Pricing

The Law Society of Scotland issued Price Transparency Guidance with effect from 31 January 2021.

The guidance applies to all consumer-facing legal practice areas.

Price is only one of many factors consumers consider before appointing a solicitor.

Other considerations might be: the quality of the service; the speed and efficiency of the service; the reliability of the solicitor; or whether the solcitor has proven expertise in a particular area of the law (e.g. personal injury law).

This is a general guide to give you an outline of the Fees charged by Grigor & Young.

It covers the likely costs you will incur if you instruct us. In some circumstances, our services may be free.

General, overview information about pricing follows immediately below. If you would prefer to skip down this page to a menu of specific work-types and their pricing parameters, click HERE.

General Information

Bank Charges – There is a charge whenever we need to make a payment by CHAPS, payments over £100,000, or payments to a non-UK Bank. The Bank Charges for payments to a Bank outside the UK cannot be ascertained until the point of payment.

Charge Rate – The rate per hour used to calculate the Fee where a Fixed Fee is not offered by Grigor & Young, or if there is additional work which is not covered by the Fixed Fee. The Fee will be depend on time spent and the number of documents, including letters and emails. The Fee is calculated in accordance with the Charge Rate Table.

Charge Rate Table — 1 unit is 10% of the Charge Rate. For example, if the Charge Rate is £220 per hour, 1 unit is £22.

Letter per page of 125 words	1.25 units
Acknowledgements	0.75 units
Preparing / drafting documents (per page of 250 words)	4.5 units
Other documents, including from pro forma, per page	3 units
Adjusting /checking documents per page	2 units
Telephone calls (per hourly rate, with minimum charge)	1 unit
Emails	1.25 units
Faxes outgoing	1.5 units
Other time	10 units per hour

Court Fees – The charge depends on the type of application and indicative costs cannot be given in this guide. The current charges can be obtained from the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service website.

Estimate – An Estimate of the Fee will be provided after Grigor & Young have been given the appropriate information. For many types of services it is not possible to provide an Estimate. For other services it is not possible to provide an Estimate without some details. For example, a query to us such as “I am selling my house, how much does this cost?” does not give us enough information to provide an Estimate because the Fee and the Outlays will depend on several factors.

Outlays – Sometimes also known as disbursements. These are costs incurred by us as part of the service carried out for you and are usually paid to another organisation. For example, the charges made by the Public Guardian of Scotland for registering a Power of Attorney is an Outlay. Bank Charges will appear on the Estimate as an Outlay although, due to the VAT requirements, this is charged as a fee.

Fee Assessment – For some types of service, the file is sent to a Law Accountant in order that the Fee can be assessed. The Law Accountant will be asked to prepare the account in accordance with the Charge Rate. Usually, an itemised account is not provided.

Fee Earners – The team members(s) carrying out the work. Any Fixed Fee and the Charge Rate will be the same whether the work is carried out by a solicitor (including Partners) or a Paralegal. Usually, no charge is made for assistance provided by support staff.

Fixed Fee – The amount will be confirmed after details of the service required has been given. Grigor & Young’s Fixed Fee is on the basis that, if work in addition to what has been anticipated is necessary to complete the service, an additional fee based on the Charge Rate will charged. You will be advised – before the additional work is carried out – that this is necessary. The additional charge is made in less than 1%-5% of cases.

Land and Buildings Transaction Tax – The charge depends on the type and value of the transaction and indicative costs cannot be given in this guide. The current charges can be obtained from Scottish Government website.

Land Register Registration – The charge depends on the type and value of the transaction and indicative costs cannot be given in this guide. The current charges can be obtained from Registers of Scotland website.

Off Premises – Where instructions are given to us at a location other than our office: for example, if you need us to visit you at home. The charge to cover additional time and travel will depend on the team member visiting you and your location.

Quotation – The information provided in this guide is not to be taken as a quotation or Estimate. This will be provided to you only on application, and after providing us with the details we need.

Payment – The timing of payment of Fees and Expenses depends on the type of service and whether a Fixed Fee is being charged.

