COST OF PROBATE FEES IN THE UK | March 2024 - Complete Guide

March 2024

Cost Of Probate Fees In The UK in March 2024

How much does probate cost?

The cost of probate varies, depending on the estate and who handles the process. The cost of probate has two main components; fixed costs and variable costs. Fixed costs are essentially the probate application fee.

Variable costs are effectively anything else, including the specialist probate services. The fixed cost is a minimum of £155, and the variable fee is likely to be around 1-5% of the value of the estate, plus VAT.

Topics that you will find covered on this page

You can listen to an audio recording of this page below.

Who is responsible for paying for probate?

The cost of probate fees are paid out of the deceased’s estate. So while the process will not cost the executor or administrator, they should still try to keep the cost low for the benefit of the beneficiaries.

How do I pay probate fees?

If you are wondering how to pay probate fees, it is fortunately very straightforward. You can apply for probate online and pay probate fees online too, meaning that you don’t have to send a cheque.

Can I do probate myself?

It is possible to do probate yourself, and if you are dealing with a small, simple estate, this can save thousands of pounds.

When deciding if you want to appoint a probate solicitor or specialist, you should consider the complexity of the estate and the amount of time you have to work on the probate process.

Also, it will take 50-80 hours to do probate, so you have to take into account whether you have enough free time. 

Here is a video that explains the costs of doing probate

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How much does probate cost in the UK to do it yourself?

If you decide to do probate yourself, you will only have to pay a fixed fee. If the deceased person’s estate is worth over £5000 after you have paid for their funeral costs and settled their debts, it costs £215 to apply for probate to HM Courts and Tribunals Service. If the deceased’s estate is worth less than this, the application is free.

Can I get legal aid for probate?

No. The government and Legal Aid Agency will not pay the cost of Wills, Probate, lasting power of attorney, and trusts.

Compare probate fees – Breakdown of probate charges in the UK

Here is a breakdown of what is involved when calculating probate charges. You should compare probate fees between probate specialists and probate lawyers, as they can widely differ. Consider using a probate fees calculator to get a better idea of the fees involved. 

1 – How much is probate with a fixed fee?

There are fixed fees for probate. If costs £155 to have a probate solicitor or specialist file an application. If you are applying as an individual, if the person who passed had an estate worth more than £5000 after you have paid off the funeral costs and debts, the fee is £215.

2 – How much is probate with a variable fee?

This is less predictable. If the estate is small and the assets are not too complicated, you can keep the costs down by administering the estate yourself.

If you enlist the help of a probate specialist, the cost of their work depends on the solicitors or specialists you choose. A specialist or solicitor will generally charge around 1-5% of the value of the estate. Some will choose to charge based on their hourly rate or a fixed fee.

3 – How will the probate service set their probate fees?

There are three main ways that probate services and solicitors charge for their help and services. These are:

  • A percentage share based on the value of the estate. This is likely to be between 2 and 5% of the value of the estate. This works in the client’s favour where the estate is complicated but small, but this type of fee arrangement should be avoided for large but simple estates.
  • An hourly rate. For a solicitor’s advice, this is likely to be between £100 and £250 per hour. This is problematic when there are unexpected complications.
  • A fixed fee. This is usually based on a questionnaire about the details of your case before they give a quote. This fee will include the cost of the probate specialist or solicitor getting a grant of probate. The benefit of this is that you will be more clear about the probate costs.

4 – Probate solicitors fees to do probate?

Probate solicitors fees for probate will vary.

They will help you administer the deceased’s estate and complete the grant of probate application.

The approximate fee for a solicitor’s services is usually 3-5% of the value of the estate. The hourly rate will vary depending on how experienced the solicitors giving advice are.

Probate solicitor’s fees for probate are authorised and regulated by the Law Society. The Law Society sets a base fee of 0.75% of the estate value, then 1.5% the financial value of any other assets.

If it is a contentious probate and there is challenge to the Will or the executor, then the costs can be higher.

Cheap probate solicitors can also do the work at a lower cost, but this will often depend on you taking on some of the work.  Therefore, when thinking about the help you need, do consider how much work you want to do and whether a cheap probate solicitor will give you what you need.

5 – What are probate specialist fees?

Probate specialists are generally the cheapest option. A probate specialist is anyone who has a speciality in probate work, though they are generally accountants. Solicitors fees for probate are usually between 2 and 5% of the value of the estate for their work and services.

6 – How much do bank probate services cost?

Using a bank is generally the most expensive option.

The bank will usually charge between 4 and 5% of the estate’s value. If the deceased person used a bank to help write their will, they may have made the bank co-executor. In this instance, the bank may try and act as the professional executor and do the probate process.

