We are very conscious that clients want to avoid high legal bills. We always explore the cost-benefit with clients and in many cases, we may be able to offer flexible payment options.
Our fees are based on the amount of time we spend in dealing with our Clients’ matter. The time we spend will include (but will not be limited to) the following types of activities:
1. meetings with Client, experts and maybe others;
2. drafting documents (such as statements of case, various witness statements, and various letters instructing advocates and experts);
3. attending court; considering, preparing, reviewing and working on various documents; correspondence;
4. travel and waiting time when required to attend matters outside of the office; and
5. making and receiving telephone calls.
In addition to the above, we consider various other factors including the complexity of the issues involved in the matter, the speed at which action must be taken, the expertise or specialist knowledge that the matter requires and, if appropriate, the value of the subject matter involved. Our rates may be adjusted upwards if, for example, the matter becomes more complex than expected or must be carried out in an emergency or out of hours. In these circumstances, we reserve the right to increase our usual hourly rate for any work that is required to be carried out outside our normal office hours or on an expedited instruction.
The Fee Earners hourly rates range from £150.00 to £200.00 plus 20% VAT depending upon qualifications and experience.
Although, we provide clear and tailored costs estimates depending upon the specific needs of your case, our fees can range between the following:
Divorce & Family Law
In a straightforward divorce case, we may be able to finalise all matters at an approximate total cost of £800.00 plus 20% VAT and disbursements. This Firm encourages all parties to settle cases early to bring a swift resolution to an already difficult time.
If we are unable to settle the matter early, the costs will depend on how long the case may conclude.
At regular stages, we will review the issue of costs to ensure that there is a cost-benefit to the Client at all stages.
Children cases can range between £5,000 to £15,000 and disbursements although if heavily contested this can increase upwards plus disbursements.
Immigration
Generally, for each case, we charge Clients’ our own stipulated fees and disbursements. Disbursements are expenses relating to a Client’s matter and are in various forms. These expenses can range from medical experts, Home Office fee to translators. It will be our responsibility to make payments on our Client’s behalf to any third parties (such as medical experts) involved in your case.
Kindly note, our quoted fees do not include:
- VAT- This is applicable where a Client already has Leave to Remain in the UK. The current VAT in England is 20% and we will seek to charge you this rate; and
- Home Office Fees
- Immigration Health Surcharge
If the Home Office refuses your application or dependent’s application and you require further advice and assistance in connection with this refusal, we will charge you for any possible appeal or Judicial Review or Administrative Review.
Translation and Interpretation fees
We endeavour to use experts from well-acclaimed companies to provide these services for our clients. As such the fees charged for these services are dependent on several factors, such as the company used for the translation and/or interpretation and the expert used when charging a client for these services. Nevertheless, a client may wish to rely on a family member, friend or acquaintance to assist with these services.
Independent expert report
Sometimes, social workers or medical experts may be required for a Client’s case and we will keep the Client informed should the Client’s case require one. Generally, their fees range from £1,500 – £5,000.
Time limits for Immigration Applications
The length of time it may take to complete a Client’s case is dependent on several factors and it includes (but not limited to):
- the volume of supporting evidence we need to review and consider for your case;
- missing documentation and the length of time it will us to obtain the missing document;
- the language(s) spoken; and
- whether your application includes other dependents.
Please note, the length of time it takes the Home Office to process your application is not within our control. Accordingly, we will strongly advise you to view the processing time on the Home Office Website.
The fees for all applications are reviewed on a case by case basis and for this reason, we can only provide you with a more accurate estimate once we become fully aware of the specifics and circumstances surrounding your case.