Typical Fee – The indicative Fee shown is a common Fee charged by us during 2019-20 for that type of service. It is not a Quotation.

VAT – Is charged on the Fee at the rate required by regulations, which is currently 20%. The indicative Fees shown in this guide are exclusive of VAT unless otherwise stated. The indicative Outlays are inclusive of any VAT charged by the provider.

Fees for specific work-types

In the list immediately below, click on the specific area of legal work which relates to your enquiry and the hyperlinked text will take you to that point on this page, further down, to save you scrolling through information which is not relevant to you.

Commercial Property Leases.
Commerical Property Sales / Purchases.
Discharges of Mortgages.
Estate Agency.
Executries.
Family Law.
Guardianship Orders.
House Mortgages / Securities.
House Purchases.
House Sales.
Personal Injury Claims (including Medical Negligence).
Powers of Attorney.
Wills.
Other Services.

Commercial Property Leases

Charge Rate: £220 per hour.

Fixed Fee: A Fixed Fee may be offered at our discretion once the full details are known.

Fee Range: Minimum £1250 to £1500.

Typical Fee: A tailored fee quote will be available on request.

Typical Outlays: These depend on whether you are the Landlord or the Tenant and the terms that have been negotiated. Often the Tenant pays all Outlays (sometimes also including the Landlord’s fee). Outlays could include:-
Land Register Reports approx. £ 80-200.
Local Authority Reports approx. £100- 150.
Land and Buildings Transaction Tax – depends on duration and rent.
Registration of Lease, the charge being £20 for the first extract and £24 for each additional extract. Normally at least 2 or 3 extracts are required.

VAT: VAT is charged on the Fee at 20%. The indicative figures given for Outlays are inclusive of any VAT payable.

Payment: The Fee is usually calculated after the services are complete. If the costs of the other party are to be paid this is usually payable at the time the lease starts.

Typical Services:
Advising you on the contract.
Obtaining/ Checking Land Register and Local Authority Reports.
Obtaining/ Checking title and relevant documents and dealing with any queries.
Adjusting the Lease.
Obtaining Consent to the Lease.
Registering the Lease.
Preparing and submitting Land & Building Transaction Tax Return.

Not Included:
Tax advice.
Obtaining statutory reports such as an Asbestos Report.
Business viability.
Reminder of Land & Buildings Transaction Tax three year review, if applicable.
Reminder of rent review or termination dates.

Other Comments: The Fee and Outlays shown do not apply to the situation where a lease is in excess of 20 years and is registered or to be registered in the Land Register.

Commercial Property Sales / Purchases

Charge Rate: £220 per hour.

Fee Range: Minimum £1250

Typical Fee: We will provide a tailored fee quote on request.

Typical Expenses:
These depend on whether you are selling or buying and the terms that have been negotiated. Sometimes the purchaser pays the seller’s costs. Outlays could include:-
Seller:-
Land Register Reports approx. £ 80-200.
Local Authority Reports approx. £100- 150.
Environmental Report approx. £400
Bank Charges £24 each.
Registration Discharge approx £70.
Purchaser:-
Bank Charges £24 each.
Land and Buildings Transaction Tax – depends on value and purchaser
Registration Disposition – depends on property value. Registration Security £70.

VAT: VAT is charged on the Fee at 20%. The indicative figures given for Outlays are inclusive of any VAT payable.

Payment: The Fee is usually calculated after the services are complete. If the costs of the other party are to be paid, this is usually payable at the time of settlement.

Typical Services:
Advising you on the contract.
Obtaining/ Checking Land Register and Local Authority Reports.
Obtaining/ Checking title and relevant documents and dealing with any queries.

Not Included:
Tax advice.
Obtaining statutory reports such as an Asbestos Report.
Business viability.

Other Comments: A Fixed Fee may be offered at our discretion once the full details are known.

Discharges of Mortgages

Charge Rate: £220 per hour. The Charge Rate will apply to any additional work.

