---
title: "Probate costs UK"
description: "Court fee £526 for estates over £5,000 (from 13 July 2026) plus £1.50 copies. DIY vs solicitor cost ranges."
url: "https://swiftwill.co.uk/probate/probate-costs/"
author: "Marcus Kaiser"
date_modified: "2026-08-12"
---

# Probate costs UK

The court fee for probate is £526 for estates over £5,000 (since 13 July 2026), plus £1.50 per grant copy. DIY probate of a straightforward estate typically costs £600–£800 all-in. Solicitors charge £1,500–£5,000+ or 1–5% of the estate. Probate costs are paid by the estate, though the applicant fronts them and is reimbursed.

> SwiftWill provides legal information and software for England & Wales under Section 9 of the Wills Act 1837. Figures are taken from gov.uk, legislation.gov.uk and HMCTS, checked 12 August 2026. We have not given you legal advice — this is general information.

## What probate costs are unavoidable?

- **Court application fee: £526** — estates over £5,000 (raised from £300 on 13 July 2026). No fee at £5,000 or under.
- **Sealed grant copies: £1.50 each** — order 4–6; every bank, platform and the Land Registry wants an official copy.
- **Death certificates: £12.50 each** — see [registering a death](/register-a-death/).
- **Statutory creditor notices: ~£90–£110** — the s.27 Trustee Act 1925 advertisements in The Gazette and a local paper that protect executors from unknown debts.

## How much is DIY probate versus a professional?

**DIY (straightforward estate):** £600–£800 all-in, plus your time — expect
 20–60 hours spread over months. **Online probate services:** roughly
 £1,000–£2,500 fixed fee. **Solicitors:** £1,500–£5,000+ for straightforward
 work, or 1–5% of estate value for full administration — always demand a fixed-fee quote and
 check whether VAT, disbursements and conveyancing are extra.

Estimate your own position with the [probate fees estimator](/tools/probate-fees-estimator/).

## Which probate costs do people forget?

- **Inheritance tax** — not a fee, but often the largest single payment; some IHT must usually be paid before the grant issues (the Direct Payment Scheme lets banks pay HMRC directly from the deceased's accounts).
- **Property costs** — insurance on an empty property, utilities, maintenance and council tax while it sits unsold.
- **Valuations** — professional valuations for property, businesses or collections; HMRC can challenge amateur figures.
- **Conveyancing** — selling or transferring the property is a separate legal job with its own fee.
- **Accountancy** — estate income tax returns if assets earn income during administration.

## How do you keep probate costs down?

Do the admin yourself and buy expertise only for the hard parts: many executors handle the
 application personally, then pay a solicitor for the IHT400 or an accountant for the estate
 return. Read the full process in the [probate guide](/probate/) and the working
 order in the [executor checklist](/executor-checklist/).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the probate application fee in 2026?

£526 for estates valued over £5,000, following the increase from £300 on 13 July 2026 (Court and Tribunal Fees Order 2026). Estates of £5,000 or less pay no application fee. Extra sealed copies of the grant cost £1.50 each — order several, as each bank and the Land Registry want one.

### How much does a solicitor charge for probate?

Commonly £1,500–£5,000+ for a straightforward estate, or 1–5% of the estate's value for full administration — on a £400,000 estate a percentage fee can reach £8,000–£20,000. Always ask for a fixed-fee quote and whether VAT and disbursements are included.

### What does DIY probate cost in total?

Realistically £600–£800 for a straightforward estate: the £526 fee, a handful of £1.50 grant copies, statutory creditor notices (~£90–£110), and valuation costs if you pay for a professional property valuation. Plus any inheritance tax owed, which is a liability of the estate, not a fee.

### Who pays probate costs — me or the estate?

The estate, ultimately — but the applicant pays upfront and claims reimbursement from estate funds once the grant arrives and accounts are unfrozen. Keep every receipt. Executors can recover all reasonable expenses.

### Are online probate services worth it?

Fixed-fee online probate services (£1,000–£2,500 typical) sit between DIY and solicitors. For a straightforward estate, DIY with our guide is usually enough; for anything taxable or contested, pay for proper advice — mistakes in IHT accounts are the expensive kind.

Canonical HTML: https://swiftwill.co.uk/probate/probate-costs/
Markdown: https://swiftwill.co.uk/probate/probate-costs.md
Last modified: 2026-08-12
Author: Marcus Kaiser (https://swiftwill.co.uk/author/marcus-kaiser/)