Civil – Public Access
Our barristers provide advice, drafting and advocacy services to the public for many hearings that fall within the civil courts where Legal Aid is not available. If you would like to instruct a civil barrister please contact Joanna Creech on 01392 274898 publicaccess@colletonchambers.co.uk to discuss availability and fees of counsel.
Inheritance Act Advice
One of the most common claims in the civil court is a claim under the Inheritance Act 1975 which protects spouses (including former spouses), cohabitants, children and other dependants when a person dies without leaving sufficient money for the dependent’s wellbeing. Our barristers can provide you with written advice on whether you can make a claim under the Act. Our barristers can also provide you with written advice when a person dies and you are a beneficiary of the estate, but someone else makes a claim under the Act.
Timescales
Timescales for your written advice may vary depending on factors such as barristers’ availability, the value and complexity of the deceased person’s estate, your financial needs and those of any beneficiary of the estate. However, claims under the Act must be made within six months of the grant of probate, so as a guide your written advice will be available within two to four weeks where possible.
Fees
We may charge fixed fee, which means that we will charge you a set amount of money for the written advice. Below we provide estimates based on the ranges of fixed fees for barristers in Colleton Chambers, where the deceased person’s estate is worth less than £300,000. All fees include VAT (where applicable). For an estate worth more than £300,000 please telephone Joanna Creech on 01392 274898 or email publicaccess@colletonchambers.co.uk.
If we charge fixed fees, these may be towards the higher end of the range if you need a more experienced barrister and / or the deceased person’s estate is more complex. If the deceased person’s estate is particularly complex, your fees may also be higher than the estimate below. There are also likely to be additional costs of 45 pence per mile for travel where meetings are held outside Exeter and subsistence costs based on the accommodation available (to be agreed with you in advance). Any attendance at court hearings or additional drafting and advice will also be charged extra at £360 per hour.
| Written Advice | Range of Fixed Fees (estimate) |
|---|---|
| Written advice on the making or defending a claim | £1,080 – 2,880 |
| Conference with You about the making or defending of a claim | £1,080 – 2,880 |
Contact Us
All information is correct as of February 2024, but fees are estimates only. For a quotation, please contact the direct access clerk, Joanna Creech, on 01392 274898 or email on publicaccess@colletonchambers.co.uk. Please also contact us for revised fees if the deceased person’s estate is worth more than £300,000.
Page reviewed February 2025
