Probate Costs UK: Fees, Who Pays & How (2026)

At a glance

• Probate application fee (estates over £5,000): £526, effective from 13 July 2026 (up from £300) — set by Article 3 of the Court and Tribunal Fees (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2026 (S.I. 2026/642), amending the Non-Contentious Probate Fees Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/3120), confirmed live on GOV.UK's probate fees page and checked 18 August 2026.
• No fee for small estates: the application fee is waived entirely where the estate is worth £5,000 or less — unchanged by the 2026 fee increase.
• The fee is the same for a grant of probate or letters of administration: the legislation applies one fee to any grant application, whether the person left a will (grant of probate, to an executor) or not (letters of administration, to an administrator).
• Extra copies of the grant: £2 per copy ordered at the same time as the application; £16 per copy if ordered after the grant has already issued. This lower "order-with-application" fee was introduced by the same 13 July 2026 changes — previously all extra copies cost £16 regardless of timing.
• Second or subsequent grant of probate: £22 if a further application is needed for the same deceased person (for example, after holding "power reserved"), payable even where the estate is worth £5,000 or less.
• Inheritance tax usually comes first: you will normally need to make a payment towards any inheritance tax due before the probate registry issues the grant, and IHT itself is due within six months of the death.
• Professional fees are separate from the court fee and vary widely; solicitors charge by the hour, a fixed fee, or a percentage of the estate.
• Help with fees: executors on low incomes or certain benefits can apply to reduce or waive the court fee, online or using form EX160 (GOV.UK – help with court fees).
• All figures checked directly against GOV.UK and the underlying statutory instrument on 18 August 2026. Court and tribunal fees can change; always confirm the current amount on GOV.UK before you pay.

This guide provides general information about how probate costs work in England and Wales. It is not a substitute for legal advice about your specific situation.

What does probate actually cost?

Probate costs fall into three broad categories: the court application fee, miscellaneous administration charges such as extra copies of the grant, and professional fees if you instruct a solicitor or probate specialist. Understanding which costs are mandatory and which are discretionary is the first step to budgeting sensibly.

A quick note on terminology, because it affects who pays what: probate is the legal process of dealing with a deceased person's estate. The court document that gives someone the authority to do this is called a grant of representation. Where the deceased left a valid will naming an executor, that document is a grant of probate. Where there is no will, or no executor able to act, it is called letters of administration, issued instead to an administrator. The court fee described below applies equally to both — the underlying fee order treats "an application for a grant" as a single category, regardless of which type of grant is being applied for.

The court application fee — increased on 13 July 2026

The probate application fee is paid to HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) when you submit your application. It is a flat fee — it does not scale with the size of the estate above the threshold.

The fee went up on 13 July 2026. The Ministry of Justice increased the probate application fee from £300 to £526 — a rise of around 75% — through Article 3(2) of the Court and Tribunal Fees (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2026 (S.I. 2026/642), which substitutes "£526" for "£300" in the fee table (Schedule 1) of the Non-Contentious Probate Fees Order 2004. As at 18 August 2026, the current fee structure confirmed on GOV.UK and in the legislation itself is:

| Estate value | Application fee | |---|---| | £5,000 or less | No fee | | Over £5,000 | £526 |

The £5,000 threshold protects small or modest estates from court costs entirely; that threshold has not changed.

A note on how this guide verified the figure. GOV.UK's applying-for-probate/fees page and the EX50A full civil and family court fees list both confirm the £526 figure is in force, matching the fee actually set in the amending legislation. The 2026 Fees Order (S.I. 2026/642) was originally due to commence on 6 July 2026, but a separate instrument — the Court and Tribunal Fees (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Change of coming into force) Order 2026 (S.I. 2026/665) — postponed that to 13 July 2026 before the main Order took effect. Some third-party pages that reproduce GOV.UK's original news announcement of these changes (published 19 June 2026) still describe the increase as "subject to parliamentary approval"; that announcement page has not been refreshed since June, but the fee itself is confirmed as in force by both the live GOV.UK service pages and the statutory instrument, checked on 18 August 2026. Always re-check GOV.UK's probate fees page immediately before you apply, since fees can change and you should never rely on a cached or older article — including this one — for the figure on the day you pay.