Fixed Fee: Electronis Discharge (depends on lender) – £250
Paper Discharge – £360

Typical Fee: £250 (inclusive of VAT and Outlays)

Typical Outlays: Registration of Discharge. The Fixed Fee includes the Outlays.

VAT: The Fixed Fee includes the VAT at 20%.

Payment: We usually ask for payment before the Discharge is registered.

Typical Services:
Prepare a Discharge of the security and obtain lender’s signature.
Register Discharge.

Not Included:
Discharge of more than one security.
Title check.
Obtaining copies of missing title deeds.

Estate Agency

Charge Rate: Fixed fee based on valuation.

Take-on Fee: £150: this is inclusive of VAT.

Fee Range: A tailored fee quote is available on request.

Typical Outlays:
Home Report – depends on value of property.
Plans Report £114.

VAT: VAT is charged on the Fee at 20%.

Payment:
The Take-on Fee is required prior to marketing.
The commission Fee is payable when the sale is completed or if the property is taken off the market without being sold.

Typical Services:
Assist with obtaining a Home Report.
Prepare a Schedule of Sales Particulars.
Arrange advertising on internet sites Rightmove, Zoopla and Grigor & Young’s own website.
Arrange advertising on Facebook, with the posting of a promotional movie.
Arrange window displays at our Elgin and Forres offices.
Deal with enquiries and provide interested parties with property details and access to the Home Report.
Attend to the viewings of the property.
If required, set a Closing Date and advise interested parties.

Not Included: Payment of the Home Report.

Other Comments: The Take-on Fee covers internet sites costs.
A mileage charge may be made if your property is more than 20 miles from our Elgin office (where our Estate Agency Manager is based).
A Plans Report is recommended at marketing stage to identify boundary discrepancies in advance of an offer being received.

Executries (Probate)

Charge Rate: £300 per hour

Typical Fee: £4,000

Typical Outlays:
Registering Will – £20
Bond of Caution (if no Will) – depends on value.
Court dues – depends on value; up to approx. £565.
Valuations and Reports – depends on assets and value.
Fee Audit – depends on work and value.

VAT: VAT is charged on the Fee at 20%.

Payment: Depending on the timescale, interim Fees may be taken. The final fee is payable at the time of the main distribution of the estate.

Typical Services:
Gather and collate all information required for the preparation of the Inventory of the Estate to obtain Grant of Confirmation.
Arrange valuations of assets.
Arrange for the ingathering of assets.
Inform potential Legal Rights claimants.
Arrange payment of debts and funeral expenses.
Arrange payment of legacies and the distribution of the Estate.
Liaise with Capital Taxes Office.
Prepare Executry Accounts.
Pay any tax due on the dividends or interest received.
Check tax assessments issued to the Executry and arrange for payments-due to be made.
Manage the Executry investments.

Not Included:
Any Self-Assessment Tax Return.
Heritable property transfer (e.g. a house) – this will be the subject of a separate Fee.

Family Law

Charge Rate: £220 per hour for work not covered by Legal Advice and Assistance and/or Civil Legal Aid. In some cases we may be able to offer a fixed fee.

Typical Fee: £3200

Typical Outlays: Court fees.

VAT: VAT is charged on the Fee at 20%. The indicative figures given for Outlays are inclusive of any VAT payable.

Payment: An initial payment of £500 (in non-Legal Aid cases) is required, followed by monthly payments to account.
The final payment is due once the services are complete.

Typical Services:
Obtaining full details of your personal, family and financial circumstances.
Advising you on the law insofar as it relates to: child contact and residence; child and spousal aliment (maintenance); grounds of divorce or termination of civil partnership; financial provision on separation or divorce.
Negotiating matters via letter/email correspondence with the other party involved, or their solicitor.
Advising on options to move matters forward other than by correspondence, including court action.
Drafting court papers and representing you at court hearings.

Not Included: Tax advice.

Other Comments: Eligibility for Legal Advice and Assistance (A&A) and/or Civil Legal Aid (CLA) requires to be assessed both by us and the Scottish Legal Aid Board.
There may be a requirement to pay a financial contribution towards Legal Aid and, if so, this may be payable before work can begin.

