UK Probate Fees Explained in 2026

The cost of UK probate has two main components: the Probate Service application fee and any fees for professional help with the application or the broader administration of the estate. The first is set by the government and is small; the second can be significant and varies enormously by provider. For families dealing with bereavement and an estate of moderate size, understanding the fee structure is important because the cost is paid from the estate and reduces what eventually reaches the beneficiaries.

This article explains the UK probate fee structure in 2026, the choices that affect the total cost, and the practical trade-offs between DIY probate and various forms of professional help.

The Probate Service application fee

The Probate Service charges a flat application fee of 273 pounds for estates above the small estates threshold of 15,000 pounds in 2026. Estates at or below 15,000 pounds pay no application fee.

The flat fee replaces an older tiered system. A proposed banded fee structure that would have charged up to 6,000 pounds for the largest estates was scrapped in 2019 after significant criticism; the current flat fee applies regardless of estate value.

Additional copies of the grant

Each institution holding the deceased's assets (bank, building society, share registrar, Land Registry, pension provider) typically requires an original copy of the grant. Additional copies of the grant cost 1.50 pounds each in 2026 and are ordered with the original application. Executors commonly order 5 to 15 copies depending on the complexity of the estate.

Solicitor fees

The fees for a solicitor handling probate and estate administration vary widely. Three main fee structures are common in the UK market.

Percentage of the estate

Some solicitors charge a percentage of the estate value, typically in the range of 1 to 5 percent (and sometimes higher for very small estates or very low for very large estates). The percentage is sometimes split into a higher rate for the deceased's main residence and a lower rate for cash, investments, and personal effects. This structure is often used by high street firms and bank-owned probate services.

Hourly rate

Other solicitors charge an hourly rate (typically 200 to 400 pounds per hour) for the time spent on the estate. The total depends on how complex the estate turns out to be. Hourly billing can be more economical than percentage fees for high-value but simple estates and more expensive for low-value but complicated estates.

Fixed quote

Some solicitors offer a fixed quote for defined estate administration scopes. The quote is based on an assessment of complexity at outset. Fixed quotes give cost certainty but can be higher than equivalent hourly billing if the estate turns out simpler than expected.

Solicitors Regulation Authority transparency rules

SRA rules require regulated firms to publish indicative fees for probate work on their website. The transparency rules let families compare fees across firms before engaging anyone. The structure varies between firms but the SRA requirements have made comparison easier than it used to be.

Licensed probate practitioners

Probate work in the UK can be undertaken by solicitors and by licensed probate practitioners. The latter are professionals authorised under the Legal Services Act 2007 to provide probate services without being qualified solicitors. They are regulated by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers, CILEx Regulation, or the SRA depending on the firm structure.

Licensed practitioners typically charge less than solicitors for similar work because their overheads are lower. For most probate work outside specialised contested cases, licensed practitioners deliver an equivalent service at a lower cost.

Bank probate services

High street banks offer probate services through subsidiary or partner firms. The branding is convenient and the application process is integrated with the deceased's accounts. The fees charged by bank probate services are generally at the higher end of the percentage-fee market.

For families looking for the cheapest option, bank probate services are rarely the answer. The convenience comes at a price premium that can be substantial on a meaningful estate. Independent comparison of three to five providers, including at least one licensed practitioner, is sensible before engaging anyone.

DIY probate

UK probate can be applied for personally by the executor without engaging a solicitor or licensed practitioner. The Probate Service's online application supports personal applications and is well-designed for straightforward cases.

When DIY makes sense

DIY probate is realistic where the estate is straightforward: single property, modest value, clear will, all beneficiaries identified and contactable, no business or agricultural interests, no foreign assets, no disputes, and IHT either nil or simple to calculate. For these cases, DIY probate can save several thousand pounds in solicitor fees.

When DIY is risky

DIY probate is risky where the estate is complex: contested wills, missing beneficiaries, business assets requiring valuation, foreign elements, complex IHT calculations, insolvent estates, or significant trust elements. Executors are personally liable for losses caused by failures in administration, and the risk of personal liability is the principal reason to engage a professional.

The IHT and probate interaction

For most estates with IHT to pay, or where the IHT400 is otherwise required by HMRC's rules, the IHT400 return is submitted to HMRC before probate is granted. Any IHT due must usually be paid (at least in part) before probate is issued.