If your application straddles the change date — for example, you prepared your paperwork before 13 July 2026 but submit it afterwards — the fee payable is the one in force on the date HMCTS receives your application, not the date you started preparing it.

Extra copies of the grant

Once the grant of probate or letters of administration is issued, you will need to present it to each financial institution or asset holder before they will release funds or transfer ownership. Banks, building societies, pension providers, and share registrars each want their own sealed or certified copy — they will not generally accept a photocopy.

As at 18 August 2026, confirmed on GOV.UK's probate fees page and set out in Article 3(2) of S.I. 2026/642:

• Extra copies ordered at the same time as the application: £2 each. This reduced, separate rate for concurrent orders was introduced as part of the 13 July 2026 fee changes — previously every extra copy cost £16 regardless of timing.
• Extra copies ordered after the grant has been issued: £16 per copy.

The gap between these two figures is large, so the practical advice is straightforward: order more copies than you think you need when you submit your application. It is significantly cheaper to order six copies upfront at £2 each than to discover three months in that you need more and pay £16 apiece for them later. A typical estate with four or five institutions to contact will generally need at least four to six copies to administer smoothly.

Professional fees

If you instruct a solicitor, licensed probate practitioner, or specialist probate firm to help, their fees are charged separately from the court fee. The court fee is the same whether you instruct a professional or not — it is a fixed government charge, not something a solicitor sets or profits from.

Professional fees vary considerably depending on the complexity of the estate and the charging model used:

Hourly rate. The solicitor or practitioner charges for time spent. This is common for complex estates where the scope of work is hard to predict in advance. Always ask for a cost estimate and ask how the firm handles unexpected complications.

Fixed fee. A defined price for a defined scope of work. Fixed-fee probate is common for straightforward estates and gives you cost certainty upfront. Be clear on what is included — disbursements such as the court fee, valuation costs, and Land Registry fees are usually charged on top.

Percentage of the estate. Some firms charge a percentage of the gross estate value — this approach can look simple but becomes expensive on larger estates. A percentage-based quote should always be compared to an hourly-rate or fixed-fee alternative before you commit.

This guide does not state typical solicitor rates, because they are set by each firm individually and vary by region, complexity and provider — not by law or government tariff. Whichever charging model a firm uses, you are entitled to a written fee estimate before the work starts. Ask for one, ask what is included in the scope, and ask how the firm handles additional work that falls outside the original scope.

The distinction between the court fee (a fixed, statutory charge paid to HMCTS, currently £526 for estates over £5,000) and professional fees (paid to a solicitor or practitioner, and set by that firm) matters because they are entirely independent. Doing probate yourself removes professional fees entirely, but the court fee is still payable. If you decide to avoid probate altogether where that's legally possible — for example, through certain trust or joint-ownership arrangements made in advance — see our guide on using trusts to bypass probate.

Who pays probate fees?

Probate fees are an expense of the estate — they are paid from the estate's assets, not from the executor's own money in the long run. An executor who pays the application fee out of their own pocket is entitled to reimburse themselves once the grant is issued and funds are accessible. This matters for beneficiaries too: because fees and other administration costs come off the top of the estate before distribution, a higher court fee slightly reduces what's ultimately left to share out. See our guide on beneficiary rights in probate for more on how the administration process affects what beneficiaries receive and when.

The timing, however, is the practical difficulty. Estate bank accounts are frozen until the grant is issued, which means an executor may need to advance the application fee themselves and wait. With the fee now at £526 rather than £300, this upfront cash-flow gap is more significant than it used to be. Two routes can ease this:

Direct payment scheme. Most major banks will release money directly from the deceased's accounts to pay the probate fee and funeral costs, even before the grant is issued. Contact the bank early and ask whether they participate. This is usually the simplest route where the estate has readily accessible bank funds.

Help with fees. If the executor has a low income or is receiving certain benefits, they can apply to have the court fee reduced or waived, either online at GOV.UK – help with court fees or using form EX160, before applying for probate. Eligibility depends on the executor's own savings, income and benefits — not the value of the estate — and GOV.UK's published savings limits are tiered by the size of the fee (for example, up to £4,250 in savings where the fee is £1,420 or less, which currently covers the probate fee, or up to £16,000 if the applicant or their partner is 66 or older). Note that the fee reduction scheme relates to the executor's own financial position, not the estate's value. If you apply online and succeed, you receive a refund of the fee paid at application.

