How Much Does Probate Cost in the UK? Fees Explained for 2026

Last updated: 30 August 2026. Applies to England and Wales.

Probate in England and Wales costs a £526 court application fee for any estate worth more than £5,000, plus professional fees if you use a solicitor or probate specialist. Professional costs typically run from around £600 for a grant-only service to several thousand pounds for full estate administration. Estates of £5,000 or less pay no court fee.

The court fee changed on 13 July 2026

This is the single most important thing to know, because a large number of websites are still quoting the old figure. On 13 July 2026 the probate application fee in England and Wales rose from £300 to £526 for estates valued above £5,000. The Ministry of Justice set out the change in its court and tribunal fee update, stating the increase recovers the cost of running and modernising the probate service.

If you have read elsewhere that probate costs £300, that page has not been updated. Always check the current figure on the GOV.UK probate fees page before you budget.

Probate fees at a glance

Cost	Amount	Notes
Probate application fee	£526	Estates above £5,000. From 13 July 2026.
Estates of £5,000 or less	£0	No application fee payable.
Extra copies of the grant	£2 each	When ordered with the application.
Extra copies ordered later	£16 each	Order enough upfront to avoid this.
Second or subsequent grant	£22	For example where power was reserved.
Entering a caveat	£3	Lasts six months, renewable.
Property valuation	£300 to £500	RICS surveyor or estate agent.

The copy fee is worth planning for. Every bank, pension provider, insurer and registrar usually wants to see its own sealed copy. Ordering eight copies alongside your application costs £16 in total. Ordering the same eight copies afterwards costs £128.

How professional fees are charged

The court fee is fixed. Everything else depends on who you instruct and how they price. There are three common models.

Percentage of the estate

Some firms charge between 1% and 4% of the gross estate value, sometimes with an additional percentage on property. On a £400,000 estate, 2% is £8,000. The obvious problem is that the fee bears little relation to the work actually done: a £400,000 estate with one house and two bank accounts is not four times the work of a £100,000 estate.

Hourly rates

Typically £200 to £400 per hour depending on the firm and the seniority of the person handling the file. The difficulty is that you do not know the final bill at the outset, and estate administration has a habit of expanding.

Fixed fees

A single agreed price, quoted before the work starts. For a grant-only service, where the specialist obtains the grant and you handle the rest, expect roughly £600 to £1,200. For full estate administration, where the specialist deals with everything from valuations to final distribution, expect roughly £1,500 to £4,000 for a straightforward estate.

Fixed fees are the reason comparison exists. The same estate can attract wildly different quotes depending on which firm you happen to ring first.

Grant only or full administration?

This choice affects your cost more than almost anything else.

Grant only means a professional prepares and submits the application, and you receive the grant. You then do the work: closing accounts, selling or transferring property, settling debts, preparing estate accounts and distributing to beneficiaries. It is considerably cheaper and suits confident executors with simple estates.

Full administration means the professional does all of it. It costs more, but it transfers the administrative burden and much of the risk. Executors are personally liable for mistakes in distributing an estate, which is a genuine consideration if there are unknown creditors, missing beneficiaries or any possibility of a claim.

Inheritance tax is not a probate fee

These get conflated constantly. Inheritance tax is a separate tax on the estate, charged at 40% on the value above the £325,000 nil rate band. A further residence nil rate band of up to £175,000 may apply where a home is passed to direct descendants. Most estates pay no inheritance tax at all.

Where tax is due, it generally has to be paid before the grant is issued, which creates a real sequencing problem for executors whose money is locked inside the estate. There are established routes around this, including direct payment schemes with banks and short-term probate loans.

How to reduce what you pay

• Get more than one quote. Fixed fee quotes for identical estates vary widely.
• Ask whether the fee is fixed or an estimate, and get it in writing.
• Check what is excluded. Property sales, tax returns and dealing with claims are often extra.
• Order all your sealed copies with the original application at £2 each.
• Consider grant only if the estate is simple and you have the time.
• Check whether you qualify for Help with Fees using form EX160 if you are on a low income or receive certain benefits.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the probate fee in 2026?

£526 for estates valued above £5,000, from 13 July 2026. There is no fee for estates of £5,000 or less.

Can I do probate myself and avoid professional fees?

Yes. There is no legal requirement to use a solicitor. You can apply directly through the HMCTS probate service online or by post, paying only the £526 court fee and any disbursements. It suits straightforward estates where you are comfortable with paperwork and have the time.

Who pays the probate fees?

The fees come out of the estate, not the executor's own pocket. In practice the executor often has to pay upfront and reclaim from the estate once funds are released, which is why the timing of the £526 fee matters.

Are probate fees the same across the UK?

No. These figures apply to England and Wales. Scotland has a different process called confirmation, and Northern Ireland has its own fee structure.

How long does probate take?

GOV.UK guidance says the grant is usually issued within 12 weeks of submitting the application. Full estate administration typically takes six to twelve months from death, longer where there is property to sell, inheritance tax to settle or any dispute.

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This guide is general information about the probate process in England and Wales, not legal or financial advice. Figures are correct as at 30 August 2026. Check GOV.UK for the current court fee before you apply. Probate Compare is a trading style of Estate Assist Ltd, company number 14495587, registered in England and Wales. ICO registration ZB470272.