The IHT calculation, valuation of assets, and submission of the IHT400 are themselves significant pieces of work. For estates with potential IHT exposure, professional involvement reduces the risk of errors that could result in HMRC penalties.

Other costs to expect

Valuation fees

Property valuations for probate are typically obtained from a Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors-qualified surveyor and cost 300 to 600 pounds for a residential property. Some estates require additional valuations for jewellery, art, or other valuables.

HMRC-related costs

HMRC may charge interest on IHT not paid by the due date (6 months after the end of the month of death). Where the estate cannot pay all IHT immediately, the instalment option for property allows payment over 10 years with interest.

Search and notice costs

Statutory notices to creditors (a Section 27 Trustee Act notice published in the London Gazette and a local newspaper) protect the executor against claims by unknown creditors. Costs are typically a few hundred pounds and the protection lasts for two months after publication.

Missing beneficiary insurance

Where beneficiaries cannot be located, missing beneficiary insurance protects the executor and the estate against later claims. Premiums depend on the value of the share at risk and the difficulty of search.

How to control the cost

Compare three or more providers

SRA transparency rules and the availability of licensed practitioners mean it is straightforward to obtain comparable quotes from three or more providers. Even a few hours of comparison can save thousands of pounds.

Negotiate the fee structure

Solicitor fees are negotiable. Percentage-based fees can sometimes be capped at a maximum; hourly rates may be negotiated for larger estates. The conversation should happen before engagement.

Split the work

Some families combine DIY with selective professional help, for example handling the probate application themselves but engaging a tax specialist for the IHT400 or a property solicitor for the conveyancing of the deceased's home. This hybrid approach can reduce the total cost while keeping the high-risk elements with professionals.

Use a licensed practitioner

Licensed probate practitioners regulated by the CLC, CILEx Regulation, or SRA typically deliver an equivalent service to a solicitor at a lower cost for non-contentious probate.

Risks and downsides to weigh

The cheapest option is not always the right one. DIY probate carries personal liability risk. A discount provider with limited capacity may take longer than a busier solicitor with experienced staff. A bank probate service is convenient but expensive. The right approach depends on the executor's tolerance for the work, the estate's complexity, and the cost difference between the options.

The 2018 to 2020 abandoned probate fee reform

In 2018, the Ministry of Justice consulted on a banded probate fee structure that would have charged up to 6,000 pounds for the largest estates. The proposal would have replaced the flat fee with a sliding scale where the fee rose with the estate's value, banded at intervals from 250 pounds for the smallest taxable estates up to 6,000 pounds for estates above 2 million pounds. The reform was widely criticised as a stealth tax on probate, particularly because the work performed by the Probate Service does not vary materially with the estate's value.

The reform was scrapped in October 2019 after sustained criticism from the legal profession, charities, and parliamentary committees. The current flat 273 pound fee was set in 2022 and applies regardless of estate value above the 5,000 pound small estates threshold. Periodic future reviews of the fee structure remain possible; the Probate Service publishes any changes on gov.uk.

Sealed copies of the grant

Each institution holding the deceased's assets typically requires an original (sealed) copy of the grant of probate (or letters of administration) before transferring or releasing assets. Sealed copies are ordered with the original application and cost 1.50 pounds each at 2026 rates. Executors commonly order 5 to 15 copies depending on the number of asset holders.

Banks, building societies, share registrars, the Land Registry, life insurance companies, and pension providers each typically require their own sealed copy. The copies can be photocopied for the executor's records but the institutions usually retain the sealed original. Ordering enough copies up front saves time and additional fees compared to ordering more later from the Probate Service.

Solicitor fee models in detail

The three main solicitor fee structures each have advantages and disadvantages. Percentage-of-estate fees (typically 1 to 5 percent of the gross estate value) are straightforward to quote but can be expensive for high-value but simple estates. A 1 million pound estate at 2 percent generates 20,000 pounds of fees, which may exceed the actual time spent on the work. Some firms cap the percentage at a maximum to mitigate this.

Hourly rate billing (typically 200 to 400 pounds an hour for a probate solicitor, with senior partners commanding 500 pounds or more) is fairer in principle because it reflects time actually spent. The risk for the executor is unpredictability: a complex estate that turns out to be more time-consuming than expected can generate a much larger bill than anticipated. Most hourly firms provide ongoing time estimates as the work progresses.

