Here at Optimal Solicitors, we understand that the cost of legal support only adds to the stress of dealing with a matter, whatever it may be. That’s why we offer legal advice at a competitive price, while maintaining our quality service.

 

We’re fully transparent about our fees from the outset, so our clients can select the services that suit them. You’ll find the links for our pricing via the categories listed below. Please note that these are a guide – no-win, no-fee; fixed-fee; and hourly rates apply depending on the nature of the work you require. We’ll be happy to explain the likely costs when you speak to one of our experts about your individual circumstances.

 

Legal aid 

Please note: we don’t currently hold a legal aid franchise, so we’re unable to act on any case where you require funding with legal aid. Although we don’t offer it, you can find out more about your eligibility for legal aid here.

 

Consultation

We don’t offer free consultations, but you can request a paid one. Read about the pricing of our consultations here.

 

Conveyancing

We can support you with the conveyancing process: purchase, sale, remortgaging, and transfer of equity. Learn the pricing for each area here.

 

Employment

We can represent you in a range of employment disputes. Discover the cases we support and the pricing for each here.

 

Probate

Our Private Client Team can help with any aspect of securing probate and distribution of assets. Find out our full range of pricing for our probate services.

 


 

If you’re thinking about legal aid, it’s important to understand exactly who is eligible and what this implies. Read on for more insight, including frequently asked questions to help you find the right support.

 

Do we offer legal aid?

No, we don’t currently hold a legal aid franchise. This means we’re unable to act in relation to any case where you require funding with legal aid. However, read on as we find that enquiries of this nature often involve some misunderstanding of what funding involves.

Who is eligible for legal aid?

Access to legal aid is limited to specific cases, and is determined by reference to the applicant’s means (their income and/or wealth). We’re always happy to discuss eligibility criteria with you, but as it’s means-tested, we often find that our clients are ineligible for legal aid.

 

What types of cases are eligible for legal aid?

 

Usually, legal aid is for cases in the family law or public law sphere – such as those related to social services and children needing to be taken into care, as well as domestic violence. Cases of divorce or arguments over money wouldn’t receive legal aid. Civil disputes, such as an argument with a neighbour or council, could be eligible for legal aid.

The government provides further guidance on what type of cases can access legal aid here.

Do I have to pay back legal aid?

 

Yes. It’s a common misconception that legal aid is essentially a gift; it is in fact a loan. If you manage to get legal aid, you may have to pay some or all of the costs back.

 

Is legal aid a good deal for me?

 

Legal aid can be worth it if you’re eligible, but remember, it’s means-tested and limited to very specific cases. Plus, many have to repay it, and will need to go through the process of waiting for legal aid to be approved. It can be better to use paid-for legal services and get your case sorted quicker.

 


 

 

We understand that you may wish to discuss your circumstances with us prior to instructing our services. Although we don’t offer free consultations, we offer paid consultations for various legal cases.

 

This covers up to one hour’s professional time to open your file, peruse any documents, research any points that require advice, and provide this via verbal or written communication.

 

For this service we charge £180.00 (£150.00+VAT).

 

Get in touch if you’d like to arrange a consultation.

 


 

 

Our Conveyancing Team can take you through any aspect of your residential property transaction: sale, purchase, or remortgaging. We’ll support you at every stage of the process, and provide a personal touch during this complex and stressful time.

The team is supervised by Mary Beecham, a licensed Conveyancer with more than 10 years’ post-qualifying experience. On a day-to-day basis, the team is led by Wessley Sumner, a Conveyancing Executive with over 10 years’ relevant experience.

 

Sale

Our fees cover all the work needed to complete the sale of your home. This usually includes dealing with payments to the estate agent, transferring the sale proceeds to you on completion, and paying off any mortgage registered against the property.

 

Conveyancers’ fees

These fees are fixed at the value of your property as follows (all fees are subject to VAT at the current rate):

 

Sale price
Our fee VAT Total
From To
£0.00 £100,000.00 £425.00 £85.00 £510.00
£100,001.00 £200,000.00 £475.00 £95.00 £570.00
£200,001.00 £300,000.00 £550.00 £110.00 £660.00
£300,001.00 £400,000.00 £600.00 £120.00 £720.00
£400,001.00 £500,000.00 £675.00 £135.00 £810.00
£500,001.00 £750,000.00 £750.00 £150.00 £900.00
£750,001.00 £1,000,000.00 £850.00 £170.00 £1,020.00
£1,000,001.00 £3,000,000.00 £1,125.00 £225.00 £1,350.00

 

Standard additional costs

There are additional costs relating to your transaction which are payable to third parties – these are known as ‘disbursements’. The below fees are charged on most sale transactions:

 

Description Fee VAT Total
Office copies per document £3.00 None £3.00
Bank transfer fee (per payment) £30.00 £6.00 £36.00
Electronic ID check per person £11.00 £2.20 £13.20

 

Schedule of additional costs relating to our sale services

There may also be extra charges if your transaction is subject to any unusual or complex matters that need to be dealt with as part of the conveyancing process. Below are some examples of our additional charges if one of the below applies. We’ll keep you updated if any of these additional costs become applicable to your transaction.

