From the 13th July 2026, the fee for applying for a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration in England and Wales has increased significantly, rising from £300.00 to £526.00. This represents a 75% increase in the probate application fee and is one of the largest increases seen in recent years.
What is probate?
Probate is the legal process of dealing with a person’s estate after they have died. If the deceased left a valid Will, the executors named in the Will usually apply for a Grant of Probate. If there is no Will, an eligible person under the Rules of Intestacy can apply for Letters of Administration and be appointed as the administrator of the estate. The Rules of Intestacy are the legal rules that determine who is entitled to administer the estate and who inherits the deceased’s assets when no valid Will has been made.
The Grant provides the legal authority for the personal representatives to administer the estate. This includes collecting the deceased’s assets, closing bank accounts, selling or transferring property, settling any debts of the deceased and distributing the estate to the beneficiaries in accordance with the Will or, where there is no Will, the Rules of Intestacy.
Obtaining a Grant is often one of the first steps in administering an estate, as many banks, building societies and other financial institutions will not release the deceased’s assets until the appropriate Grant has been issued. Without the Grant, personal representatives may be unable to access funds, cannot sell or transfer property held in the sole name of a deceased or complete the administration of the estate.
It is important to note that not every estate requires a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration. Whether a Grant is needed will depend on the nature and value of the deceased’s assets, as well as the requirements of the organisations holding those assets.
What has changed?
Previously, the court fee for applying for probate was £300.00 per application for estates worth more than £5,000. From the 13th July 2026, that fee has increased to £526.00. Estates valued at £5,000 or less remain exempt from paying the application fee.
At the same time, the cost of requesting copies of probate documents when making an application has reduced from £16.00 to £2.00 per document, reflecting the lower cost of providing those documents electronically.
Why has the fee increased?
The Ministry of Justice has stated that the increase is intended to allow the probate service to recover the full cost of providing the service. According to the Government, the higher fee reflects inflation and continued investment in improving and modernising the probate system.
However, the increase has attracted criticism from legal professionals and consumer groups, who have questioned whether the increase is proportionate, particularly given that many bereaved families continue to experience delays during the probate process.
What does this mean for families?
For many estates, the probate application fee is payable before executors are able to access the deceased’s assets. While the fee can usually be reimbursed from the estate once funds become available, executors may need to meet the cost personally at the outset.
Executors should therefore ensure they have sufficient funds available to cover the application fee or check whether the deceased’s bank will release funds directly to pay the probate fee, as some financial institutions offer this facility.
Although the court fee is only one part of the overall cost of administering an estate, the increase means that families should be aware of the additional expense when planning the administration of an estate.
How can a solicitor help?
Administering an estate can be a complex and time-consuming process, particularly where there are multiple beneficiaries, property to sell, inheritance tax considerations or disputes.
Our experienced Private Client Team can guide executors and administrators through every stage of the process, including:
- advising whether probate is required;
- preparing and submitting probate applications;
- dealing with inheritance tax and HMRC requirements;
- collecting and distributing estate assets; and
- providing practical advice throughout the administration of the estate.
If you have any questions about the recent probate fee increase or require assistance with obtaining probate or administering an estate, please contact our Private Client Team on 01670 351251 or 01670 515182. We will be happy to discuss your circumstances and explain how we can help.