Inheritance tax and the probate timeline

Inheritance tax has a direct bearing on probate costs and timing. In most cases, you will need to report the estate's value to HMRC and make at least a payment toward any inheritance tax due before the probate registry will issue the grant.

The key points, checked directly against GOV.UK on 18 August 2026:

• Inheritance tax threshold (nil-rate band): £325,000. Estates below this threshold (and with no taxable gifts in the previous seven years) typically pay no inheritance tax. The standard rate above the threshold is 40%. See GOV.UK – how Inheritance Tax works for full details, including the additional residence nil-rate band (£175,000) that can increase an individual's threshold to £500,000 where a family home passes to children or grandchildren, and can effectively double for a surviving spouse or civil partner where the first partner's unused allowance transfers across.
• These thresholds are frozen, and the freeze has been extended. HMRC's nil-rate band policy paper and the confirmed Autumn Budget 2025 position fix the nil-rate band (£325,000), the residence nil-rate band (£175,000) and the residence nil-rate band taper (starting at £2 million) at their current levels through to the end of the 2030–31 tax year (i.e. to 5 April 2031). Always check the current position before relying on a projected threshold, since this area has been extended more than once.
• IHT must be paid before the grant issues: you will normally need to start paying inheritance tax before the probate registry will issue the grant of probate or letters of administration.
• The payment deadline is six months after the end of the month of death. For example, if the person died in January, Inheritance Tax is due by 31 July of the same year. HMRC charges interest on late payment. See GOV.UK – paying Inheritance Tax.
• Reporting the estate's value: where the estate owes Inheritance Tax, you must report its value to HMRC within twelve months of the death using form IHT400, and you cannot apply for probate until this has been done and any initial tax payment made. Where the estate is a straightforward "excepted estate" that does not owe Inheritance Tax, the estate's values are normally reported as part of the probate application itself rather than on a separate form. See GOV.UK – how to value an estate to check which route applies to your estate.
• The direct payment scheme: where the estate's cash is tied up in the deceased's accounts, HMRC's direct payment scheme allows participating banks and building societies to transfer money straight to HMRC to settle the inheritance tax liability, even before the grant is in hand. See GOV.UK – paying Inheritance Tax for details.
• Instalments for property and business assets. Tax on assets that take time to sell — land, a business, or a controlling holding of unlisted shares — can be paid in ten equal annual instalments instead of as a single lump sum, provided the conditions on GOV.UK are met (broadly, that at least 20% of the estate's Inheritance Tax relates to these assets, or that paying in one go would cause financial hardship). The first instalment is still due by the normal six-month deadline, and interest is usually charged on the outstanding balance. See GOV.UK – paying Inheritance Tax in yearly instalments.

The sequencing matters: value the estate first, establish whether inheritance tax is due, sort the tax position before applying for probate, then apply. Skipping steps or trying to apply for probate before settling the tax position will cause delays.

Worked examples: what you might actually pay

These examples cover the mandatory statutory costs only — court fees and copy fees. They do not include professional fees, because those are set individually by whichever firm (if any) you instruct, not by government tariff.

Example 1 — a small estate, no fee. Grace's late father's estate consists of a bank account holding £3,800 and a handful of personal possessions. Because the estate's value is £5,000 or less, no probate application fee is payable at all, whatever grant type is needed.

Example 2 — a straightforward estate over the threshold. Tom is administering his aunt's estate: a house held solely in her name, two bank accounts, and a small share portfolio, together worth around £280,000 — below the £325,000 Inheritance Tax nil-rate band, so no Inheritance Tax is due. Tom needs to notify five institutions (the Land Registry, two banks, and two share registrars), so he orders five copies of the grant with his application.

• Application fee (estate over £5,000): £526
• Five extra copies ordered with the application (5 × £2): £10
• Total statutory cost: £536

If Tom had instead waited and ordered the copies after the grant was issued, the same five copies would have cost 5 × £16 = £80 — £70 more than ordering them upfront.

Example 3 — a second grant needed later. Priya was named executor alongside her brother, who initially took "power reserved" (stepping back from acting). Two years later her brother wants to act as well, so a second grant is needed for the same estate. That second application costs £22, regardless of the estate's value.

