHCGHFAQ8X4XZA/cqs-logo.jpg Conveyancing - Conveyancing Quality Scheme Rice-Jones & Smiths are appointed to the panel of most UK mortgage lenders. We are delighted to have been awarded membership of the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme which was implemented to ensure the highest standards amongst solicitors practising conveyancing. https://londonrjs.co.uk/peter-burton daily 0.75 2022-02-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e3ddcfacbe6623a7778b8ef/1581197167057-VP4XD5QXFYOJ32V2UJCP/PeterBurton.jpg Peter Burton - Peter Burton Peter has been a solicitor since 1979 and a partner in Rice-Jones & Smiths from 1987. Having practised as a litigator and as a property and estates lawyer he is able to offer a wide range of advice on many aspects of law and deals with property transaction, landlord and tenant disputes, matrimonial property and divorce and probate, both contentious and non-contentious. He is also a Notary Public and regulated by the Faculty of the Archbishop of Canterbury 1 The Sanctuary London SW1P 3JT for notarial services Notary Registration number 550804. Away from the office, Peter enjoys yoga and studying languages or a night at the theatre or a good book and a glass of red wine. Direct Dial: 020 7831 2506 https://londonrjs.co.uk/people daily 0.75 2023-01-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e3ddcfacbe6623a7778b8ef/1581341779563-DMI5XJ9UZ80MES72XU23/JSP+New+Pic.jpg People - John Petrou John Petrou https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e3ddcfacbe6623a7778b8ef/1581198611614-0IWS1XIJ1C213IM0X9FK/ColinCunliffe.jpg People - Colin Cunliffe https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e3ddcfacbe6623a7778b8ef/1581198297490-KI9P55V163GICQ9QJ640/JohnDaley.jpg People - John Daly https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e3ddcfacbe6623a7778b8ef/1581198361778-U4P0W5INVIOQI4W2F1GF/image-asset.jpeg People - Ching Liu https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e3ddcfacbe6623a7778b8ef/1581197505919-QJK9RV8GW8CCOJRDBP8P/MichalCzugala.jpg People - Michal Czugala https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e3ddcfacbe6623a7778b8ef/1619098507067-K407X0MZX986Y846L77D/DJK+2021+Picture.jpg People - David Kain https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e3ddcfacbe6623a7778b8ef/1581197167057-VP4XD5QXFYOJ32V2UJCP/PeterBurton.jpg People - Peter Burton Peter Burton https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e3ddcfacbe6623a7778b8ef/76165f2b-4041-41c1-9184-700367e46c90/WhatsApp+Image+2023-01-11+at+14.37.25.jpeg People - Michael Ellis https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e3ddcfacbe6623a7778b8ef/1581198426098-MXKB6VUXYG1ZU2KD4AZR/image-asset.jpeg People - Claire Creasy https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e3ddcfacbe6623a7778b8ef/1581198265118-CK270B8N0SHT6EVCAKTP/GeeWong.jpg People - Gee Wong https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e3ddcfacbe6623a7778b8ef/1581197762665-E36LONKWAPUT3G0T0NUS/SteveHayward.jpg People - Steve Hayward https://londonrjs.co.uk/your-home daily 0.75 2020-03-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e3ddcfacbe6623a7778b8ef/1583012348238-2GWLMO3MA1QFYVOP8TEH/image-asset.jpeg Your Home - Track your conveyancing https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e3ddcfacbe6623a7778b8ef/1583011150963-BFFQT0R94KWI6LNXMHSN/image-asset.jpeg Your Home - What will it cost Below we give details of our standard costs, but we recommend you contact us for a bespoke quote for our costs and the associated disbursements. We will wherever possible offer the lowest possible costs, particularly where you have a straightforward matter. Residential Purchase costs Residential Sale Costs Residential Mortgage & Remortgage Costs https://londonrjs.co.uk/downloads daily 0.75 2020-03-01 https://londonrjs.co.uk/complaints daily 0.75 2021-04-23 https://londonrjs.co.uk/michael-ellis daily 0.75 2023-02-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e3ddcfacbe6623a7778b8ef/2a96be42-d731-427d-97f3-c94c7bf81ccd/WhatsApp+Image+2023-01-11+at+14.37.25.jpg