Legal fees
| Fiancé(e) or Visit Visa UK | £800 – £1,200 |
| Proposed Civil Partner Visa UK | £800 – £1,200 |
| Entry clearance as an unmarried partner/spouse | £1,500 – £2,000 |
| Switching into a spouse Visa UK | £1,200 – £1,500 |
| Extension of stay as a spouse | £800 – £1,200 |
| ILR Spouse Visa | £1,000 – £1,500 |
| Entry Clearance as a Civil Partner | £1,500 – £2,000 |
| Switching into a Civil Partner Visa | £1000 – £2,000 |
| Extension of stay as a Civil Partner | £1,200 – £2,000 |
| Family & Private Life (Parent) | £1,500 – £2,000 |
| Family & Private Life (unmarried Partner) | £1,500 – £2,000 |
| All Human Rights application | £1,500 – £2,500 |
| Extension of stay as an unmarried partner | £1,200 – £1,500 |
| ILR Unmarried Partner | £1,500 – £2,000 |
| Entry Clearance as a child of a person present & settled in the UK | £1,500 – £2,000 |
| Switching into same sex partner Visa | £1,000 – £2,000 |
| Extension of a same sex partner | £1,000 – £2,000 |
| ILR same sex partner | £1,000 – £2,000 |
| ILR – Victim of Domestic Violence | £1,500 – £2,500 |
| ILR – Bereaved Partner ILR – Bereaved Partner | £1,500 – £2,500 |
UK Work Visas:
| Type of Visa | Our Cost |
| ILR Tier 1 General | £2,000 – £3,500 |
| Entry Clearance as Innovator Visa | £4,000 – £5,000 |
| Switching into Innovator Visa | £4,000 – £5,000 |
| Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa Extension | £2,500 – £3,500 |
| ILR As Tier 1 Entrepreneur | £2,000- £3,500 |
| Dependants of Tier 1 Entrepreneur | £1,000 |
| Entry Clearance as Tier 1 Exceptional Talent | £2,500 – £3,500 |
| Switching into Tier 1 Exceptional Talent | £2,000 – £3,500 |
| Extension of Stay as Tier 1 Exceptional Talent | £1,800 – £3,000 |
| ILR As Tier 1 Exceptional Talent | £2,500 – £3,500 |
| Dependants of Tier 1 Exceptional Talent Migrant | £800 |
| Switching into Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur | £1,700 – £2,500 |
| Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur Visa Extension | £1,700 – £2,500 |
| Dependants of Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur | £800 |
| Entry Clearance as Tier 1 Investor | £3,000 – £4,000 |
| Switching into Tier 1 Investor Visa | £3,000 – £4,000 |
| Tier 1 Investor Visa Extension | £3,000 – £4,000 |
| ILR As Tier 1 Investor | £3,500 – £5,000 |
| Entry Clearance as Tier 2 General Migrant | £1,500 – £2,000 |
| Switching into Tier 2 General | £1,500 – £2,000 |
| Tier 2 General Extension | £1,500 – £2,000 |
| ILR Tier 2 General | £1,700 – £2,500 |
| Dependants of Tier 2 General Migrant | £800 |
| Entry Clearance as Tier 2 Minister of Religion | £1,000 – £1,200 |
| Switching into Tier 2 Minister of Religion | £1,500 – £2,500 |
| Tier 2 Minister of Religion Visa Extension | £1,500 – £2,500 |
| ILR Tier 2 Minister of Religion | £1,500 – £2,500 |
| Dependants of Tier 2 Minister of Religion | £1,000 |
| Entry Clearance as Tier 2 Sportsperson | £1,500 |
| Switching into Tier 2 Sportsperson | £1,500 |
| Tier 2 Sportsperson Visa Extension | £1,000 – £1,500 |
| ILR Tier 2 Sportsperson | £1,000 – £1,700 |
| Dependants of Tier 2 Sportsperson | £800 |
| Entry Clearance as Tier 2 ICT | £2,000 – £3,000 |
| Switching into Tier 2 ICT | £1,500 – £2,000 |
| Tier 2 ICT Extension | £1,500 |
| ILR Tier 2 ICT | £2,000 – £3,000 |
| Dependants of Tier 2 ICT Migrant | £1,000 |
| Entry Clearance as Domestic Worker | £2,000 – £3,000 |
| Domestic Worker Visa Extension | £1,500 – £2,500 |
| ILR Domestic Worker | £2,500 – £3,500 |
| Dependants of Domestic Worker | £1,000 |
| Entry Clearance as A Sole Representative of Overseas Business | £3,000 – £4,500 |
