Banking
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.
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3 min read
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 |