DIY probate versus instructing a professional

Many people handle probate without professional help, and for simple estates it is entirely achievable. The question is whether your estate falls within the range where DIY probate is realistic — and with the court fee now higher, it's worth weighing that fixed cost against what you'd pay a professional either way.

DIY probate tends to work well where:

• The will is clear and unambiguous.
• The estate consists mainly of straightforward assets — bank accounts, a single property in sole ownership, investments in a small number of accounts.
• There is no inheritance tax to pay.
• The family is in agreement and no one is likely to dispute the will or the distribution.
• You have time — the administration of an average estate takes months of correspondence, form-filling, and chasing institutions.

Professional help is worth considering where:

• Inheritance tax is payable, particularly where the reliefs or exemptions are complex (business property relief, agricultural relief, gifts in the seven years before death).
• There is property abroad.
• The estate includes a business, unlisted shares, or other hard-to-value assets.
• There are minor beneficiaries, trusts arising under the will, or a life interest for a surviving spouse.
• A family member may challenge the will or the distribution — see our guide on caveats in probate if you're concerned about a dispute.
• The executor lives abroad or is elderly and finds the administration burdensome.

A hybrid approach is also available: you handle the straightforward parts yourself and instruct a solicitor only for the aspects you are not comfortable with — valuing business assets, dealing with an overseas property, or advising on a potential dispute. Many solicitors will quote for partial assistance. If timing is a concern either way, our guide on speeding up probate covers what can and can't be accelerated.

Keeping costs down: practical steps for executors

Order extra grant copies upfront, at the application-rate price. The court fee is the same whether you order one copy or ten, but the per-copy price for extra copies is much lower — £2 rather than £16 — if you order them at the same time as the application rather than afterwards. Work out how many institutions you need to notify and order enough copies at the time of application.

Apply online where possible. The online probate application service at GOV.UK is generally quicker than a paper application, which can reduce the time estate accounts remain frozen and professional fees accumulate if you have instructed a solicitor.

Get multiple quotes for professional help. If you decide to instruct a probate specialist, get at least two or three written quotes. Ask each firm to confirm what is included in their fee, what constitutes a disbursement charged on top, and how they handle complexity that exceeds the original scope.

Use the direct payment scheme early. If inheritance tax is due and the estate has bank funds, contact the deceased's bank immediately about the direct payment scheme. Delaying this step can push back the date the grant issues and extend the administration.

Check whether any assets pass outside the estate. Jointly owned assets passing to a surviving joint owner by survivorship, and assets in a trust, typically do not require probate to transfer. Identifying these early can reduce the scope of the probate application and the associated work — our guide on avoiding probate with trusts explains the main routes.

Step-by-step: the probate cost and process timeline

1. Value the estate. Identify and value all assets and liabilities. You need this to determine whether the application fee applies (over or under the £5,000 threshold) and whether inheritance tax is due. See GOV.UK – how to value an estate.

2. Report the value to HMRC and pay any Inheritance Tax due. If the estate is above the inheritance tax threshold or otherwise requires a full return, submit form IHT400 and make the initial tax payment before proceeding. Excepted estates below the threshold generally report their values as part of the probate application itself.

3. Decide DIY or professional. Weigh the complexity of the estate against your time, confidence, and the cost of professional assistance, bearing in mind the court fee is payable regardless of which route you choose.

4. Submit the probate application and pay the court fee. Apply online at GOV.UK or by post, for a grant of probate or letters of administration as appropriate. Pay the court fee (£526 for estates over £5,000, as at 18 August 2026) and order extra copies of the grant at this stage — copies ordered concurrently cost £2 each rather than £16.

5. Receive the grant. Processing times vary. Once the grant arrives, you have the legal authority to deal with the estate.

6. Administer the estate. Use the copies of the grant to close accounts, collect in assets, settle debts, and distribute the estate to beneficiaries. Keep clear records: executors and administrators are personally accountable for how the estate is handled, and good records protect you if anyone raises questions later.

Last reviewed: 18 August 2026. Every fee in this guide was checked directly against live GOV.UK service pages and the underlying statutory instruments (S.I. 2004/3120, S.I. 2026/642 and S.I. 2026/665) on that date, following the 13 July 2026 probate and court fee increases. Fees and thresholds can change — always confirm the current position on GOV.UK before you pay. Next review due: January 2027 or sooner on any further change to probate court fees or inheritance tax thresholds.