Guardianship Orders

Charge Rate: £220 per hour for work not covered by Legal Advice and Assistance and/or Civil Legal Aid.

Typical Fee: £750

Typical Outlays: Court fee (£138); fees of GP and psychiatrist whose reports are a necessary part of the court application (up to £150 each, on average).

VAT: VAT is charged on the Fee at 20%. The indicative figures given for Outlays are inclusive of any VAT payable.

Payment: Usually requested at the conclusion of the matter because fees are often directed by the court to be payable out of the estate of the incapacitated adult.

Typical Services:
Assess the eligibility of the matter for cover by Legal Advice and Assistance, and Civil Legal Aid.
Prepare court application to appoint financial and welfare guardians.

Not Included: Preparation of Management Plan for Office of the Public Guardian once guardianship is granted.

Further Reading: This article on the G&Y website explains more about the applicability of legal aid to guardianship applications.

House Mortgages / Securities

Charge Rate: £220 per hour. The Charge Rate will apply to any additional work.

Fixed Fee Range: Standard Mortgage – £850
Equity Release – £1,000

Typical Fee: A tailored fee quote will be available on request.

Typical Outlays:
Advance Notice – £20.
Land Register Report(s) approx £80.
Local Authority and Environmental Reports approx £125.
Plans Report £114.
Lender Charge – £18
Bank Charges £24 each.
Registration Security £70.
Registration Discharge approx £70.

VAT: VAT is charged on the Fee at 20%. The indicative figures given for Outlays are inclusive of any VAT payable.

Payment: Usually the Fee and Expenses are deducted from the loan funds.

Typical Services:
Advise on the legal effect of the loan instructions.
Prepare the Standard Security (mortgage deed) and any ancillary documents required by the lender.
Obtain Land Register and Local Authority Reports.
Arrange transfer of loan funds.
Prepare Voluntary Registration Application.
Register Standard Security at the Land Register of Scotland.
Provide copy of the Title Sheet.
Obtain a redemption statement from current lender and make payment of the amount required to redeem.
Prepare a Discharge of the security and obtain lender’s signature.
Register Discharge.

Not Included: Transfer of title or obtaining copies of missing title deeds.

Other Comments: A discount of £50 is offered to clients who have used our services within the last 5 years.
If the property being secured is also being purchased, please see the section on House Purchase.
There will be an additional charge if there is more that one security/lender being repaid or if the new mortgage involves guarantors.
These costs and services relate to residential properties only.
These costs to not relate to self-build mortgages.
The lender usually registers the Security if it is an Equity Release mortgage.
Any additional charges are usually Outlays only; additional Fees are charged due to complications in less than 5% of cases.

House Purchases

Charge Rate: £220 per hour. The Charge Rate will apply to any additional work.

Fixed Fee: The amount depends on the value of the house and whether there is to be security/ mortgage.

Fee Range: Minimum £995.

Typical Fee: We will provide a tailored fee quote on request.

Typical Outlays:
Lender Charge – £18
Advance Notice – £20
Bank Charges £24.
Land & Building Transaction Tax – depends on purchase price and purchaser’s circumstances.
Registration of Disposition – depends on property value.
Registration of Security – £70.
New-build purchase also:-
Local Authority Report – approx £100.
Land Register Reports – approx £80.
Company Search – approx £80.

VAT: VAT is charged on the Fee at 20%. The indicative figures given for Outlays are inclusive of any VAT payable.

Payment: The Fee and Outlays require to be paid before we can complete the purchase.

Typical Services:
Submit the offer.
Advise on the contract.
Examine the title deeds and relevant reports and provide a summary.
Prepare the Disposition to transfer title.
Prepare a Land & Building Tax Return and submit.
Advise on legal effect of the loan instructions.
Prepare the Standard Security (mortgage deed) and any ancillary documents required.
Arrange transfer of loan funds and payment of purchase price to the sellers’ agents.
Make payment of Land & Building Tax Return, if required.
Register deeds at the Land Register of Scotland.
Provide a copy of the Title Sheet.

