One of our clients was recently obliged to visit a solicitor in Scotland, that well-known land to the north, to swear an Administrator's Oath.


Instead of the £5 we are allowed to charge, the Hibernian Writer to the Signet was able to charge £35.



Fees for administering oaths and declarations have not changed for years, and now represent approximately 80 seconds of chargeable time, during which we are expected to verify identity, check which faith is adhered to by the deponent, find the relevant Book (or none), utter the appropriate incantation, and then attest the document.



No wonder we are always out of breath.



Laurence N Mann, AL Hughes & Co, London