What is the Probate Registry fee in 2026?

The Probate Registry fee for a grant of probate in England and Wales is £300 in 2026, payable regardless of whether you use a solicitor or apply yourself. Estates valued at £5,000 or under pay nothing. Sealed copies of the grant cost £1.50 each. This is set by the Non-Contentious Probate Fees Order 2022.

Is fixed fee or percentage probate cheaper?

Fixed fee is almost always cheaper for estates over £200,000. Percentage charges (typically 1 to 4 per cent of estate value) are aimed at bank-owned probate services and can run to £20,000+ on a £500,000 estate, well above the £3,000 to £6,000 a high-street solicitor would charge on a fixed-fee basis. Always get at least three written quotes and ask explicitly whether the firm charges fixed fee, hourly, or percentage.

Can I do probate without a solicitor?

Yes, for straightforward estates. The Probate Registry online service at gov.uk/applying-for-probate handles most simple applications. DIY probate is viable where there is a valid will, the estate is UK-based, there is no IHT to pay (or only a small amount via the residence nil-rate band), there is no dispute, and you have time to handle bank closures and asset transfers yourself. Most simple estates can be completed in 3-6 months of part-time work.

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Wills & Probate

Probate Cost UK 2026

£300 Probate Registry fee. £1,500 to £10,000+ in solicitor fees on a fixed-fee model, or 1 to 4 per cent of estate value on a percentage model. Updated May 2026.

What probate costs in 2026

Estate value	Probate Registry fee	Typical solicitor fixed fee
Under £5,000	Free	£500 to £1,000 + VAT
£5,000 to £250,000	£300	£1,500 to £3,500 + VAT
£250,000 to £500,000	£300	£3,000 to £6,000 + VAT
£500,000 to £1,000,000	£300	£4,500 to £8,000 + VAT
£1,000,000+ (IHT liable)	£300	£6,000 to £15,000+ + VAT

Sources: Probate Registry fee schedule (gov.uk), Law Society Fee Survey for typical solicitor fixed-fee ranges by estate size.

Three solicitor pricing models for probate

Fixed fee. A defined price for a defined scope. Usually the best value for estates over £200,000. Confirms what is and is not included (additional work clause typically charged at the firm's hourly rate). The figures in the table above are typical fixed-fee ranges.
Hourly rate. Solicitor time charged at the Guideline Hourly Rates (£177/hr to £296/hr Grade C for National 2 and London 1 respectively, see hourly rates). Suitable for unusual estates where scope is hard to define upfront, but ask for a cost estimate and a cost cap.
Percentage of estate. 1 to 4 per cent of gross estate value, often used by bank-owned probate services and some larger firms. Generally poor value for medium and large estates -- on a £500,000 estate, 3 per cent is £15,000, well above the typical £4,500 to £8,000 fixed fee from a high-street firm.

What the solicitor actually does

A typical probate instruction covers:

Valuing the estate (property, bank accounts, investments, chattels, debts).
Completing the IHT400 (full IHT account) or IHT205 / IHT207 (excepted estate) form.
Applying for the grant of probate at the Probate Registry.
Collecting in the estate assets (closing bank accounts, selling shares, transferring property).
Paying debts, taxes, and beneficiaries.
Preparing estate accounts for beneficiaries.

Tasks that fall outside the fixed fee scope (and are usually billed separately) include disputed will challenges, tracing missing beneficiaries, dealing with overseas assets, and protracted property sales.

IHT thresholds 2026

Nil-rate band (NRB): £325,000 per person, frozen until at least April 2028.
Residence nil-rate band (RNRB): £175,000 per person where a residence is left to direct descendants, tapering for estates over £2 million.
Spousal exemption: Unlimited transfers to a UK-domiciled spouse or civil partner. Unused NRB and RNRB can be transferred to the surviving spouse, giving a combined potential threshold of £1 million.
Rate of IHT above the threshold: 40% (reduced to 36% if 10%+ of the estate is left to charity).

Source: HMRC Inheritance Tax thresholds (gov.uk).

DIY probate

The Probate Registry online service at gov.uk/applying-for-probate walks executors through a simple online application. DIY probate is feasible where:

There is a valid will and no dispute over its validity.
The estate is UK-based with no overseas assets.
The estate is an excepted estate (no IHT) or only a small IHT liability.
Beneficiaries are in agreement.
You have time to handle the practical work (bank closures take weeks per institution).

The total DIY cost is the £300 Probate Registry fee plus any IHT due, with no solicitor fee. Even on a £500,000 estate, DIY is realistic if the assets are straightforward.

Timeline

From the date of death, a straightforward probate typically takes 6 to 12 months. The Probate Registry currently issues grants in 8 to 16 weeks from application. Bank account closures and asset transfers usually take a further 1 to 3 months. Complex estates with IHT liabilities, property sales, or overseas assets can take 18 months to 3 years.