| Sole Representative Visa Extension | £2,000 – £4,000 |
| ILR As Sole Representative | £3,000 – £4,500 |
| Dependants of Sole Representatives | £1,000 – £2,000 |
| Dependants of A Person With UK Ancestry Visa | £2,000 – £3,000 |
| ILR UK Ancestry | £2,000 – £3,000 |
| UK Ancestry Visa Extension | £1,500 |
| Entry Clearance – UK Ancestry Visa | £2,500 – £3,500 |
| Entry Clearance as Tier 5 Charity Worker | £1,000 – £1,800 |
| Tier 5 Charity Workers Visa Extension | £1,000 – £1,800 |
| Dependants of Tier 5 Charity Worker | £1,000 |
| Entry Clearance as Tier 5 Creative & Sporting | £2,000 |
| Switching into Tier 5 Creative & Sporting | £1,500 – £2,500 |
| Tier 5 Creative & Sporting Extension | £1,500 – £2,500 |
| Dependants of Tier 5 Creative & Sporting | £1,000 |
| Entry Clearance as Tier 5 Religious Worker | £1,500 – £2,500 |
| Tier 5 Religious Workers Visa Extension | £1,500 – £2,500 |
| Switching into Tier 5 Government Authorised Exchange | £1,500 – £2,500 |
| Tier 5 Government Authorised Exchange Visa Extension | £1,500 – £2,500 |
| Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) | £1,500 – £2,500 |
| Switching into Tier 5 International Agreement | £1,500 – £2,500 |
| Tier 5 International Agreement Visa Extension | £1,500 – £2,500 |
| ILR – Tier 5 International Agreement | £2,000 – £2,500 |
Immigration Appeal and Admin Review:
| Administrative Review Against Refusal of Entry Clearance as PBS Migrant | £800 – £1,500 |
| Admin Review Against Refusal of An In-Country Refusal by The Home Office | £800 – £1,500 |
| Entry Clearance Appeal Stage 1 (Pre-Hearing Notice) | £1,000 |
| Entry Clearance Appeal Stage 2 (Post-Hearing Notice) | £1,500 – £2,000 |
| In-Country Immigration Appeal | £1,500 – £2,000 |
| Asylum Appeal | £1,500 – £2,000 |
| Deportation Appeal | £2,500 – £3,500 |
| Application To 1st Tier Tribunal for Permission to Appeal To Upper Tribunal | £1,000 |
| Application to Upper Tribunal for Permission To Appeal To Upper Tribunal | £1,000 |
| Appeal to The Upper Tribunal Following Grant Of Permission To Appeal | £1,500 – £2,000 |
| Application to The Upper Tribunal For Permission To Appeal To The Court Of Appeal | £1,500 – £2,000 |
| Application to The Court Of Appeal For Permission To Appeal To Court Of Appeal | £1,500 – £2,000 |
| Appeal to The Court Of Appeal | £3,000 – £3,500 |
Judicial Review in the Upper Tribunal:
| Pre-Action Protocol for Judicial Review Against the Home Office, UKBA | £700 – £1,500 |
| Paper Application to Upper Tribunal for Permission to Apply For Judicial Review (JR) | £1,500 – £2,500 |
| Renewal of An Application for Permission to Apply For Judicial Review (JR) Against The Home Office, UKBA | £1,500 |
| Judicial Review Against the Home Office, UKVI Following Grant of Permission to Apply for Judicial Review (JR) | £2,500 – £3,500 |
| Emergency Injunction to Stop Removal from The UK | £2,000 – £3,000 |
| Immigration Health Surcharge is to be paid in every application (except applications for Indefinite Leave to remain or Naturalisation) | |
| Annual per person fee | £400 |
| Home Office fees and Super Priority Fees | Please refer to the Home Office Web Site |
| UKVCAS FEES | Please refer to the UKVCAS Web Site |
| Tribunal fees | |
| Paper appeal | £80 |
| Oral appeal | £140 |
At Mascots, we make every effort to submit this type of application within 2-8 weeks of receiving our Client’s instructions. If we are unable to adhere to this schedule, we will inform you at the earliest convenience and provide you with regular updates.
