Probate Fees
Changes in probate fees.
From May 2017 probate fees are set to dramatically increase.
The new fees are based on the size of the estate and are in addition to..link
Most people use either emotive or practical reasons when choosing a solicitor, quite often it's because either they have been recommended, or the firms' office is convenient to where they work or live, but is this the best way to choose a solicitor?
We would recommend that you contact a number of firms before you engage a solicitor.
We feel that before you choose a solicitor you should.
- understand who will be dealing with your work, and make sure you speak to that person.
- ask about costs - fixed price or hourly rates
- does the firm provide a free or reduced cost initial interview
- what will the solicitor be doing for you
- what experience they have in that area of law
- what else can the firm provide - for example back up if your solicitor is on holiday or ill
- any environmental considerations, for example wheel chair access
For many areas of law the Law society has set up accreditation schemes, for example, the Family Law Society, Wills and Inheritance Quality mark, Conveyancing Quality and many others. If a solicitor has one of these marks, it means that they are approved experts in that area of law, it does not mean that those without the Quality mark cannot help you, it may be that they have decided not to apply, but it is a benchmark.
In addition to the Law Society Quality marks, firms may have the Lexcel Quality mark which the Law Society state is a firm's 'Gold standard' and covers such areas as client care, complaints, data management etc. To muddy the waters a bit more, many solicitors have qualified for the international quality mark ISO 9001, which many believe is harder to obtain.
It's good that these quality marks exist, but every solicitor must apply by the extremely comprehensive Solicitors Regulations Authorities code of conduct anyway, full details of the code of conduct is available online through the SRA web site www.sra.org.uk. The code covers the manner in which the solicitors should carry out their duties, if the solicitor fails to provide an acceptable service, you do have recourse to complain about the solicitor to the Legal Ombudsman www.legalombudsman.org.uk.
The point we are making is that the legal industry is a tightly regulated industry, quality standards are great indicators but many great solicitors choose not to apply for them, we would recommend that when you are talking to the different solicitors, you use quality service marks as one of the factors you consider when making your decision.
If you wish to see the full list of Quality service marks through the Law Society please visit their web site.
What is a Flying Freehold and should it matter?..
linkChanges in probate fees.
From May 2017 probate fees are set to dramatically increase.
The new fees are based on the size of the estate and are in addition to..link
Police Chiefs are calling for a change in the 'stop and search' laws to defeat knife crime...link
Children and the law - Committing a crime.
A child under 10 will not be charged with a criminal offence but they can face consequences for their actions.
The..link
Government to finally introduce 'no-fault' Divorce laws..
linkRedundancy and Redundancy Pay.
You may have rights when you are being made redundant which cover.............link
Equal Pay - The Equal Pay Act of 2010 is designed to prevent discrimination in the work place. When it comes to equal pay this normally manifests itself in an e..link
Recent report uncovers failings by the police and prosecution service...link
Hermes become the first major company to make concessions to 'Gig..
linkZero Hours Contracts.
Since the introduction of zero hours contracts, there has been much debate on how they should be used and not abused......link
Unfortunately, not everyone is respectful in life, most of the time we just move on and keep our opinion to ourselves, but when that comes to where we live you..link
The objective of Family Mediation is to provide a less confrontational approach to separation than the traditional Legal Model, helping parents communicate to f..link
Solicitors.com are not a firm of solicitors, and any content on the site should not be used in substitute for obtaining Legal advice from a solicitor regulated in the UK, Solicitors.com recommends that you contact a firm of solicitors to discuss your individual legal requirement. Whilst we strive to bring you accurate up to date content, all content on this site is not legal advice and is not guaranteed to be correct. Use of this site does not create a client relationship.