 

Description Fee VAT Total
Arranging/approving indemnity insurance policy £60.00 £12.00 £72.00
Leasehold property £250.00 £50.00 £300.00
Dealing with unregistered title £200.00 £40.00 £240.00
Removal of/or compliance with restrictions £95.00 £19.00 £114.00
Dealing with a lease extension (depending on complexity) £495.00 to £2,000.00 £99.00 to £400.00 £594.00 to £2,400.00
Properties with shared ownership £150.00 £30.00 £180.00
Preparing a statutory declaration £150.00 £30.00 £180.00
Preparing a deed of trust (depending on complexity) £600.00 to £900.00 £120.00 to £180.00 £720.00 to £1,080.00
Mortgage discharge fee £95.00 £19.00 £114.00
Dealing with additional title £60.00 £12.00 £72.00
High-rise flat fee £450.00 £90.00 £540.00

 

The above isn’t an exhaustive list, however we can advise you of any additional charges that may become part of your transaction and when they arise.

Purchase

Optimal Solicitors’ fees cover all the work necessary to complete the purchase of your new home. This includes:

  • Reviewing the seller’s legal pack
  • Raising enquiries
  • Submitting local searches
  • Complying with mortgage lender requirements
  • Dealing with registration at the Land Registry
  • Payment of Stamp Duty Land Tax if the property is in England, or Land Transaction Tax if it’s in Wales

 

Conveyancers’ fees

Our fixed fees are dependent on the property value, which we’ve provided in the table below (all fees are subject to VAT at the current rate):

 

Purchase price
Our fee VAT Total
From To
£0.00 £100,000.00 £450.00 £90.00 £540.00
£100,001.00 £200,000.00 £500.00 £100.00 £600.00
£200,001.00 £300,000.00 £575.00 £115.00 £690.00
£300,001.00 £400,000.00 £600.00 £120.00 £720.00
£400,001.00 £500,000.00 £675.00 £135.00 £810.00
£500,001.00 £750,000.00 £925.00 £185.00 £1,100.00
£750,001.00 £1,000,000.00 £1,075.00 £215.00 £1,290.00
£1,000,001.00 £3,000,000.00 £1,225.00 £245.00 £1,470.00

 

Standard additional fees

Disbursements are additional costs relating to your transaction, payable to third parties. We handle the payment of these on your behalf, helping to make it a smooth transaction and reduce the chances of delays.

The below fees are charged on most purchases (all fees are subject to VAT at the current rate):

 

Description Fee VAT Total
Bank transfer fee (per transaction) £30.00 £6.00 £36.00
Land Registry search £3.00 £0.60 £3.60
Bankruptcy search £2.00 None £2.00
Electronic ID check (per person) £11.00 £2.20 £13.20
Land Registry fees (range) £20.00 to £1,105.00 None £20.00 to £1,105.00
Search bundle (environmental, water, local) £170.00 £34.00 £204.00
Lawyer checker £18.00 £3.60 £21.60

 

Standard purchase property searches

The following searches are advised on all purchases – these are a prerequisite if your purchase is subject to a mortgage. Cash buyers can opt out, but must sign a disclaimer to do so.

  • Local authority search
  • Water authority search
  • Coal search (applicable if the property is in proximity of a mining area)
  • Environmental search

 

Please note that mortgage lenders may occasionally require additional searches – we’ll advise you if this happens.

 

Stamp Duty or Land Tax (on purchase)

You may also need to pay Stamp Duty Land Tax – though you could be exempt depending on the value of the property, or if you’re a first-time buyer. You can calculate the amount you’ll need to pay using HMRC’s dedicated calculator. If the property is in Wales, you’ll pay Land Transaction Tax, which you can calculate here.

How much you pay depends on your individual circumstances. When we have all the necessary information from you, we can advise you on this and calculate the amount owed. Please note: we don’t provide tax advice, and may advise you to seek independent advice from a tax specialist if the calculation is complex.