However, if all the beneficiaries agree, you can ask the bank to step down.

7 – Probate registry fees

A probate registry fees are a type of disbursement.

It is the fee a solicitor or specialist will charge for them applying for a grant of probate or letters of administration on your behalf. This costs £155, which is cheaper than if you deal with the probate registry yourself, in which case it is £215.

"The cost of probate varies, depending on the estate and who handles the process. The cost of probate has two main components; fixed costs and variable costs."

What are the additional costs of probate?

It is worth considering whether the probate fees include other third party costs, which can quickly stack up.

Third-party costs are often called disbursements, and can include:

  • The probate court fee of £155 to apply for a grant of probate
  • The cost of copies of the original grant of probate, at £1.50 a copy.
  • The official entry of a house or property into the Land Registry of £3 plus VAT
  • A bankruptcy search of approximately £2
  • Around £5 plus VAT to have an electronic ID search done
  • New Land Registry registration fees, which depend on the value and nature of the property
probate solictors
  • Stockbroker fees of approximately £25 to £150
  • S27 Advertisement in a local newspaper and the London Gazette, which is £150-£300, depending on how much the local paper advert costs
  • Possibly an accountant’s fee for an income tax return or other financial work
  • Asset tracing fees
  • Other costs where there are complications, like for lost share certificates
  • Copies of the death certificate for life insurance claims

What are ‘grant only’ probate and ‘full estate administration’?

When you look at the cost of probate, you will notice the term ‘full estate administration’ and ‘grant only’ probate. Grant only probate only covers the process of getting a grant of probate.

A grant of probate is necessary to prove you have the right to administer the estate and access the deceased’s personal accounts. ‘Full estate administration’ is where the probate services will handle everything to do with wrapping up and distributing someone’s property and assets.

How much is a grant of probate?

The cost for grant of probate depend on whether you do it, or a professional does it.

If you complete probate yourself, in England or Wales, the probate application fee will be £215 to get the Grant of Representation. You don’t have to pay this fee if the Estate you’re dealing with is valued at less than £5,000.

If you use a solicitor or probate professional then the grant of probate cost drops to £155.

What is a probate grant only service?

It is possible to use a grant only service, where a probate solicitor helps draft a grant of probate or grant of representation on your behalf and the rest of the process you do yourself.

The executor or administrator will have to provide the solicitor with all the relevant information first, and then the family is responsible for dealing with the estate once they have a probate certificate.

Some solicitors and professional services will help fill out the inheritance tax form where this is required.

probate service costs

How much does a grant only probate service cost?

It generally costs between £500 and £1500 for a solicitor or professional to draft your grant of probate application where the estate falls beneath the Inheritance Tax threshold.

Where you require a solicitor to also fill out the lengthy inheritance tax form, this is likely to cost £1000 to £2000 plus VAT. This is useful where the estate is relatively simple to administer, but you need help with the legal elements.

What is included in a full estate administration service?

Full Estate Administration covers everything to do with the person’s estate and assets. This includes liaising with banks, completing forms, selling shares, selling the home and other assets, and setting up an estate bank account.

While Full estate admin is more expensive, using these services saves you from the burdensome and challenging experience of handling the deceased’s estate and property, especially following the death of a friend or family member. Full estate admin may be needed where estate and property are very complicated.

You should also remember that probate can easily take up to 12 months.

What is the average cost of probate?

Full estate administration services are much more expensive than grant only probate. This can range between £1,250 for help with simple and small estates, to up to £25,000 for the large and more complex estates.

Can probate fees be paid from the estate?

You can recover reasonable expenses from the estate, such as those incurred by management or maintenance of the property. 

Other probate cost considerations

1 – What do I need to consider when dealing with a probate professional?

There are a number of details to look out for when getting a quote from solicitors or specialists. These are potential extra costs on top of solicitors fees for probate:

  • Whether the initial advice and quotes are free.
  • Disbursement costs- these are additional expenses you must pay as part of the probate process. For example, the probate application fee, getting documents certified, valuations, and conveyancing fees. You must find out how much these fees will be, and if they are included in the overall quote.
  • When you will be required to pay the fees and disbursements. Some professional services will want the disbursement fees as they go along, or payment in stages.
  • Whether VAT is included in the charge
  • Make sure you know whether you are being given an estimate on the probate fees or the final bill. Some firms will want you to fill out a detailed fact-finding questionnaire or probate fees calculator before they give you a quote. Their figure is likely to be more accurate than firms who give a standard figure.

2 – How much does it cost to get copies of probate documents?

To administer the estate, you generally need a few copies of the grant of probate of the letter of administration. Each copy will cost you £1.50. All copies of the grant of probate will also include a copy of the will.

