In addition to the various basic deeds, we have developed several more basic provisions that can be used as building blocks for your deed.
Examples include:
- guardianship over the inheritance parts of the children: additional fee € 285.00 including VAT;
- inheritance for the families of both partners: additional fee € 285.00 including VAT;
- usufruct provisions: additional fee € 285.00 including VAT.
If there is a combination of various deeds, for example, prenuptial agreements and (life) wills, or a cohabitation contract and (life) wills, or wills and living wills, and our basic deeds are used for these deeds, the fee is calculated by adding up the fees for the various deeds and then reducing the total by 15%. The maximum communication time allocated to these deeds is calculated in the same way.
As soon as the maximum communication time is exceeded or more time is otherwise spent on a case, as to the excess, fees will be billed on the basis of time spent.
This is almost always the case with one's own business, multiple marriages, different assets, assets abroad, family-related assets, etc.
C) Separate (life) wills
(Life) wills for individuals who are not married or do not otherwise have a permanent partner are generally so different that they are billed entirely on the basis of time spent.
D) Customization
In all other cases, where we prepare deeds specifically tailored to your situation, we will in principle bill on the basis of the time spent, in which aspects of urgency and importance may also play a role.
Certificate of inheritance
The settlement of an estate often requires a certificate of inheritance. With this certificate, heirs can dispose of bank accounts, etc. The certificate of inheritance is issued by a notary. He will check with the Central Register of Wills to see if a will has been made.
Research is also carried out at the Municipal Personal Records Database of one or more municipalities to see who the immediate family members are, whether the deceased has been married one or more times or is officially registered as a partner, etc.
If the interviews (by telephone and/or at our office) do not last longer than 45 minutes in total, the investigation activities are limited to an inquiry at the Central Register of Wills, at the Municipal Personal Records Database of one municipality, there are no more than 3 heirs and no more than two powers of attorney need to be drawn up, the costs of a certificate of inheritance amount to € 820.00 including VAT but excluding disbursements.
The out-of-pocket expenses include the fees of the municipality(s) where information in the Municipal Personal Records Database is collected and the costs of the personal research of € 65.14 including VAT per person.
Once there is more time for interviews and research in more municipalities, drawing up more powers of attorney and conducting correspondence, the costs will be higher, based on the time spent.
Breakup of relationship
If spouses or cohabitants break up, there is often joint property. Usually this must be divided, otherwise, for example, a house will remain in the name of both partners, when that is not the intention. After all, when selling or taking out a mortgage, one still needs the other partner.
The allocation of houses and other real estate must be notarized. The basic rate, which includes a maximum communication time of 120 minutes, is €1,779.74 including VAT but excluding land registry fees and disbursements.
Inheritances
For an overview of the activities involved in settling an undivided estate caused by death, please refer to the special information brochure.
The cost of this work depends on the time spent and/or the interest.
What if a deed does not go through?
It is a misconception that only a deed that goes through incurs costs. Even if the work ultimately does not result in the signing of a deed, fees are charged based on time spent. This is not only the time spent on the meeting(s), but also all the other time spent on the whole, such as creating and archiving the file, telephone calls and correspondence, research, preparation of draft deeds, etc.
Advice and exploratory talks
For separate advice, including exploratory talks, second opinions and the like, the charge is based at least on the time spent, while the importance of the advice may also play a role. And again, this is not only the time spent by the notary or candidate notary, but also all other time, which was spent on the case, as mentioned in the previous paragraph.
Copies
If the file has already been filed, and you wish to receive a copy of a certain deed again, you will be charged for this.
A transcript of a deed from the archive costs € 85.00 including VAT if the file is stored digitally. If it concerns an older deed that has not yet been stored digitally, the costs will be calculated on the basis of time spent.
Copies of deeds are free of charge, provided they are stored digitally and can be sent by e-mail and a maximum of 15 minutes of communication time is required.
However, if consultation takes place in connection with the issuance of the copy of an archived document, the costs of this consultation will be charged on the basis of time spent.
Agreement on the costs
It is important to agree on the costs in advance so that both parties know as much as possible where they stand.
Fixed fee
If the client prefers to work with a fixed fee instead of an hourly rate, this can be agreed upon. In that case, it must be established in advance exactly what work is to be done.
If the work extends, due to the actions or inactions of parties involved in the transaction, the fees may nevertheless exceed the fixed fee. It is important to discuss this regularly as the work proceeds.
Variable fee
Variable fees are charged on the basis of the time spent by a civil-law notary, junior civil-law notary, clerk, secretary or other employee directly on the case, based on the applicable hourly rate. These hourly rates include the profit mark-up, the costs of general employees and other general office expenses.
Hourly rate
Basic hourly rates range from € 137.94 to € 525.14 including VAT and sometimes more, all depending on the position and experience of the person performing work for you and the circumstances (such as urgency).
Mutual expectations
In the first place the client may expect from our office that we have sufficient knowledge of the case and that we will serve you with full commitment.
We may expect you, as a client, to prepare yourself well for a meeting, that you read the brochures you receive as an aid for this purpose and that, if necessary, you draw up a list of points for attention in advance. Furthermore, you may be expected to respond promptly to the sending of draft deeds. It is in your own interest not to leave draft deeds lying around. Unfortunately, it happens quite often that a draft deed remains with the client for quite some time and that the client then calls to say that the matter must be settled with great urgency. This unnecessary urgency can result in additional costs. Even worse is when a will can no longer be passed because the client has already died in the meantime.
Moreover: reminder letters and phone calls are also billed.
Time of invoicing
If the assignment takes less than three months, billing will generally occur around the time the deed is executed or the work is otherwise completed.
If the assignment lasts longer, claims are usually submitted quarterly.
For some matters an advance payment may be requested before work is started.
Assignment
It is important for you to know what costs you will incur and it is important for us to know that an assignment has been given. We ask you to be clear about this. In connection with this, an order confirmation will be presented to you when the order is granted. The assignment is subject to the General Terms and Conditions printed on the back of our stationery and registered with the Rotterdam Chamber of Commerce.
It is also possible that the assignment granted by you will be confirmed by us with a letter.
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