Probate fees in the UK: what you actually pay

The probate application itself has one fixed fee. GOV.UK sets it at £526 where the estate is over £5,000, and there is no fee at all for estates of £5,000 or less. That is the whole cost if you apply yourself and the estate is straightforward.

Extra copies of the grant

Each bank, pension provider and the Land Registry will want to see a sealed copy of the grant. Extra copies cost £2 each if you order them with the application, or £16 each afterwards — so order several at the start. Count the organisations you will need to notify and add one or two spare.

Help with the fee

If you are on a low income or certain benefits, you can apply for help with court and tribunal fees, which can reduce or remove the £526. The estate's bank can also normally pay the fee from the deceased's account before the grant is issued — ask the bank's bereavement team.

What solicitors charge

A solicitor or probate specialist typically charges between 1% and 5% of the estate's value, or an hourly rate. Always ask for a written, fixed-fee quote before instructing anyone, and ask what is not included — Inheritance Tax forms and property sales are often charged separately.

The costs that are not probate fees

Inheritance Tax is separate from the application fee and is due six months after the end of the month of death, even if probate has not come through. Death certificates, statutory notices to creditors and estate agent or valuation fees are also separate. Our article on how long probate takes sets out the stages those costs attach to.

If the estate is small, check whether you need probate at all before paying anything — many families pay the fee unnecessarily.