Professional Executor Fees UK: What Banks, Solicitors and Trust Corporations Charge
Naming a bank or solicitor as executor can cost the estate 1.5%–4% of its value — tens of thousands of pounds on a typical estate. Here is what professional executors charge, what you get for the fee, and how to keep costs under control.
Professional Executor Fees at a Glance
| Provider type | Typical fee range | Minimum fee | VAT? |
|---|---|---|---|
| High street bank (Barclays, NatWest, etc.) | 1.5%–3.5% of gross estate | £3,000–£5,000 | Yes (20%) |
| Solicitor (time-charging) | £200–£600/hr; 40–80 hrs typical | £3,000–£5,000 | Yes (20%) |
| Solicitor (percentage) | 1%–4% of gross estate | £3,000 | Yes (20%) |
| Independent trust corporation | 1%–3% of gross estate | £2,500–£4,000 | Often yes |
| Public Trustee | Cost-recovery (lower) | Lower — contact directly | No |
| Lay executor (family/friend) | Expenses only (no fee) | £0 | N/A |
What a Professional Executor Does for Their Fee
A professional executor is responsible for the full estate administration:
Supplementary charges (often at additional percentage rates) typically apply for: selling property, dealing with overseas assets, handling contested claims, tax investigations, investment management, and conveyancing.
Alternatives to a Professional Executor
Lay executor + solicitor as agent
Name a trusted family member or friend as executor. They can then instruct a solicitor to handle the paperwork as their agent (not as co-executor). The solicitor bills by the hour for the work they actually do — typically much less than a full professional executor appointment. The executor retains legal control and oversight. This is the most cost-effective approach for most estates.
Lay executor + professional backup executor
Name a family member as primary executor and a professional (bank or solicitor) as substitute executor — who steps in only if the primary executor dies, loses capacity, or is unable to act. This avoids automatic professional fees while providing a backstop.
Multiple lay executors
Naming two or three trusted people as joint executors provides mutual oversight and reduces the risk of any one executor being unable to act. Up to four executors can be appointed under a will. Multiple executors must agree on all decisions, which can slow things down if there is disagreement — choose people who will work together.
How to Control Professional Executor Costs in Your Will
Cap the charging clause
If you do name a professional executor, add a fee cap to the will's charging clause — for example, 'not to exceed 1.5% of the gross estate value, excluding VAT and disbursements'. Without a cap, the standard bank or solicitor charging clause is effectively unlimited.
Require a written fee estimate
Include a provision requiring the professional executor to provide a written fee estimate to the executors and beneficiaries within 30 days of the death. This gives beneficiaries early visibility of costs.
Review the appointed professional regularly
Review your choice of professional executor every 5–7 years when updating your will. A bank's fee schedule may have changed significantly since you originally chose them.
Consider whether you actually need a professional
Professional executors are most justified for: large or complex estates, no suitable family member willing or able to act, estates with contentious beneficiaries or likely disputes. For straightforward estates, a trusted family member with professional guidance is usually sufficient.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an executor charge for their time if they are not a professional?
A lay (non-professional) executor — typically a family member or friend — cannot charge for their time by default. Executors are entitled to recover out-of-pocket expenses (travel, postage, professional fees they have paid on behalf of the estate) but cannot charge for their own time or effort unless the will contains an express charging clause authorising them to do so. This rule exists because executors are in a fiduciary position — they must act in the interests of the estate and its beneficiaries, not for personal profit. The exception: a professional person acting as executor (solicitor, accountant, bank officer) can charge for their professional services only if there is an express charging clause in the will authorising them to do so. Without a charging clause, even a professional executor cannot charge beyond expenses.
What do banks charge to act as professional executor?
Major UK banks (Barclays, NatWest, HSBC, Lloyds/Halifax, and others) offer professional executor services through their private banking or trust divisions. Typical fee structures: (1) Acceptance fee: sometimes a fixed flat fee of £500–£1,500 on appointment; (2) Administration fee: typically 1.5%–3.5% of the gross estate value, sometimes with a minimum charge of £3,000–£5,000; (3) Supplementary charges: additional percentage fees for selling property (0.5%–1% of property value), dealing with foreign assets, investment management, or contentious matters; (4) VAT: all professional executor fees from solicitors and most trust corporations attract VAT at 20%. On a £600,000 estate, bank executor fees can range from £9,000 to £21,000 plus VAT and disbursements. Fees vary significantly between providers — always obtain a written fee estimate before appointing a professional executor in your will.
What do solicitors charge to act as professional executor?
Solicitors acting as professional executors typically charge on one of three bases: (1) Time-charging: an hourly rate (commonly £200–£400/hour for a senior solicitor in a private client firm outside London; £350–£600+ in London) for all time spent on the estate. On a straightforward estate this can be 40–80 hours, costing £10,000–£30,000 before VAT; (2) Percentage: 1%–4% of the gross estate value, sometimes with a minimum of £3,000; (3) Fixed fee: some firms offer fixed fees for straightforward estates, typically £3,000–£10,000 all-in for estates under £500,000. Solicitors must comply with the SRA Transparency Rules by publishing price information for standard probate work. They are required to give a client care letter with fee estimates at the outset. A solicitor does NOT need to be named as executor to assist with the administration — the family executor can instruct a solicitor to handle the paperwork as agent, paying hourly fees, which is typically cheaper than naming the solicitor as executor.
What are trust corporations and are they more expensive?
A trust corporation is a body (not an individual) authorised to act as executor and trustee. Examples include the Public Trustee (government-run; low fees), bank trust departments (HSBC Trust Company, Barclays Wealth Trustees, etc.), and independent trust companies. Trust corporations can act as a sole executor without a co-executor — useful where no individual is available or willing. Independent trust corporations sometimes offer more competitive fees than major banks: common charges are 1%–3% of the estate value, sometimes with fixed hourly rates for straightforward work. The Public Trustee (a government trust corporation) is available as a last resort executor and operates cost recovery rather than profit-based pricing — fees are lower but services are less personalised. When comparing providers, ask: (a) Is the fee a percentage or time-based? (b) What is included in the headline fee? (c) Are there supplementary charges for property, disputes, or tax investigations? (d) What is the minimum fee? (e) Is VAT charged on all fees?
Can I limit professional executor fees in my will?
Yes — you can include provisions in your will to control professional executor fees: (1) The charging clause: the standard solicitor or bank charging clause in a will often refers to 'reasonable' fees at the professional's 'standard rates' — without further qualification, this is a blank cheque. You can limit this by adding wording such as 'not exceeding 1.5% of the gross estate value' or 'in accordance with a written fee estimate provided to the testator during their lifetime'; (2) Reviewing the appointed professional: review your chosen professional executor's fee schedule every 5–7 years as you review your will; (3) Using a lay executor: naming a trusted family member or friend as sole or joint executor avoids professional executor fees entirely — they can still instruct a solicitor as agent (paying lower hourly fees) without the solicitor being appointed executor; (4) The 'Larke v Nugus' right: beneficiaries are entitled to see the estate accounts and challenge unreasonable professional fees — a professional executor must be able to justify the costs claimed.
Choose Your Executor Carefully — and Appoint Them in Your Will
The WillSafe kit guides you through appointing one or more executors, including substitute executors, and including the right charging clause if you want a professional involved. From £19.97 for England and Wales.