Fixed-fee quotes are most common for routine probate work and combine certainty with a defined scope. The quote depends on an assessment of complexity at outset; matters outside the agreed scope (for example, dealing with a will contest or a complex IHT calculation) trigger additional fees.

DIY probate cost-savings in concrete numbers

For a typical UK estate (single property, modest financial assets, clear will, no business or foreign elements), DIY probate through the Probate Service's online application costs roughly 275 to 500 pounds in total: the 273 pound application fee, 7 to 22 pounds for sealed copies, a 300 to 500 pound property valuation, and possibly a 100 to 200 pound statutory notice in the London Gazette and a local newspaper. The executor does the rest themselves.

Solicitor probate on the same estate typically costs 3,000 to 15,000 pounds depending on estate value and complexity. The difference of several thousand pounds is the executor's reward for taking on the work and the risk. For confident executors of straightforward estates, the saving is substantial; for executors who are not confident or where the estate has any complexity, the professional cost is usually worthwhile.

Probate genealogist and missing beneficiary costs

Where the will refers to beneficiaries who cannot be located or where intestacy rules require tracing more distant relatives, a probate genealogist (sometimes called an heir hunter) is engaged to identify and locate the beneficiaries. Fees vary widely. Some genealogists charge a fixed fee per search; others take a percentage of the located beneficiaries' inheritance (commonly 10 to 25 percent, sometimes higher).

The percentage model has been criticised as inflating the cost of administration for the located beneficiaries. Executors with a choice should obtain fee quotes from at least two probate genealogists before engaging anyone. Missing beneficiary insurance covers the executor against later claims by beneficiaries who could not be located despite reasonable searches; premiums depend on the value of the share at risk and the difficulty of search.

International probate fees

Where the deceased held assets in other jurisdictions, the foreign assets may require separate probate or equivalent procedures in the relevant country. The additional costs depend on the jurisdiction and the asset type. Resealing a UK grant in a Commonwealth jurisdiction under the Colonial Probates Act 1892 typically costs a few hundred pounds plus the foreign legal fees; a fresh foreign probate application can cost several thousand pounds and take many months.

For UK migrants with substantial assets in the country of origin or for UK residents with US, EU, or other foreign property holdings, coordinated UK and foreign probate is a substantial additional cost on top of the UK fees described in this article. Specialist cross-border probate advice is essential where the estate spans multiple jurisdictions.

Important: This article is for general information and does not constitute legal advice. UK probate fees, IHT thresholds, and procedural requirements change. Verify the current Probate Service fees on gov.uk before applying. Complex estates, contested wills, and significant IHT positions benefit from advice from a solicitor or licensed probate practitioner.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the UK probate application fee in 2026?

The current Probate Service application fee is 273 pounds for estates above 15,000 pounds. Estates at or below 15,000 pounds pay no application fee. Additional copies of the grant cost 1.50 pounds each.

How much do solicitors charge for probate?

Solicitor fees vary widely. Percentage-based fees are typically 1 to 5 percent of the estate value. Hourly rates are typically 200 to 400 pounds per hour. Fixed quotes vary by complexity. SRA transparency rules require regulated firms to publish indicative fees on their websites.

Are licensed practitioners cheaper than solicitors?

Typically yes, for non-contentious probate. Licensed probate practitioners are regulated under the Legal Services Act 2007 and provide an equivalent service to solicitors for most probate work at lower cost. Solicitors remain appropriate for contested probate and other specialist matters.

Can I do probate myself to save money?

Yes, for straightforward estates. The Probate Service's online application supports personal applications and can save several thousand pounds in solicitor fees. DIY probate is risky for complex estates and executors are personally liable for failures in administration.

How much does a property valuation cost for probate?

A Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors valuation typically costs 300 to 600 pounds for a residential property. Specialist valuations for jewellery, art, or business interests cost more. The valuation cost is paid from the estate.

Can I pay probate fees from the estate?

Yes. All probate-related costs (the Probate Service fee, solicitor or practitioner fees, valuation fees, statutory notices, and other administration costs) are payable from the estate and are deducted before distribution to beneficiaries. The costs are also generally deductible from the estate value for IHT purposes.