Proposal for probate application fees to increase by 75% from 13 July 2026

poseidon1

For those in the process of preparing a probate application, please note the £300 fee is due to rise to £526 after 13 July 2026 - see article below

https://www.tozers.co.uk/insight/articles/probate-fees-set-to-increase-by-75-what-executors-need-to-know/

For small estates that breach the £5,000 threshold where an application fee is trigger, be aware of HMCTS' (bureaucratic) help with fees scheme per guide below -

https://www.gov.uk/applying-for-probate/fees

Yorkie1

Another article for info:

https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/probate-fees-set-for-massive-increase/5127137.article

poseidon1

The £5000 threshold for fees is anomalous.

Introduced in 1999, minimally it should have at least doubled since then and arguably nearer £20k to £30k now.

A £526 probate application fee on an estate that just breaches the £5k threshold will soon be a ridiculous 10% charge.

One wonders over the pass few decades why the application fee has not progressed to a tiered charge, rising in accordance with the value of the estate, with much lower or zero charges for very small estates.

Given the stark contrast in the average size of deceased estates in North of England compared to the wealthier South, arguably the North is bearing a disproportionate burden of probate fees as a result.

EDIT

An interesting article below prior to the 2017 probate fee increase where a banding system for fees depending on estate size was considered - note estates under £50k would have been fee exempt -

https://gatehouselaw.co.uk/raising-funds-to-modernise-the-probate-service/