Probate Cost Calculator

The court fee is only £300 · the big variable is whether you DIY or pay a solicitor, and whether they charge a fixed fee or a slice of the estate. See the difference.

Estimated Total Cost
£0
Enter the estate to estimate
Court Application Fee
£300
Professional Fee
£0
Other Costs
£0
DIY Would Cost
£0
Potential DIY Saving
£0
As % of Estate
0%
Enter the estate to get started.
DIY vs Fixed Fee vs Percentage
Typical Other Costs
ItemTypical
Grant application fee£300 (over £5k estate)
Extra copies of the grant£1.50 each
Property valuation£150 · £300
Statutory (s27) notices~£200
Bankruptcy searches£2 per beneficiary

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Probate Cost FAQs

How much does probate cost?
The court fee is £300 for estates over £5,000 (free below), plus £1.50 per extra copy of the grant. With a solicitor, add either a fixed fee (~£1,500-£3,000 for a straightforward estate) or a percentage · commonly 1-5% of estate value, which can reach tens of thousands on a large estate for essentially the same work.
Can I do probate myself?
Yes · for a simple estate (valid will, no property complications, cooperative beneficiaries) many executors apply themselves for just the £300 fee. The cost is your time on the application and IHT forms. Get help when there are disputes, business or foreign assets, or missing beneficiaries · a solicitor for the tricky bit only can be a middle path.
When is probate not needed?
Often for small estates · banks release funds under their own limits (roughly £5,000-£50,000) without a grant · and for joint-tenant assets that pass automatically to the survivor. An estate of only jointly-owned property and modest accounts may need no probate at all.
Why are percentage fees controversial?
A £600,000 estate is not ten times the work of a £60,000 one, yet a 2% fee charges ten times more. Percentage charging · common with banks and some solicitors · routinely overcharges for straightforward estates. Always request a FIXED-fee quote and benchmark it against DIY; this calculator shows the gap.
How long does probate take?
The grant usually arrives 8-16 weeks after applying, longer where IHT is due (HMRC must be paid or arranged first). Full administration · collecting assets, clearing debts, distributing · typically runs 6-12 months, more if the estate is complex or contested.

For informational purposes only · Not legal advice · Court fee £300 (estates over £5,000) · Solicitor fees vary widely · England & Wales (Scotland uses confirmation, NI differs) · Get a fixed-fee quote and compare with DIY