If you have been named an executor, one of your first questions is what it will cost. The answer has two parts: a court fee that everyone pays unless the estate is small, and any professional fees you choose to add. The court fee changed in July 2026, and many pages online still quote the old figure. This guide sets out the current fee, what else you might pay, and how to keep the total down, using gov.uk and MoneyHelper.
The probate application fee is £526 for estates over £5,000, and nothing for estates of £5,000 or less. It rose from £300 on 13 July 2026, so any page still quoting £300 is out of date. Extra copies of the grant cost £2 each if ordered with the application. Professional fees are separate: MoneyHelper says to expect £500 to £2,000 for a grant-of-probate-only service, and gov.uk says applying yourself can be cheaper.
This is general information, not legal advice, and it covers England and Wales. Gov.uk says there are different probate rules in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Every estate is different, so speak to a solicitor about yours. We buy houses for cash; we do not provide financial, legal or tax advice.
Some terms, in plain English. An executor is a person named in a will to carry it out. A grant of probate is the document that gives them the legal right to deal with the person's estate, which gov.uk describes as their money, property and possessions. A probate practitioner is a professional such as a solicitor who applies on your behalf.
The probate application fee is £526
Gov.uk says that if the value of the estate is over £5,000, the application fee is £526. There is no fee if the estate is £5,000 or less.
That figure is new. Before 13 July 2026 the fee was £300, as law firms including Birketts and Hodge Jones and Allen reported, and gov.uk announced the change on 19 June 2026. Some pages written before the change, and a few written after, still say £300. If you see that figure, check the date and the source.
The same announcement covers the copies fee. Gov.uk says it is creating a separate, reduced fee for when someone requests copies of the probate document at the same time as their application, so that instead of £16, the fee is only £2.
| Item | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Application, estate over £5,000 | £526 | Up from £300 on 13 July 2026 |
| Application, estate £5,000 or less | No fee | No fee is payable |
| Extra copies ordered with the application | £2 each | Was £16 before the change |
| Extra copies ordered after applying | £16 each | Current fee |
| Second application after probate is granted | £22 | Payable even for a small estate |
Sources: gov.uk, applying for probate: fees and gov.uk, court and tribunal fees: updates from July 2026.
Extra copies and other court fees
You can order extra copies of the probate document for £2 each when you submit your application. After that they cost £16 each. That matters because gov.uk says you should send copies to the organisations that hold the person's assets, for example their bank. You may need several at once. As an illustration, five copies would cost £10 if ordered with the application and £80 if ordered afterwards.
If probate has already been granted and you need to make a second application, for example to apply as an executor after holding "power reserved" on the first, the fee is £22. You pay it even if the estate is £5,000 or less.
Help with fees
You may be able to get help paying the probate fee and other court fees if you have a low income or are on certain benefits. Gov.uk says you can apply for help with fees online or use form EX160 before you apply for probate. There are two limits to know about:
- You cannot get help with the fee for extra copies of the probate document.
- If you apply for probate online, you pay the full fee when you apply, and you get a refund later if your help with fees application is successful.
Doing it yourself or using a professional firm
Gov.uk says you can apply for probate yourself, online or by post, and that this can be cheaper than paying a probate practitioner. MoneyHelper goes further: it says you will likely save thousands of pounds if you do it yourself, and that a relative or friend often takes on the job of executor and gets probate themselves.
Some estates do need expert help. MoneyHelper lists situations where a professional firm may be worth considering:
- the estate is over the Inheritance Tax threshold and still earning regular income, or has complicated taxes due
- there is no will and the estate is complicated
- there are doubts about the validity of the will
- someone the deceased supported was left out of the will and may claim
- the estate has complex arrangements, such as assets held in a trust
- the estate is insolvent, or includes foreign property or assets
What a professional firm can charge
Costs vary widely with the type of provider. MoneyHelper says:
- Grant of probate only. Expect to pay from £500 to £2,000, depending on the type of firm. A grant-only service completes the legal formalities of getting the grant and leaves you to handle the rest of the estate.
- Grant of probate and full estate administration. Some firms charge an hourly rate and some charge a percentage of the estate, usually between 1% and 5% plus VAT and disbursements. Fixed-fee services are likely to be significantly cheaper.
- Type of firm matters. Probate and estate administration specialists are likely to be cheaper than solicitors and accountants, which in turn are cheaper than banks.
| Estate value | Fee basis | Fee | VAT | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £100,000 | 1% of the estate | £1,000 | £200 | £1,200 |
| £100,000 | 5% of the estate | £5,000 | £1,000 | £6,000 |
MoneyHelper's own example. It does not include court fees or disbursements, so the final bill will probably be higher. Source: MoneyHelper, when to use a probate specialist.
