The basic probate court fees (2026)
These are payable to HM Courts & Tribunals Service regardless of who does the work:
- Estates under £5,000: no court fee
- Estates over £5,000: £273 flat fee for the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration
- Additional copies of the grant: £1.50 each (most banks want their own copy)
- Caveat to challenge a will: £3
Three ways to pay for probate — and what each costs
There are three common pricing models. The right one depends on how much help you need:
- DIY probate: £273 court fee only — but you handle valuations, IHT forms, accounts and distributions yourself. Realistic for small, simple estates only.
- Grant-only service: £600–£1,200 fixed fee. We complete the IHT forms and obtain the Grant; you handle the rest.
- Full probate (Grant + Estate Administration): £1,995–£5,000 fixed fee with us, or 1–5% of estate value with most high-street solicitors.
Why percentage-based probate fees can cost £20,000+
Many banks and high-street firms still charge a percentage of the estate — typically 1.5%–5%, sometimes with an hourly rate on top. On a £400,000 Bristol estate that's £6,000–£20,000 for work that doesn't actually scale with the estate's value.
Fixed-fee probate prices the work, not the wealth. For most estates it saves families thousands.
Other costs to budget for
Beyond the headline probate fee, plan for:
- Statutory notices (Trustee Act protection): £200–£300
- Bankruptcy searches on beneficiaries: £2 per name
- Property valuation (if RICS report needed for IHT): £300–£800
- Stockbroker valuation: £50–£200
- Inheritance tax itself: 40% on estate value above £325,000 / £500,000 (with RNRB)
