The questions we answer every week.

Wills, LPAs, standard probate and most conveyancing are quoted as a fixed fee before we start. Family, employment and dispute work is charged hourly, with a written estimate for each stage. We do not publish a price list because the same job can vary widely. Ask for a tailored quote and you will usually have it the same day.

No. The first twenty minutes is free, whether that is on the phone or in the office. If we cannot help, we will point you to someone who can and there will be nothing to pay.

Photo ID and proof of address, since we have to verify identity by law. Beyond that, bring whatever paperwork you already have, even if it is disorganised. A shoebox of letters is more useful to us than a tidy summary.

A grant of probate is typically issued eight to sixteen weeks after we apply, depending on how busy the Probate Registry is. Full administration of a straightforward estate with one property usually runs six to nine months. Estates with foreign assets, business interests or a possible claim take longer, and we will say so at the outset.

Twelve to sixteen weeks from offer to completion is normal in Bristol at the moment. Leasehold flats waiting on a management pack often add three or four weeks. We tell you the same week if a chain looks likely to slip.

Usually within two working days, and same day if the deadline is tight. Your employer normally pays a contribution towards our fee, and in most cases that contribution covers the whole review.

Yes. Every file has a named solicitor and a named assistant, and you get both direct dial numbers when we open the matter. If your solicitor is in court, the assistant already knows where things stand.

We do this most weeks, particularly for wills and powers of attorney. There is no extra charge for visits within Bristol and there is a small mileage charge beyond that.

For wills, probate, employment and commercial work, location rarely matters and we act for clients across England and Wales. Conveyancing we keep local, because knowing the local searches and the local agents genuinely speeds things up.

A real firm would list its SRA number and professional indemnity details here. Harriet & Ashworth is a fictional firm built as a demonstration, so there is nothing to verify.