All fees quoted here are based on estimations and may vary from time to time depending on the complexity of the case. Nevertheless, we endeavour to provide a Client with an accurate figure once all the relevant information about a specific case becomes known to us. The complexity of a case is dependent on factors such as (not limited to):
- any pending or previous convictions;
- any pending or previous immigration offences;
- any current or previous immigration history;
- periods of absence;
- known and unknown periods without any work or study activity;
- failure to provide specified documents;
- periods of unemployment in a home country;
- employment history such as level of experience and seniority;
- reasons for Home Office to consider you an overstay risk; and
- no evidence or minimal evidence of genuine relationship;
Litigation
Fees relating to litigation are charged on a case by case basis and very specific to a Client’s circumstances. Consequently, the fees stated below only applies to when a claim relating to a debt has not been contested, and an enforcement action is not required. Depending on the case, these fees can be charged on an hourly basis or may be fixed.
| Debt Value | Court Fee | Our Fee (+20% VAT) | Total |
| Up to £5,000 | £35 – £205 | £600 – £1000 | £755 – £1,405 |
| £5,001 – £10,000 | £410 – £455 | <£750 – £1,500 | £1,310 – £2,255 |
| £10,001 – £50,000 | 4.5% – 5% of the value of the claim. | £1,500 – £2,500 | £2,250.05 – £5,500 |
On the other hand, if your debt is disputed at any point during the duration of the case, we will discuss any further work required and provide you with suitable advice and revised fees if needed. Our fees charged hourly will be dependent on several factors such as the experience and qualification of the solicitor allocated to deal with your case and the location.
The Fee Earners hourly rates range from £140.00 to £250.00 depending upon qualifications and experience.
| Directors, Solicitors with over 4 years’ relevant experience | £250 |
| Solicitors | £175 – £220 |
| Trainees and Paralegals | £120 – £150 |
The aforementioned fees do not include VAT. On average, this type of work may take between 4-50 hours to complete. This means that the average costs are between £700 and £12,500 plus VAT.
Please note the hours used to review and advice you on your case depends on several factors such as (but not limited to):
- circumstances of your case;
- the volume of supporting evidence we may need to consider for the case;
- the level of disclosure required;
- circumstances surrounding the debt in question; i.e. whether the claim is settled upon receipt of initial correspondence from us;
- response received; i.e. whether the claim has been defended or not;
- whether we need to consult an expert in connection with your case and the volume of evidence required from the expert;
- the number of days that a final hearing may be listed for; and
- the conduct of the other party.
Notwithstanding the above, if a Client is able to provide sufficient evidence during our first meeting, our proposed charge will be at the lower end of our fee range. On the contrary, if a claim is being defended or a counterclaim is being submitted, then the fees may be in excess of the aforementioned fees. Please note that we will discuss this with you during the duration of the case.
Please note that our services may include (not exhaustive):
- comprehensive discussion about your case including the circumstances surrounding the case, the most appropriate course of action to be taken and any other viable options which we may be able to use;
- advising you on the requirements of the Civil Procedure Rules and how you meet its criteria
- reviewing and considering your supporting advice;
- if needed, we will assist you to obtain any further evidence such as obtaining witness evidence;
- preparing and submitting your claim;
- if needed we will attend court with you and ensure that you are represented by a barrister;
- advising you on the outcome of your claim and any further actions or steps you may need to take in connection with your claim; and
- advising on of any enforcement options available following a successful outcome.
