How much does probate cost?
Probate costs a flat £300 court fee for estates worth more than £5,000 (nothing below that), plus £16 for each extra copy of the grant. Using a solicitor is optional and adds anywhere from a few hundred pounds (fixed fee) to several thousand (a percentage of the estate). Doing it yourself can keep the cost under £400.
Probate prices at a glance
Here is the full picture in price terms, from the unavoidable minimum to the optional extras.
| Estate value | Court application fee | DIY total (fee + ~4 copies) | Solicitor at ~2% (illustrative) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to £5,000 | £0 | £0–£64 | n/a (often no grant needed) |
| £50,000 | £300 | ≈ £364 | ≈ £1,000 |
| £250,000 | £300 | ≈ £364 | ≈ £5,000 |
| £500,000 | £300 | ≈ £364 | ≈ £10,000 |
| £1,000,000 | £300 | ≈ £364 | ≈ £20,000 |
The court fee is a flat £300 whatever the estate is worth — it does not scale with value. The percentage column is purely illustrative of how some solicitors price; always get a written quote.
What you can't avoid
The £300 court fee (above £5,000) and £16 per copy. That's it for compulsory costs.
What's optional
Professional help. If the estate is simple you may not need any; if it's complex, paying for expertise can save far more than it costs in avoided tax errors and personal liability.
What's separate
Inheritance tax is a tax on the estate, not a probate fee — 40% above the available nil-rate bands (£325,000, plus up to £175,000 residence nil-rate band). Most estates pay none.
A £450,000 estate with a house and two accounts, no inheritance tax due: DIY cost is the £300 fee plus £64 for copies = £364. The same estate handled at a 2% solicitor fee would be roughly £9,000 plus VAT.
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Sources
- GOV.UK — Applying for probate (application fee £300; estates over £5,000)
- GOV.UK — Probate fees and additional copies (£16 per copy)
- HM Courts & Tribunals Service — probate timeliness statistics, 2025
- GOV.UK — Valuing the estate of someone who's died
- Reviewed by
- ClearLegacy editorial team
- Last reviewed
- June 2026
- Next review
- December 2026
- Jurisdiction
- England & Wales
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