A few practical points from the same guide. Ask whether the firm offers a grant-of-probate-only service, compare written quotes, and consider using competing quotes to negotiate. Many specialists give a ballpark figure rather than a binding estimate, and expect it to rise as the work progresses. Ask when payments are due, and whether VAT is included.
SRA-regulated solicitors also have to show their prices. The Solicitors Regulation Authority says regulated firms must publish price information for certain services, and probate in uncontested cases where all assets are in the UK is one of them. The SRA guidance says the information must be prominent on the firm's website and should give a total cost or, if that is not possible, a range and the basis of the charges. It should also state whether VAT is included and give typical timescales.
Other costs an estate can face
The court fee and any professional fees are not the whole picture. MoneyHelper gives examples of third-party costs, called disbursements, that come on top of a firm's quote:
- probate court fees
- notices to creditors in the London Gazette and a local newspaper
- valuation fees for property, stocks and shares
- estate agent, conveyancing and Land Registry fees
- stockbroker or registrar fees if selling or transferring shares and investments
Two more are worth planning for. First, Inheritance Tax: MoneyHelper says you will need to pay the application fee and some or all of any Inheritance Tax to HMRC, and gov.uk says you will normally have to start paying Inheritance Tax before probate is granted. Second, if the estate includes a property that has to be sold, MoneyHelper notes there will be extra valuation and conveyancing fees on top of a firm's quote.
Banks and building societies set their own rules for accessing a deceased person's accounts, according to MoneyHelper, so ask what they will release and when before you decide how to pay the fee.
Selling a property from an estate?
Tell us about it and we will give you an honest cash offer and a realistic timeline, with our conveyancing fees paid.
Get my cash offerWhat we do and do not pay for
Because the question comes up, here is where we sit. If the estate includes a property you want to sell to us, we cover the standard UK conveyancing fees on that sale. We do not pay for the probate application, the court fee or a probate solicitor. If the executors want their own probate solicitor, that is a separate piece of work and it sits with the estate. You can see how we buy inherited homes on our page about selling an inherited property, and read our recent probate purchases.
One honest point: our offers, like most cash buyers', are usually below what an open-market sale might achieve, so compare what the estate would receive after all costs, not just how quickly the money arrives.
Time is a cost too
Gov.uk says you will usually get probate within 12 weeks of submitting your application, and it can take longer if you need to provide additional information. While an estate waits, an empty property still carries council tax, insurance and maintenance costs. Our guide to how long probate takes sets out the published figures. If you are also weighing the tax side of a sale, see our guide to capital gains tax on inherited property, and how we source and review our guides in our editorial policy.
FAQs: probate fees and costs
How much does probate cost?
There are two kinds of cost. The court application fee is £526 for estates over £5,000, and nothing for estates of £5,000 or less, according to gov.uk. If you use a professional firm, its fees are extra: MoneyHelper says to expect £500 to £2,000 for a grant-of-probate-only service, and more for full estate administration. Other costs, such as valuations, can also apply.
How much is the probate application fee in 2026?
It is £526 for estates over £5,000 from 13 July 2026, up from £300. There is no application fee for estates of £5,000 or less. Extra copies of the grant cost £2 each when ordered with the application and £16 each afterwards.
Do I have to pay the probate fee if the estate is small?
Not the application fee. Gov.uk says there is no fee if the estate is £5,000 or less. A second application after probate has been granted costs £22, even for a small estate.
Can I do probate myself?
Yes. Gov.uk says you can apply for probate yourself online or by post, and that this can be cheaper than paying a probate practitioner. MoneyHelper says you will likely save thousands of pounds by doing it yourself, though some estates, such as those with complicated taxes, disputed wills or foreign assets, may need professional help.
Can I get help paying the probate fee?
You may be able to, if you have a low income or are on certain benefits. Gov.uk says you can apply for help with fees online or by using form EX160 before you apply. You cannot get help with the fee for extra copies. If you apply online you pay the full fee first and get a refund later if your help with fees application succeeds.
Does this apply in Scotland or Northern Ireland?
No. This guide covers England and Wales. Gov.uk says there are different probate rules in Scotland and in Northern Ireland, so check the guidance for those nations.
What to remember
- The probate application fee is £526 for estates over £5,000, and nothing for estates of £5,000 or less. It rose from £300 on 13 July 2026.
- Order extra copies with the application at £2 each, not afterwards at £16 each.
- Gov.uk says applying yourself can be cheaper than using a professional. MoneyHelper says expect £500 to £2,000 for a grant-only service.
- Disbursements, Inheritance Tax and sale costs come on top of any firm's quote, so ask for all of them.
- Speak to a solicitor about your own estate. If you would like a cash offer on an inherited property, tell us about it and we will give you an honest figure and timeline.
For the full picture on who can sell, when, and how, see our guide to selling a house in probate.