How much does probate cost UK 2025?

Application fee: £300 (estates over £5,000). Solicitor fees: £2,000-5,000+ (or 1-4% of estate). DIY probate: just the £300 fee. Total professional cost typically £3,000-10,000+ depending on estate complexity and value.

Can you do probate yourself to save money UK?

Yes — DIY probate costs only £300 application fee. Suitable for simple estates: one property, UK assets, clear beneficiaries. Complex estates (businesses, foreign assets, disputes) benefit from professional help. Many people successfully do their own probate.

Do solicitors charge a percentage for probate UK?

Some do — typically 1-4% of estate value. Others charge hourly (£150-350/hour) or fixed fees. Always ask for quote upfront. Percentage fees can be expensive for large estates. £500,000 estate at 2% = £10,000 in fees.

Do I always need probate UK?

Not always. Often not needed if: estate under about £5,000-10,000, assets held jointly (pass automatically), only small bank accounts (many release without probate), everything in trust. Check with banks/building societies what they require.

How Much Does Probate Cost UK?

If you are planning wills, attorney roles, probate steps, and family handover tasks together, use the Estate Planning Hub for the full route map.

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

Tools Available

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