What are probate fees in England & Wales?

The latest news on probate fees in England and Wales.

What are probate fees?

When someone dies owning assets, their executor will often need to apply to the court for a grant of probate or, if the deceased did not leave a Will, a grant of letters of administration. The grant is a legal document which confirms that the executor or administrator has the authority to deal with the deceased person’s estate. When an application is made for a grant, probate fees are charged by the court.

How much is the current probate fee in England and Wales?

Probate applications are currently (April 2024) charged at a flat rate of £273. This is increasing in May 2024 to £300.

Do probate fees apply to all estates?

Probate fees are not charged on estates with a value of £5,000 or under.

What changes to probate fees were previously being considered?

Fees had previously been set to rise by a whopping 2,700%, until a public backlash caused the government to rethink its plans. The fees were going to be based on a sliding scale depending on how much the estate is worth.

Critics said that this plan amounted to a ‘death tax’ and the abandonment of the scheme has met with universal approval.

The Government says that the increased probate fee will only cover the costs of processing probate applications and they will not make a profit from it.

How we can help

If you would like assistance in obtaining a grant, you can speak to Vanessa Swales on 0333 888 0404. Alternatively, you can email us at [email protected].

Vanessa Swales

Vanessa Swales

Vanessa Swales specialises in all aspects of Private Client work, including wills, powers of attorney, estate administration and Court of Protection applications.
Vanessa Swales

Vanessa Swales

Vanessa Swales specialises in all aspects of Private Client work, including wills, powers of attorney, estate administration and Court of Protection applications.

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