Money & Budgeting
How Much Does Probate Cost UK?
Complete guide to probate costs UK. Court fees, solicitor charges, DIY vs professional, and total costs to expect when dealing with someone's estate.
Probate costs vary significantly depending on whether you do it yourself or use professionals.
Probate Court Fees
Application Fee (2025)
| Estate Value |
Fee |
| Under £5,000 |
£0 |
| Over £5,000 |
£300 |
Additional Copies
| Item |
Cost |
| Extra copies of Grant |
£1.50 each |
| Recommended |
3-5 copies |
Professional Costs
Solicitor Fee Structures
| Method |
Typical Cost |
Pros |
Cons |
| Fixed fee |
£2,000-5,000 |
Predictable |
May exclude extras |
| Hourly rate |
£150-350/hour |
Pay for work done |
Unpredictable total |
| Percentage |
1-4% of estate |
Aligned with value |
Expensive for large estates |
Percentage Fee Examples
| Estate Value |
1% Fee |
2% Fee |
4% Fee |
| £200,000 |
£2,000 |
£4,000 |
£8,000 |
| £350,000 |
£3,500 |
£7,000 |
£14,000 |
| £500,000 |
£5,000 |
£10,000 |
£20,000 |
| £750,000 |
£7,500 |
£15,000 |
£30,000 |
| £1,000,000 |
£10,000 |
£20,000 |
£40,000 |
What’s Usually Included
| Typically Included |
Often Extra |
| Probate application |
Property sale |
| Estate valuation |
Tax returns (complex) |
| Basic IHT forms |
Disputes |
| Collecting assets |
Foreign assets |
| Paying debts |
Business assets |
| Distribution |
House clearance |
Getting Quotes
| Ask For |
Why |
| Fixed fee if possible |
Budget certainty |
| What’s included |
Avoid surprises |
| What’s extra |
Know full cost |
| Disbursements |
Separate costs |
| Multiple quotes |
Prices vary hugely |
DIY Probate Costs
If You Do It Yourself
| Cost |
Amount |
| Court fee |
£300 |
| Copy certificates |
£10-15 |
| Postage/admin |
£20-50 |
| Total DIY cost |
£330-365 |
| Resource |
Cost |
| GOV.UK guidance |
Free |
| Probate Registry helpline |
Free |
| Online application |
Included |
| Co-op Probate (limited help) |
~£300 |
Other Costs Involved
Valuations
| Item |
Typical Cost |
| Property (estate agent) |
Free-£300 |
| Property (surveyor) |
£200-500 |
| Chattels/contents |
Free-£200 |
| Shares/investments |
Usually free |
| Specialist items (art etc) |
£100-500+ |
Inheritance Tax
| If IHT Due |
Paid From Estate |
| Rate |
40% over threshold |
| Threshold 2025/26 |
£325,000 (+ allowances) |
| Due |
Within 6 months of death |
| Payment before probate |
Often needed |
Other Estate Costs
| Cost |
Typical Amount |
| Funeral |
£4,000-6,000 |
| Property maintenance |
Variable |
| Insurance |
While selling |
| Utility bills |
Until sold/cleared |
| Storage |
If needed |
Total Cost Scenarios
Simple Estate (DIY)
| Estate: £250,000, One Property |
| Probate fee |
| Extra copies |
| Property valuation |
| Admin costs |
| Total |
Medium Estate (Fixed Fee Solicitor)
| Estate: £400,000, Property + Investments |
| Probate fee |
| Solicitor fixed fee |
| Disbursements |
| Property valuation |
| Total |
Complex Estate (Full Service)
| Estate: £750,000, Multiple Assets |
| Probate fee |
| Solicitor (2% fee) |
| Accountant tax work |
| Specialist valuations |
| Total |
DIY vs Solicitor
When DIY Makes Sense
| Situation |
Suitable for DIY |
| Single property + bank accounts |
✓ |
| Clear will, uncontested |
✓ |
| UK assets only |
✓ |
| Named beneficiaries |
✓ |
| No business assets |
✓ |
| Straightforward IHT |
✓ |
When to Use Solicitor
| Situation |
Professional Help |
| Complex assets (business, overseas) |
Recommended |
| Family disputes likely |
Recommended |
| Large IHT liability |
Recommended |
| Trusts involved |
Recommended |
| No will (intestacy) |
Consider |
| Multiple properties |
Consider |
| Nervous about paperwork |
Consider |
Reducing Costs
Practical Tips
| Strategy |
Saving |
| Do it yourself |
£2,000-10,000+ |
| Get multiple quotes |
Compare prices |
| Choose fixed fee |
Avoid surprises |
| Avoid percentage fees |
On large estates |
| Do admin yourself |
Reduce hourly billing |
Hybrid Approach
| Task |
Who Does It |
| Valuing assets |
You |
| Completing forms |
You |
| Legal check/submission |
Solicitor |
| Collecting assets |
You |
| Distribution |
You |
| Cost |
£500-1,500 |
Probate Specialists
| Type |
Cost |
Service |
| Solicitor |
Most expensive |
Full legal service |
| Probate specialist (non-solicitor) |
Mid-range |
Most estates |
| Online services |
Budget |
DIY with support |
| Banks |
Expensive |
Avoid usually |
Bank Executor Services (Warning)
Why Banks Are Expensive
| Bank Service |
Typical Fee |
| Fee structure |
2-4% of estate |
| £300,000 estate |
£6,000-12,000 |
| Plus |
Legal costs on top |
| Often |
Named in old wills |
Removing Bank Executors
| If Named in Will |
Options |
| Renounce |
They can step down |
| Negotiate |
Reduced fee |
| Use different service |
If allowed |
| Check will terms |
May be choice |
Timeline Impact on Costs
Standard Timeline
| Stage |
Typical Time |
| Gather information |
2-4 weeks |
| Submit application |
1-2 weeks |
| Receive grant |
4-8 weeks |
| Collect assets |
2-8 weeks |
| Pay debts/distribute |
4-12 weeks |
| Total |
4-8 months |
Cost Implications
| Factor |
Impact |
| Hourly billing |
Longer = more expensive |
| Property insurance |
While unsold |
| Property maintenance |
Ongoing |
| Utility bills |
Until cleared |
Summary
Quick Cost Guide
| Approach |
Typical Total Cost |
| DIY |
£300-400 |
| Online service |
£500-1,500 |
| Fixed fee solicitor |
£2,000-5,000 |
| Percentage fee (small estate) |
£3,000-8,000 |
| Percentage fee (large estate) |
£10,000-30,000+ |
What Affects Cost
| Factor |
Impact |
| Estate value |
Higher = more (if %) |
| Complexity |
More assets = more work |
| Disputes |
Massively increase costs |
| Who does it |
DIY vs professional |
| Fee structure |
Fixed vs hourly vs % |
Action Plan
| Step |
Action |
| 1 |
Assess estate complexity |
| 2 |
Decide DIY or professional |
| 3 |
Get 3+ quotes if using professional |
| 4 |
Request fixed fee quote |
| 5 |
Ask what’s included/excluded |
| 6 |
Check reviews/recommendations |
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