Survey of prices charged by solicitors
9 February 2012
For its latest nationwide price survey, the National Consumer Agency investigated the professional fees charged by solicitors for three common services: a typical conveyancing transaction, making a will and taking out a grant of probate.
The NCA contacted 329 solicitors with a questionnaire containing details of three straightforward scenarios. In return, relevant information was received from 65 solicitors, a response rate of just 20%, which is significantly less than previous studies conducted by the NCA.
Key findings of the survey included (all fees quoted excluded VAT and outlays):
- Only one solicitor out of 65 indicated that prices are displayed at their premises. Of those solicitors with websites (36), none stated that fee information was displayed online
- The national average fee reported to the NCA in response to the information provided for a typical conveyancing scenario was €1,302, ranging from a low of €750 recorded in the Rest of Leinster area to a high of €4,000 in the Connacht/Ulster area, a difference of €3,250
- The average fee, across all regions, reported to the NCA for making a will was €119. The minimum price surveyed was €50 with the maximum fee recorded being €300. Two solicitors reported that they do not charge for this service
- In relation to taking out a grant of probate, the national average fee reported by the solicitors surveyed in response to the scenario was €2,767. The lowest price quoted, €950, was recorded in the Munster region and the highest price, €6,150, was recorded in the Rest of Leinster area, a difference of €5,200
Learn more
Download a copy of the research report.
Read the press release about the survey and its methodology