Probate Fee Calculator

The probate application fee in England and Wales is £300 for estates worth more than £5,000. Estates of £5,000 or less pay nothing. The fee is the same whether you apply yourself or through a solicitor, and is paid to HM Courts & Tribunals Service.

You can order extra official copies of the grant for £1.50 each — useful because banks, registrars and share registrars each usually want to see one.

For a straightforward estate — a clear, valid will, no inheritance tax to pay and no disputes — you can apply for probate yourself online. Your only outlay is the £300 fee plus copies. This suits many estates where one person inherits or the family is in agreement.

If the estate is complex you may use a solicitor or probate specialist. Costs vary widely:

• Grant-only ("grant of probate") service: a fixed fee, typically £900–£2,000, where the solicitor obtains the grant and you do the rest.
• Full estate administration: the solicitor handles everything. Fees are often 1%–5% of the estate value, sometimes plus an hourly rate and VAT.
• Banks: some banks offer probate services but tend to be among the most expensive.

On a £350,000 estate with no IHT, the DIY route costs £300 plus, say, three copies (£4.50) — about £304.50. A grant-only solicitor might add £900–£2,000. A full-administration solicitor charging 2% could cost around £7,000 plus the court fee. The work involved — not the estate size — should drive which route you choose.

• Defaulting to the bank. Bank probate services are often the priciest option; shop around first.
• Paying a % fee for simple estates. A straightforward estate rarely justifies a percentage charge — ask for a fixed fee.
• Ordering too few copies. Each institution wants its own copy; at £1.50 each, order enough up front to avoid delays.
• Assuming probate is always needed. Small estates and assets held jointly often pass without a grant at all.