My mother has dementia and as advised by Age UK I engaged a solicitor (recommended by Age UK) to arrange Court of Protection. After ~6 months this is now completed. However I have a query about the solicitor's proposed fee, I quote:
As I have no experience with solicitors or the law I am unsure if this is reasonable / normal. I would point out that the doctor's assessment fee and court application fee have already been paid from my mother's funds and are not included in the solicitor fee. I am also not aware of any particular complication in the process that would cause to cause the fee to be more than double that initially estimated.
Any advice appreciated.
' the Letter of Engagement states "we estimate that our fees will not exceed the £850.00 + VAT as the Court fixes Solicitors' fees for general applications. However, if that estimate is exceeded, and the Order provides for parties to agree otherwise, we will ask for your agreement as to our costs or ask for our fees to be assessed by the Court".
At the date of writing this letter I conform that we have incurred £1900.00 of costs. I therefore propose charging £1500.00 + VAT for the work incurred.
I would be grateful if you could confirm whether you agree to our costs or if not, whether you would prefer to have the costs assessed by the Court. '
At the date of writing this letter I conform that we have incurred £1900.00 of costs. I therefore propose charging £1500.00 + VAT for the work incurred.
I would be grateful if you could confirm whether you agree to our costs or if not, whether you would prefer to have the costs assessed by the Court. '
As I have no experience with solicitors or the law I am unsure if this is reasonable / normal. I would point out that the doctor's assessment fee and court application fee have already been paid from my mother's funds and are not included in the solicitor fee. I am also not aware of any particular complication in the process that would cause to cause the fee to be more than double that initially estimated.
Any advice appreciated.