 

Schedule of additional costs relating to our purchase services

Depending on the nature of the transaction, there can be extra charges to complete the purchase, which we’ve listed below. We’ll update you if any of these become applicable to your transaction:

Description Fee VAT Total
Bank transfer free (per transaction) £30.00 £6.00 £36.00
Leasehold fee £250.00 £50.00 £300.00
Transaction involving shared ownership £150.00 £30.00 £180.00
New build purchases £250.00 £50.00 £300.00
Preparing a deed of trust (depending on complexity) £600.00 to £900.00 £120.00 to £180.00 £720.00 to £1,080.00
Arranging indemnity insurance policy £60.00 £12.00 £72.00
Dealing with a lease extension (depending on complexity) £495.00 to £2,000.00 £99.00 to £400.00 £594.00 to £2,400.00
LMS mortgage administration fee £25.00 £5.00 £30.00
High-rise flat fee £450.00 £90.00 £540.00

 

The above isn’t an exhaustive list, however we can advise you of any additional charges that may become part of your transaction as and when they arise.

Additional charges relating to leasehold properties

Additional charges relating to the purchase of a residential leasehold property can be required – for instance, you may need to pay fees to the landlord and/or management company depending on the requirements set out in the lease. These can be detailed in the leasehold management pack which we’ll obtain from the landlord and/or management company. If you’re selling a property, you may also need to purchase a management pack from the landlord and/or management company.

Examples of some anticipated fees linked to landlord/managed properties are below (but please note the actual costs could exceed these).

 

Description Notes Fee range VAT range Total
Notice of transfer fee This fee is payable on purchase £50.00-£200.00 £10.00-£40.00 £60.00-£240.00
Notice of charge fee Applicable for a mortgage £50.00-£200.00 £10.00-£40.00 £60.00-£240.00
Deed of covenant fee This fee is payable on purchase £50.00-£200.00 £10.00-£40.00 £60.00-£240.00
Share/member certificate fee This fee is payable on purchase £50.00-£200.00 £10.00-£40.00 £60.00-£240.00
Licence to assign £50.00-£200.00 £10.00-£40.00 £60.00-£240.00
Certificate of compliance fee This fee is payable on purchase £50.00-£200.00 £10.00-£40.00 £60.00-£240.00
Management pack £100.00 £500.00 £20.00-£100.00 £120.00-£600.00

 

The above list isn’t exhaustive and other disbursements may apply depending on the terms of the lease. A member of the team will update you on specific fees upon receipt and review of the lease.

It’s also worth noting that fees can vary depending on the structure of a property and may be much more than the above estimates. Once we have all the documents and required information, we can advise you of an accurate figure. There can also be different fees payable on some building structures, and these can vary depending upon the management companies involved and the terms of the lease.

 

You should also be aware that ground rent and service charges are likely to apply during the ownership of your property. We’ll confirm the ground rent and the anticipated service charge once we have this information.

Remortgage

Optimal’s fees cover all the work required to complete the remortgage of your property. Our services include checking the title register, approving the new mortgage offer, redeeming any existing mortgage, and dealing with registration at the Land Registry.

Conveyancer’s fees

Our fixed fees are dependent on the loan amount as below (all fees are subject to VAT at the current rate).

Value
Our fee VAT Total
From To
£0.00 £100,000.00 £150.00 £30.00 £180.00
£100,001.00 £200,000.00 £200.00 £40.00 £240.00
£200,001.00 £300,000.00 £250.00 £50.00 £300.00
£300,001.00 £400,000.00 £300.00 £60.00 £360.00
£400,001.00 £500,000.00 £350.00 £70.00 £420.00
£500,001.00 £750,000.00 £400.00 £80.00 £480.00
£750,001.00 £1,000,000.00 £450.00 £90.00 £540.00
£1,000,001.00 £3,000,000.00 £500.00 £100.00 £600.00

 

Standard additional costs

These additional costs (‘disbursements’) relate to your transaction and are payable to third parties. We handle the payment of these additional fees on your behalf to ensure a smooth transaction, and reduce the likelihood of delays.

The below fees are charged on most remortgage transactions:

 

Description Fee VAT Total
Electronic ID check (per person) £11.00 £2.20 £13.20
Bank transfer fee (per transaction) £30.00 £6.00 £36.00
Land Registry search £3.00 £0.60 £3.60
Bankruptcy search £2.00 None £2.00
Land Registry fee (range) £20.00 to £305.00 None £20.00 to £305.00
Office copies (per document) £3.00 None £3.00

 

Schedule of additional costs relating to our remortgage services

Depending on the nature of the transaction there can be additional charges to complete the remortgage. We’ll keep you updated if any of the below charges apply to completing your transaction.