Not Included:
Tax advice.
Notification to Council Tax office and utilities suppliers.

Other Comments: A discount of £50 is offered to clients who have used our services within the last 5 years.
There will be an additional charge if there is more that one security/lender or a gifted deposit or if the mortgage involves guarantors.
Any additional charges are usually Outlays only; additional Fees are charged due to complications in less than 5% of cases.

House Sales

Charge Rate: £220 per hour. The Charge Rate will apply to any additional work.

Fixed Fee: The amount depends on the value of the house and whether there is an outstanding security/ mortgage.

Fee Range: Minimum £995.

Typical Fee: A tailored fee quote will be available on request.

Typical Expenses:
Advance Notice £20
Land Register Report(s) approx £80
Plans Report £114
Local Authority and Environmental Reports approx £125
Bank Charges £24 each
Registration of Discharge approx £70

VAT: VAT is charged on the Fee at 20%. The indicative figures given for Outlays are inclusive of any VAT payable.

Payment: The fee and Outlays are usually deducted from the sale price.

Typical Services:
Advise on the offer and contract.
Obtain Land Register and Local Authority Reports.
Exhibit title and relevant documents and deal with any queries.
Adjust the Disposition to transfer title to the purchaser.
Submit Notice to the Land Register of the proposed sale.
Obtain a redemption statement from the lender, make payment of the amount required to redeem from the sale funds and register a Discharge of the security.

Not Included:
Tax advice.
Title rectification.
Notification to Council Tax office and utilities suppliers.

Other Comments: A discount of £50 is offered to clients who have used our services within the last 5 years.
Additional work and charges could include where there is a title discrepancy, lack of documents for alterations, or more than one outstanding security/mortgage.
Additional charges are usually Outlays only; additional Fees are charged for these types of issues in less than 5% of cases.

Personal Injury Claims (including Medical Negligence)

Charge Rate: Our aim – which is the theme and mission of our separate Moray Claims website – is to obtain full and fair compensation for you and that our services should, ideally, cost you nothing, whether your claim succeeds or fails. In the past, we achieved this aim in most cases; in the future, it will be in some cases (e.g. legally-aided cases).

We handle claims in one of 3 ways: (1) Legal Aid; (2) “Before the Event” insurance; or (3) (Failing (1) or (2) applying) “After the Event” insurance (i.e. “no win-no fee”).

See the exceptions to this under “Special Cases”, below.

Typical Fee: For cases taken on up to June 2024, Nil (really, free of charge). For cases taken on from June 2024 onwards, 10% of the finally-assessed value of your claim. (In the event of success, we receive payment for our work from either “scale” fees recoverable from the other party’s insurer pre-litigation or from judicial expenses recovered if a court action has to be raised). In legally-aided cases, the cost of our service will continue to be Nil. For other funding types, we can no longer sustain only-costs-recoverable-from-the-third-party as an outcome and we consider that a 10% Success Fee (where permissible) compares favourably to the perceived industry standard/average of 20% (both including VAT). Note that, though the “typical” fee will be “10%”, in some cases it will be NIL and, in others, greater than 10% but never more than 20%.

Typical Outlays: (These are covered by us up-front and recovered as part of your claim): Police Accident report (£125.50); Police officer precognition (statement-taking) permission (£206); Expert medical report (£600 – £2,500); Employment/vocational rehabilitation report (£1,800).

