Probate Fees UK: What Executors Actually Pay in 2026

What probate fees actually are

Probate fees in the UK come in three layers. First, the court fee: the fixed charge for the grant, set by law. Second, professional fees: what a solicitor charges — the variable part, and where most of the money goes. Third, disbursements: smaller third-party costs, from death certificates to valuations. This guide covers England and Wales; the US works very differently — see how much probate costs in the US — and check when probate is required first, since not every estate needs a grant.

The probate application fee: £526

The one figure that is not negotiable is the application fee. Checked on GOV.UK on 8 November 2026, it is £526 where the estate is worth more than £5,000, and there is no fee where the estate is £5,000 or less. It rose from £300 on 13 July 2026, so guides not updated since last summer understate the fee by £226. Extra sealed copies cost £2 each with your application, but £16 each afterwards, so order enough upfront: most executors need several, one for each bank, insurer and the Land Registry. Once you have applied, see how long probate takes for what happens next.

Solicitor fees: fixed fee, hourly or percentage

Solicitor fees are where costs diverge, because firms charge three ways. A fixed fee is a set price agreed before work starts: grant-only help typically runs £500 to £2,000, while full administration is often around £1,500 to £3,000 plus VAT for a straightforward estate. An hourly rate bills for time spent, commonly £150 to £450 plus VAT per hour. A percentage fee takes 1% to 5% of the estate’s value plus VAT — on a £300,000 estate that is £3,000 to £15,000 before VAT. Get the quote in writing, with VAT and disbursements shown separately.

Valuations and the other costs that add up

Before applying, the estate must be valued. A property usually needs a professional valuation: an estate agent’s informal figure may cost nothing, while a formal surveyor’s valuation typically runs a few hundred pounds. These figures decide whether Inheritance Tax is due, so accuracy matters. Then come the smaller bills: death certificates at about £11 each, a Gazette notice protecting the executor against unknown creditors, Land Registry and bankruptcy searches, conveyancing if a property is sold, and the estate accounts and final tax returns. Together they routinely reach a few hundred pounds.

A worked example: a £300,000 estate

Take a straightforward £300,000 estate: one house, one bank account, a clear will, no disputes. The probate application fee is £526, verified on GOV.UK on 8 November 2026. A solicitor’s fixed fee for full administration is £2,500 plus £500 VAT — £3,000 (illustrative). A surveyor’s valuation is £350 (illustrative). Five death certificates at about £11 each come to £55. A Gazette notice is £100 (illustrative). Five extra sealed copies at £2 each add £10. The total is £4,041, about 1.3% of the estate. No Inheritance Tax is due below the £325,000 nil-rate band. At an illustrative 2%, the solicitor’s line alone would be £6,000 plus £1,200 VAT, and the total would more than double to £8,241. Doing it yourself, the bill would be little more than the £526 fee plus certificates and copies — under £1,000.

Who pays probate fees — and when

Every probate cost is ultimately paid from the estate. The awkward part is timing: accounts are usually frozen once the bank is told of the death, and the grant is what releases them — so the money is locked away just as the first bills arrive. In practice the executor often advances the £526 court fee and reimburses themselves later. Some banks release funds for the fee or funeral before the grant — ask. Solicitor fees are commonly deferred and taken from the estate as the work proceeds.

How to keep probate fees down

Get three written quotes for the same scope of work, and compare them line by line — a cheaper headline can hide VAT and disbursements. Choose grant-only help if you are organised and have time to administer the estate yourself; it is the cheapest professional route by a wide margin. On a larger estate, prefer a fixed fee over a percentage, since a percentage grows with the estate whether the work does or not. Order extra sealed copies with the application at £2 rather than £16 later, and check whether you qualify for help with the court fee. Above all, avoid disputes: litigation is the single biggest cost multiplier in probate.

DIY or solicitor?

Doing it yourself suits a simple estate: one property, a clear will, no Inheritance Tax, no disputes, and an executor with time to do the paperwork — the worked example above drops from about £4,000 to under £1,000. Get help when Inheritance Tax is due, there is a business or property abroad, a trust is involved, or anyone may contest the will.

General information about probate fees in England and Wales, not legal or tax advice. Fees change — check GOV.UK before applying.