 

Description Fee VAT Total
Leasehold property fee £150.00 £30.00 £180.00
Dealing/complying with a restriction £95.00 £19.00 £114.00
Preparation and service of notice of assignment/charge £35.00 £7.00 £42.00
Mortgage redemption (per redemption) £95.00 £19.00 £114.00
Help to Buy redemption £150.00 £30.00 £180.00
Dealing with a third-party solicitor £175.00 £35.00 £210.00
Islamic mortgage redemption £200.00 £40.00 £240.00
Arranging an indemnity policy £60.00 £12.00 £72.00
Staircasing fee (shared ownership) £400.00 £80.00 £480.00
LMS mortgage administration fee £25.00 £5.00 £30.00
High rise fee £450.00 £90.00 £540.00
Dealing with the registration of the charge at companies house (Ltd Company) £50.00 £10.00 £60.00

 

Additional charges relating to leasehold properties

As detailed above there can be additional charges related to the remortgage of a residential leasehold property.

You may need to pay fees to the landlord and/or management company depending on the requirements set out in the lease. We’re unable to determine these costs at the start of the transaction, and will report to you as and when these additional costs become available. These fees and costs can be detailed in the leasehold management pack which we’ll obtain from the landlord and/or management company. If you’re remortgaging, you may also have to purchase a management pack from the landlord and/or management company.

Typical examples of some of these anticipated fees in relation to landlord/managed properties are set out below (though please note the actual costs could exceed these).

 

Description Fee range VAT range Total
Notice of charge fee £50.00-£200.00 £10.00-£40.00 £60.00-£240.00
Certificate of compliance fee £50.00-£200.00 £10.00-£40.00 £60.00-£240.00
Management pack £100.00-£500.00 £20.00-£100.00 £120.00-£600.00

The above list isn’t exhaustive and other disbursements may apply depending on the terms of the lease. A member of our team will update you on specific fees following receipt and review of the lease.

Fees can depend on the structure of a property, and so can be much more than the above estimates. We can advise you of an accurate figure, once we’re in receipt of all your specific documents related to the transaction. There can also be different fees payable on some building structures, and these can vary depending on the management companies involved and the terms of the lease.

 

Transfer of equity

Optimal’s fees cover all the work required to complete the transfer of equity. Our services include dealing with registration at the Land Registry.

Conveyancer’s fees

We charge a fixed fee of £540.00 (£450.00+VAT) for all transactions.

 

Standard additional costs

These are additional costs relating to your transaction and are payable to third parties. We handle the payment of these on your behalf to ensure a smooth transaction, and so there are no delays.

The below fees are charged on most transfer of equity transactions:

 

Description Fee VAT Total
Electronic ID check (per person) £11.00 £2.20 £13.20
Bank transfer fee (per transaction) £30.00 £6.00 £36.00
Land Registry search £3.00 £0.60 £3.60
Bankruptcy search £2.00 None £2.00
Land Registry fee (range) £20.00 to £1,105.00 None £20.00 to £1,105.00
Office copies (per document) £3.00 None £3.00

 

Schedule of additional costs relating to our transfer of equity services

Depending on the nature of the transaction, there can be additional charges to complete the transfer of equity. We’ll keep you updated if any of the below charges become applicable to completing your transaction.

Description Fee VAT Total
Leasehold property fee £200.00 £40.00 £240.00
Dealing/complying with a restriction £95.00 £19.00 £114.00
Preparation and service of notice of assignment/charge £35.00 £7.00 £42.00
Mortgage redemption (per redemption) £95.00 £19.00 £114.00
Help to Buy redemption £150.00 £30.00 £180.00
Dealing with a third-party solicitor £175.00 £35.00 £210.00
Transfer of equity and remortgage £200.00 £40.00 £240.00
Islamic mortgage redemption £200.00 £40.00 £240.00
Arranging an indemnity policy £60.00 £12.00 £72.00
Submission of SDLT return/Welsh LTT return £75.00 £15.00 £90.00
Staircasing fee (shared ownership) £400.00 £80.00 £480.00
Dealing with the registration of the charge at companies house (Ltd Company) £50.00 £10.00 £60.00
High rise fee £450.00 £90.00 £540.00

 


 

We’ve supported and represented a range of clients from all backgrounds in a variety of employment disputes. We offer expertise in the following areas:

 

  • Unfair/wrongful dismissal
  • Redundancy
  • Settlement (compromise) agreements
  • Discrimination
  • Employment tribunal claims
  • Paternity/maternity rights
  • Employment rights

 

Optimal Solicitors has a proven track record in providing effective employment law advice, enabling employees to understand where they stand legally when they feel their rights may be affected.