Disbursements (not included in costs set out above)
Generally, for each case, we charge Clients our own stipulated fees and disbursements. Disbursements are expenses relating to a Client’s matter and are in various forms. It will be our responsibility to make payments on our Client’s behalf to any third parties (such as medical experts) involved in your case. Further, potential disbursements may include (not exhaustive):
- court fees;
- counsel fees;
- expert fees;
- mediator’s costs;
- additional disbursement such as mileage and/or travel expenses may be apportioned to your case if we attend a court hearing, meeting or mediation on your behalf;
Please note that the aforementioned fees do not include:
- enforcement costs;
- an additional application which may be required;
- the costs incurred by other parties which you may be ordered to pay; and
- any appeal relating to the dismissal of your case by the courts.
The duration of a claim
Unfortunately, we are not in a position to advise you on how long the courts will take to process your claim. Nevertheless, we will endeavour to submit this type of application within a reasonable time of receiving your instructions. Should this take longer than expected, we will inform you at the earliest opportunity of any delays and provide you with a progress update.
We will adhere to any Pre-Action Protocols prior to issuing any proceedings to ensure that no penalties are levied in respect of the recovery of costs. This procedure can also take a considerable about of time to adhere to.
In addition, if the responding party decides to use the mediation route instead of having a court hearing, then we will advise our clients to consider this route.
Please note the anticipated number of hours and fees are an estimate based on the facts above. All applications are likely to vary and of course, we can give you a more accurate estimate once we have more information about your specific case.
Probate
During this difficult time, we can assist you in administering the deceased person estate. You may appreciate that it is likely to be difficult to estimate a likely fee before we know the entire estate and its complexity.
Administration of estate
Our fees for the administration of an estate range between 1% to 4% of the gross value of the estate depending on the complexity of your case and the experience of the lawyer dealing with the estate. You would be informed of any increase to our estimated fees prior to us carrying out any further work.
Hour Rate and Timescale to deal with the estate
1 to 4% of the gross estate (minimum fee of £1,500) plus hourly rate of £150 – £250 (+20% VAT). VAT is a government tax that we are required to charge, and will usually be added at 20% to our fees and disbursements, except where we indicate the disbursements are outside the scope of VAT.
It is difficult to give an accurate estimate of costs as this does depend on the experience of the lawyer, complexity of the estate which varies depending on the size of the estate, the type of assets held, the number and type of beneficiary etc. The costs can range anywhere between £1,500 – £35,000 (+20% VAT) for a complex case. It can take 3 – 6 months to receive a grant of probate for a standard matter and then a further 6 – 12 months to conclude matters. More complex cases can take between 18 – 24 months to conclude. We will give a full estimate of costs and likely timescales at the start of the matter.
Breakdown of costs:
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.
Disbursements:
- Probate court fee: £155 (plus £15 for 10 copies);
- Bankruptcy-only Land Charges Department Searches: £2 per beneficiary;
- Post in The London Gazette: £71.00, which protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors;
- Post in a Local Newspaper: £110, which also helps to protect against unexpected claims.
As part of our fixed fee we will
- Provide you with a dedicated and experienced probate solicitor to work on your matter;
- Identify the legally appointed executors or administrators and beneficiaries;
- Accurately identify the type of Probate application you will require;
- Obtain the relevant documents required to make the application;
- Complete the Probate Application and the relevant HMRC forms;
- Draft a statement of truth;
- Make the application to the Probate Court on your behalf;
- Obtain the Probate and securely send two copies to you;
- Collect and distribute all assets in the estate.
Disbursements
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.
Disbursements included in this fee:
- Probate application fee: £155;
- Bankruptcy-only Land Charges Department Searches: £2 per beneficiary;
- Post in The London Gazette: £71.00, which protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors;
- Post in a Local Newspaper: £110, which also helps to protect against unexpected claims.
Additional costs
- If there is no will or the estate consists of any share holdings (stocks and bonds) there is likely to be additional costs that could range significantly depending on the estate and how it is to be dealt with. We can give you a more accurate quote once we have more information.
- Dealing with the sale or transfer of any property in the estate is not included.