Probate Fees UK 2026

UK executors and administrators need a clear view of what probate costs, from the court fee to copies and professional charges. This guide explains probate fees in England and Wales: the HMCTS application fee, the threshold below which no fee is charged, help for those on low incomes, and how professional fees differ from court fees. It cites HM Courts and Tribunals Service. Kael Tripton is an editorial publisher and not a regulated legal services provider. This article is information only and is not legal advice. Anyone budgeting for probate should consult an SRA-authorised solicitor or Citizens Advice for case-specific guidance.

What the probate fee is

The probate fee is the charge made by HM Courts and Tribunals Service for issuing a grant. It is a flat fee of £300 for any estate valued above £5,000, and there is no fee at all for estates valued at £5,000 or less (HM Courts and Tribunals Service, gov.uk, accessed June 2026). The fee is the same regardless of how large the estate is above the threshold, so a £100,000 estate and a 2 million pound estate pay the same £300.

This flat structure is worth understanding, because proposals in earlier years to introduce a sliding scale of probate fees based on the size of the estate were not brought into force. The current fee applies equally to applications made online and on paper, and equally whether the applicant is a private individual or a solicitor acting on the estate's behalf (HM Courts and Tribunals Service, gov.uk, accessed June 2026). It is a court fee, not a tax, and is separate from any inheritance tax the estate may owe.

Copies, second applications, and help with fees

Beyond the application fee, the main extra cost is for additional sealed copies of the grant. Each copy costs £16, and personal representatives often order several so they can deal with different banks, registries, and institutions at the same time rather than waiting for one copy to be returned before sending it to the next (HM Courts and Tribunals Service, gov.uk, accessed June 2026). Ordering enough copies at the outset can save time during administration.

Where probate has already been granted and a further application becomes necessary, that costs £21 (HM Courts and Tribunals Service, gov.uk, accessed June 2026). For applicants on low incomes or receiving certain benefits, the Help with Fees scheme can reduce or remove the application fee. This is applied for before submitting the probate application, and eligibility depends on income, savings, and benefits. The scheme is the same court fee remission system used across HMCTS services.

Court fees versus professional fees

It is important to separate the court fee from any professional fees. The £300 fee covers only the issuing of the grant by HMCTS. If the personal representatives instruct a solicitor or a probate specialist to handle the estate, that firm charges its own fee for the work, which is set by the firm and not by statute (HM Courts and Tribunals Service, gov.uk, accessed June 2026).

Professional probate fees are charged in different ways. Some firms charge a fixed fee, some charge by the hour, and some charge a percentage of the estate's value. These charges can be far larger than the court fee, particularly for a percentage-based arrangement on a sizeable estate. Anyone considering professional help should ask for a clear, written quote and confirm how the fee is calculated before instructing a firm. The court fee, copy fees, and any professional fees together make up the total cost of obtaining and using the grant.

Common mistakes about probate fees

A common misunderstanding is confusing the probate fee with inheritance tax. They are entirely separate: the £300 fee is a court charge for the grant, while inheritance tax is a tax on the estate dealt with through HMRC and is usually a much larger sum (HM Courts and Tribunals Service and HMRC, gov.uk, accessed June 2026). Budgeting for one and forgetting the other can leave the estate short.

Another mistake is ordering too few copies of the grant, then having to wait while a single copy is sent from one institution to the next, which slows administration. Assuming a solicitor's fee is the same as the court fee is a further error, since professional charges are separate and can be substantial. Failing to check eligibility for Help with Fees, where the applicant is on a low income, means paying a fee that could have been reduced or waived.

How this connects to wills and probate

The probate fee is one part of the wider cost of dealing with an estate, which begins with applying for probate and is shaped by how long the process takes, as covered in the probate timeline guide. The fee itself is modest compared with inheritance tax, which is explained in the guide to inheritance tax and probate.

Looking across the cluster, the probate fee sits alongside the lifetime costs of planning, such as the cost of making a will. Understanding the full sequence, from the cost of writing a will during life to the probate fee after death, gives executors and families a clearer picture of what an estate costs to set up and to administer. The court fee is predictable and fixed, while professional and tax costs vary with the estate.

When to use a solicitor versus doing it yourself

For a straightforward estate, applying directly through the HMCTS online service keeps the cost to the £300 court fee and any copy fees, with no professional charges (HM Courts and Tribunals Service, gov.uk, accessed June 2026). Many simple estates are administered this way.

Paying for professional help adds cost but can be justified where the estate is large, where inheritance tax is due, where there are business or overseas assets, or where the will is disputed. A solicitor or probate specialist takes on work and risk that the personal representatives would otherwise carry themselves. Because professional fees vary widely, comparing written quotes and confirming how the fee is calculated is sensible. The Law Society and the Solicitors Regulation Authority maintain registers of authorised solicitors (lawsociety.org.uk and sra.org.uk, accessed June 2026). The decision depends on the estate's complexity and the value of professional support.

FAQ: probate fees in the UK

How much is the probate application fee in 2026?

The fee is £300 for estates valued above £5,000, and there is no fee for estates at or below £5,000 (HM Courts and Tribunals Service, gov.uk, accessed June 2026). The fee is flat, so it does not increase with the size of the estate above the threshold, and it is the same whether the application is made online or on paper.

Does the probate fee depend on the size of the estate?

No, beyond the £5,000 threshold. Any estate above £5,000 pays the same £300 fee, regardless of whether it is worth tens of thousands or several million (HM Courts and Tribunals Service, gov.uk, accessed June 2026). Earlier proposals for a sliding scale of probate fees based on estate value were not brought into force, so the flat fee applies.

How much do extra copies of the grant cost?

Additional sealed copies of the grant cost £16 each (HM Courts and Tribunals Service, gov.uk, accessed June 2026). Personal representatives often order several copies so they can deal with multiple banks and institutions at the same time. Ordering enough copies when applying can save time during administration compared with sending a single copy from one organisation to the next.

Can I get help paying the probate fee?

Yes. The Help with Fees scheme can reduce or remove the application fee for applicants on low incomes or receiving certain benefits (HM Courts and Tribunals Service, gov.uk, accessed June 2026). It is applied for before submitting the probate application, and eligibility depends on income, savings, and benefits. It is the same court fee remission system used across HMCTS services.

Is the probate fee the same as inheritance tax?

No. The £300 probate fee is a court charge for issuing the grant, while inheritance tax is a separate tax on the estate dealt with through HMRC (HM Courts and Tribunals Service and HMRC, gov.uk, accessed June 2026). Inheritance tax, where it applies, is usually far larger than the court fee. The two should be budgeted for separately when dealing with an estate.