Your case will be managed by our Employment Team’s Supervising Solicitor, Matthew Moss. Matthew is an Employment Law Solicitor with over four years’ post-qualifying experience.  Some daily tasks and administrative duties may be undertaken by experienced department assistants, such as Paralegals,  who may assist on your matter, but will be supervised at all times by qualified members of the team.

 

Employment fees and funding your case

We can advise you on the options available for funding your case – these depend on your individual circumstances. Our standard charge for this type of work is £240 per hour inclusive (£200.00+VAT). Running a case start to finish (full service) can cost between £7,200.00 and £9,600.00 (£6,000.00 and £8,000.00+VAT). In certain circumstances, we may accept your case on a no-win, no-fee basis, where we charge 25% of the damages recovered (which includes VAT). We’ll guide you through this when you first instruct us.

 

Alternatively, it may be possible to unbundle specific tasks on your case – for example, if you already have or want to handle your case personally. Our charges for unbundling are:

 

Task Cost VAT Total
Consultation £150.00 £30.00 £180.00
Draft a letter (depending on complexity) £300.00 to £1,000.00 £60.00 to £200.00 £360.00 to £1,200.00
Draft ET1 (depending on complexity) £500.00 to £2,000.00 £100.00 to £400.00 £600.00 to £2,400.00
Draft schedule of loss (or updated schedule)

(depending on complexity)

£750.00 to £3,000.00 £150.00 to £600.00 £900.00 to £3,600.00
Draft witness statement(s) per statement (depending on complexity) £500.00 to £3,000.00 £100.00 to £600.00 £600.00 to £3,600.00
Advice related to a settlement agreement (depending on complexity) £250.00 to £500.00 £50.00 to £100.00 £300.00 to £600.00

You may have legal expenses insurance in place (for example, with your home insurance) to cover such costs.

 

Additional fees – disbursements

These are costs relating to your case that we pay to third parties on your behalf. In employment claims, this is usually Counsel or Tribunal Advocates’ fees. We don’t incur these costs without your permission as you’re responsible for them. We should point out that additional costs rarely occur, but when they do, we’ll discuss them with you in advance. The fees can vary from £900.00 to £2,400.00 (£750.00 to £2,000.00+VAT) per court day or part thereof, depending on the complexity of your claim.

 


 

Our Private Client Team can guide you through any aspect of securing probate and distribution of assets. We have a wealth of experience in managing the process for obtaining the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration and distribution of the estate assets.

We’ll help you at every stage of the process and apply a personal touch during this complex and stressful time. Plus, we’ll send you regular updates to reassure you that matters are in hand.

Your case will be managed by Lauren Cosway, a Private Client Lawyer with over five years’ relevant experience. Some daily tasks and administrative duties may be undertaken by experienced department assistants, such as Paralegals, who may assist on your matter, but will be supervised at all times by qualified members of the team

 

Obtaining the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration

Our fees cover all the work required to secure the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration. This usually includes preparing the application, lodging in court, and securing the Grant.

Our fees

Description Our fee VAT Total
Consultation £150.00 £30.00 £180.00
Obtaining the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration £750.00 £150.00 £900.00

 

Standard additional fees on most applications

These are additional costs (‘disbursements’) relating to your application and are payable to third parties. We handle the payment of these additional fees on your behalf to ensure a smooth progression and reduce the chance of any delays.

The below fees apply to all applications.

Description Our fee VAT Total
Probate court application fee £273.00 None £273.00
Office copies of Grant (per copy) £1.50 None £1.50

 

Full probate service

As an alternative to providing a limited service just to obtain a grant of probate, we can provide a full probate service which includes estate administration and realising assets.  Our standard charge for this type of work is £240.00 per hour inclusive (£200.00+VAT). Running a case start to finish (full service) can cost between £3,600.00 and £18,000.00 (£3,000.00 and £15,000.00+VAT). The overall cost varies widely owing to the complexity of the specific estate and/or the number and value of assets to be realised. Having full asset details can significantly lower the total cost.

The below fees are applicable to most applications.

Description Our fee VAT Total
Probate court application fee £273.00 None £273.00
Office copies of Grant (per copy) £1.50 None £1.50
Press advertising (range of prices) £100.00-£250.00 £20.00-£50.00 £120.00-£300.00
Early distribution insurance (range of prices) £150.00-£500.00 £30.00-£100.00 £180.00-£600.00
Asset search (range of prices) £25.00-£100.00 £5.00-£20.00 £30.00-£120.00
Bankruptcy search (per name) £2.00 None £2.00

 

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