UK Probate Fees in 2025

Probate can feel like a second bereavement: just as you process the loss, you’re hit with court forms, bank paperwork and HMRC deadlines. This guide strips away the jargon and gives you the real 2025 numbers—£300 Probate Registry application fee, typical solicitor charges, and every hidden disbursement—then shows you how to keep as much of the estate as possible in family hands.

Whether you’re an executor completing Form PA1P/PA1A, a beneficiary asking why the money is frozen, or a professional adviser after the latest Inheritance Tax interplay, start here. You’ll find plain‑English explanations, a week‑by‑week timeline and five proven cost‑saving plays.

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30‑second take

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What	2025 figure	Applies to
Probate application fee (Probate Registry / Court fee)	£300	England & Wales estates > £5,000
Extra copies of the grant	£1.50 each	Needed for bank & building-society accounts, share registrars
Average probate-solicitor charge	1–5 % or £1,600–£10k+ + VAT	Varies with estate value & complexity
DIY probate cost	£300–£600	Straightforward estates, no debts/disputes
Typical timeline	≈ 30 weeks	HMCTS processing + asset collection

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Why probate costs what it does

Probate is the legal paperwork that unlocks a deceased person’s bank accounts, property and investments. The price you pay hinges on three levers:

Estate value & mix — high‑value homes, overseas/foreign assets, or crypto wallets add valuation work.
Paper trail — a watertight, up‑to‑date will plus the right HMRC forms (IHT400‑series) keeps lawyers’ hours—and bills—down.
Peace (or lack thereof) — family disputes and creditor claims can double costs overnight and drag the probate process into court.

Core cost components

1. Legal fees (probate solicitor / lawyer)

Fixed‑fee packages (£1,600–£3,500) for simple estates.
Percentage model (1–5 % of the gross estate) for larger or asset‑rich estates.
Hourly (£200–£450 + VAT) only makes sense for ad‑hoc legal advice.

2. Probate Registry (Court) fee

£300 application fee (> £5k) via Form PA1P (will) or Form PA1A (no will).
£0 for estates ≤ £5k.
Grant copies: £1.50 each (order 5–10 up front to avoid delays at banks & insurers).

3. Disbursements & admin

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Cost	Typical amount	Why it matters
Death-certificate copies	£11 each	Banks & pension providers need originals
London Gazette creditor notice	£96	Shields executor from hidden debts
Local-newspaper notice	£120 – £180	Extra protection in rural areas
Property valuation (Land Registry fees extra if transferring title)	£300 – £600 per property	HMRC compliance & potential CGT base
Share / investment valuation	£150 – £400	Listed portfolios
Electronic ID & bankruptcy search	£2 – £6 per beneficiary	Anti-fraud requirement
Land Charges Department search	£3	Confirms no charging orders
Trust Registration Service entry	£0 – £250	Estates containing lifetime or will trusts
Form EX160 ‘Help with Fees’	Potential fee remission	Low-asset estates & certain benefits

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Special cases that drive fees up

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Scenario	Extra work	Cost impact
Investment property portfolio	Multiple RICS valuations, title transfers, Land Registry updates	+£1k – £3k
Digital / crypto assets	Wallet recovery, KYC checks, specialist Inland Revenue reporting	+£500 – £2k
Intestacy (no valid will)	Letters of Administration, family-tree research, Court of Protection queries	+25 – 40 % legal fees
Contentious probate	Mediation or High Court claim	£10k – £100k+
Foreign assets	Translators, overseas probate lawyer, double-tax relief	Varies

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5 money‑saving plays

Keep the will current – clear gifts & guardianship instructions stop disputes before they start.
Choose a fixed‑fee probate solicitor – price certainty; compare at least three STEP‑accredited firms.
Bundle valuations – commission property & share valuations together to cut duplicate fees.
Use the ‘Help with Fees’ scheme – estates on low funds can apply via Form EX160 for a full or partial Court‑fee waiver.
DIY where safe – estates under £325k, no property, no debts, no minor beneficiaries can handle probate via gov.uk/probate‑application.

Caution: DIY errors (wrong tax calc, missed creditor) often cost more to fix than a modest solicitor fee.

Probate timeline (England & Wales)

Week 0: Register death & order certificates (day 1–5)
Weeks 1–4: Gather asset details (bank/building‑society statements, investments, property data)
Weeks 4–12: Pay any Inheritance Tax (IHT400/421) and lodge the probate application (PA1P/PA1A) with HMCTS
~Week 16: Grant issued (average 16 weeks from application)
Weeks 16–28: Collect & liquidate assets; settle Court fees, utilities & credit cards
Weeks 20–30: Prepare & approve estate accounts; pay legacies and residuary shares
Week 30 +: File final IHT clearance, close bank accounts, distribute estate

Delays trigger when HMCTS queries valuations, HMRC investigates IHT, or beneficiaries contest the will.

Quick‑fire FAQs (2025 edition)

Do small estates under £5,000 need probate?
Often not. Each bank sets its own limit (typically £20k–£50k). Check with asset holders first.

Has the probate fee gone up since 2024?
Yes – it rose from £273 to £300 on 1 May 2024 and remains unchanged in July 2025.

Are Scottish ‘Confirmation’ fees different?
Yes – £200 for estates > £50k, plus £13 per £100k band thereafter.

What ‘Land Registry fees’ apply when selling the house?
Usually £200–£300 to register the executor then £100–£910 to transfer to the buyer depending on price.

Can I charge for acting as executor?
Only if the will says so or the court approves; reasonable expenses (postage, Land Registry copies) are reclaimable.

Which HMRC forms are mandatory?
IHT205 (excepted estates) or IHT400/421 (taxable estates) plus IHT435 for Residential Nil Rate Band claims.

What is the ‘Legal Statement of Truth’?
It replaced the swearing of the executor’s legal oath; sign electronically or in wet‑ink with the application.

Next steps

Run a quick estate inventory – assets, debts & gross estate total (use our free checklist link).
Calculate any inheritance tax via HMRC’s online IHT calculator.
Get three fixed‑fee quotes before instructing a probate‑solicitor.