Typical Services:
Assessing you for and obtaining legal aid, if appropriate; establishing whether you have “before the event” insurance and corresponding with those insurers, if appropriate; if neither of those apply, taking out “after the event” insurance to cover dealing with your claim “no win-no fee”.
Investigating the circumstances of your accident, including recovering documents and interviewing witnesses.
Investigating and advising you on all funding options available to support your claim, including legal aid, “after the event” insurance (“no win-no fee”) and “before the event” insurance (“legal expenses insurance”).
Obtaining information relative to valuing your claim, including medical evidence, wages details.
Intimating your claim by letter and negotiating with (usually) the insurance company for the other party.
Advising you on the law as relevant to your claim.
Obtaining an interim payment of compensation for you, if appropriate.
Assisting you with best options for any rehabilitation you may require.
Advising on the acceptability of any settlement offers received.
Raising court proceedings to progress your claim in the event that no offers or unacceptable offers are received during negotiations.
Representing your interests at any court hearings and advising you on the acceptability of any offers received in settlement.

Special Cases: Cases under “After the event” insurance (i.e. “(3)” under “Charge Rate”, above) (including medical negligence cases) with a value in excess of £100,000 where you agree with our advice to litigate your claim in the Court of Session in Edinburgh. In such cases, a more traditional success fee approach may apply where you pay nothing if your claim fails but you pay 20% (i.e. 20% including VAT) out of your compensation if your claim succeeds. (Note that 20% only applies to the first £100,000 of compensation and, beyond that amount, there is a sliding (downwards) percentage rate applied).

Further reading: The article here explains how “After the event” insurance costs were mostly met by us in their entirety in cases we took on pre-June 2024. Under our “10%” approach, from June 2024 onwards, note that Grigor & Young will always absorb the cost of the ATE premium within the 10% Success Fee we receive. Premium levels vary depending on the ultimate compensation value of the claim and presently range from £89.60 to £3,360. Our Moray Claims website contains more information (and, for example, the article at this link) about our approach to pricing of personal injury claims work.

Powers of Attorney

Charge Rate: £220 per hour. The Charge Rate will apply to any additional work or home visits.

Fixed Fee: 1 person – £300; Couple – £500.

Typical Outlays: Office of the Public Guardian charge: £87 per Power of Attorney registration.

VAT: VAT is charged on the Fee at 20%.

Typical Services:
Advise on the process and legal effect of a Power of Attorney.
Draft Power of Attorney and the Application to the Public Guardian.
Submit Application to the Public Guardian.
Store the registered Power of Attorney for you and provide a certified copy.

Not Included:
Revocation of existing Power of Attorney.
Certifying or witnessing a Power of Attorney that we have not prepared.

Timescales:
The “normal” timeframe for registration of a Power of Attorney with the Public Guardian is variable and typically many months. The Public Guardian’s website contains up-to-date timescale information.

Other Comments: We offer a discount if Wills and Powers of Attorney are being prepared at the same time.
An additional charge where the work is more than anticipated is made in less than 1% of cases.
An additional charge to cover time and travel expenses will be charged if a home or hospital visit is required. The amount of that charge will depend on your location.

Wills

Charge Rate: £220 per hour. The Charge Rate will apply to any additional work or home/hospital visits.

Fixed Fee:
1 person – Updating Non-Trust Will – £150
1 person Non-Trust Will – £180
1 person Trust Will – £300
1 person Liferent Will – £250
Couple Updating Non-Trust Wills – £250
Couple Non-Trust Wills. – £310
Couple Trust Wills – £500
Couple Liferent Wills – £420.

Typical Outlays: None.

VAT: VAT is charged on the Fee at 20%.

Typical Services:
Advise on the content of Wills.
Advise on Legal Rights implications (right of family members to claim on your assets).
Draft Will(s).
Advise on correct signature of the Will.
Store Will(s).

Not Included: Tax advice.

Other Comments: We offer a discount if Wills and Powers of Attorney are being prepared at the same time.
For a couple, our stated charges assume that the Wills would be basically the same. For example, that all assets to go to the survivor of the couple and, on the second death, to their children.
An additional charge where the work is more than anticipated is made in less than 1% of cases.
An additional charge to cover time and travel expenses will be levied if a home/hospital visit is required. The level of that charge will depend on your location.
We do not participate in Will Aid but run our own Will promotions for local charities from time to time.

Other Services

We have provided an outline in connection with the services we most frequently deal with,. If the service you are interested in is not detailed here, please contact us and we shall provide an Estimate.