3 – How much does an application to remove an executor cost?

It is challenging to predict how much contending probate will cost. Where the issues are relatively simple, it is likely to cost between £5000 and £15,000 plus VAT to apply for an executor to be removed.

Where the issues are more complex, it can cost between £20,000 and £30,000 plus VAT to remove an executor.

It is worth remembering that they will also incur legal costs, and if you lose your case you will have to pay their costs too. You should definitely get legal advice before making applications.

How can I keep probate costs to a minimum?

Probate is an inherently expensive process. However, there are some ways you can save money:

  • If you are wondering ‘how much do solicitors charge for probate?’, you can contact solicitors and specialist services to get free quotes and advice so you can decide which is the cheapest one for you
solicitors charge
  • By planning whether you think full estate admin will be required, or if you can save money with grant only probate
  • Shop around for solicitors and specialists. Most will have information on their website about what they offer, their percentage rate, and how to contact them. You should avoid using a bank as banks generally charge a higher percentage rate for a similar service.
  • Get some of the initial work done yourself, like gathering financial details, paying off debts, collecting insurance payments, creating a bank account for the estate, and planning how to administer the estate.
  • Ask the solicitor to keep correspondence and contact to a minimum. This is because there is often a charge for each letter you receive, so it is only worth getting essential advice.

How much do solicitors charge to execute a will?

Solicitors fees for administering a Will vary depending on how much help you need.  For example, do you just need help doing the grant or help with full estate administration. Therefore, solicitors costs for probate can range from a few hundred pounds up to a % of the value of the estate, perhaps up to 5%.

The cost for a solicitor to draw up a will varies depending on the solicitor and the complexities of the case. Writing a Will will generally cost £150-£300 in England and Wales.

Even if you write your own will, it is a good idea to get a solicitor’s advice to make sure there are not any mistakes. Otherwise sorting out the Will will cost your executors a lot more after your death.

How much does setting up a trust under a will cost?

Often it will be stipulated in the will that a trust should be established on behalf of the beneficiaries, a charity, or on some rare occasions, for a purpose. You will usually need the help of a probate specialist or probate solicitor.

A simple trust (‘bare trust’) for beneficiaries will generally cost around £1000 to set up, plus VAT. To set up a ‘discretionary trust’, which is where the executors have discretion on how property is distributed is also likely to cost £1000.

There will be additional costs to transfer the assets into the trust, to set up bank accounts, deal with claims on life insurance, and to handle inheritance tax and capital gains tax claims.

 

Would you like some help with the Probate process or get a quote? We can provide access to a very cost effective service.

You can contact us in one of 3 ways:

  • Option 1 – Call us directly on – 0333 567 1608
  • Option 2 – Book an appointment directly in the calendar below, and one of the team will call you back at the chosen time
  • Option 3 – Leave us your contact details and we will get in touch

 

Option 1 – Call directly to discuss your probate support needs

Our lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. So, you can call us at any time that suits you.

Option 2 – Book an appointment, in the calendar below, for a Probate specialist to call you back when its convenient

Option 3 – Leave us your details and we will get in touch

Leave your contact details below and one of the team will give you a call to discuss your needs.

Please note that all calls are undertaken by Trust Inheritance, one of the UK’s leading probate specialists.

Article author

Katy Davies

I am a keen reader and writer and have been helping to write and produce the legal content for the site since the launch.   I studied for a law degree at Manchester University and I use that theoretical experience, as well as my practical experience as a solicitor, to help produce legal content which I hope you find helpful.

Outside of work, I love the snow and am a keen snowboarder.  Most winters you will see me trying to get away for long weekends to the slopes in Switzerland or France.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does probate cost?

The cost of probate varies, depending on the estate and who handles the process. The cost of probate has two main components; fixed costs and variable costs. Fixed costs are essentially the application fee.Variable costs are effectively anything else, including the specialist probate services. The fixed cost is a minimum of £155, and the variable fee is likely to be around 1-5% of the value of the estate, plus VAT.

Who is responsible for paying for probate?

The cost of probate fees are paid out of the deceased’s estate. So while the process will not cost the executor or administrator, they should still try to keep the grant of probate cost low for the benefit of the beneficiaries.

How much does probate cost to do it yourself?

If you decide to do probate yourself, you will only have to pay a fixed fee. If the deceased person’s estate is worth over £5000 after you have paid for their funeral costs and settled their debts, it costs £215 to apply for probate to HM Courts and Tribunals Service. If the deceased’s estate is worth less than this, the application is free.

Can I get legal aid for probate costs?

No. The government and Legal Aid Agency will not pay probate costs or the cost of wills, the lasting power of attorney, and trusts.