Probate Cost Calculator
See what probate really costs in England & Wales: the £526 fee if you do it yourself, against a solicitor's 1 to 4 percent of the estate plus VAT. No sign-up, nothing stored.
The total value of everything owned, before debts, at the date of death.
DIY = the £526 HMCTS fee (estates over £5,000). Solicitor = that fee plus 1 to 4 percent of £400,000 plus VAT.
Just the HMCTS application fee. Apply online or on form PA1P / PA1A.
Full estate administration at 1 to 4 percent plus VAT, on top of the £526 fee.
Information only, not legal advice. England & Wales. HMCTS probate fee £526(from 13 July 2026); solicitor fees vary and are an estimate. Inheritance tax and any debts of the estate are separate.
What probate actually costs
Probate is the legal right to deal with someone's estate after they die. In England and Wales there is one compulsory government fee: the HMCTS application fee of £526 for any estate worth more than £5,000, a single flat charge since 13 July 2026. Estates of £5,000 or less pay nothing and often need no grant at all. Doing probate yourself means that £526 is usually the whole bill. Where the cost balloons is professional help: a solicitor administering the estate typically charges 1 to 4 percent of its value plus VAT, so an estate of £400,000 can attract several thousand pounds in fees for work many executors can do themselves.
When a solicitor is worth it
Most straightforward estates can be administered without a solicitor using the online probate service or the paper forms. Professional help earns its fee where the estate is large or complex, where there is a dispute or a claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, where the estate is insolvent, or where inheritance tax has to be calculated and paid before the grant issues. A fixed-fee probate service is usually cheaper than a percentage charge, so it is always worth asking for the basis of charging in writing. If you want to do it yourself, our Executor Guide walks you through every step.
Inheritance tax is a separate cost
The probate fee is not the same as inheritance tax. IHT can apply above the £325,000 nil-rate band and usually has to be paid before the grant is issued. Estimate it with the Inheritance Tax Calculator, and plan ahead with the free guided will builder. This page is general information for England & Wales, not legal advice.
Probate cost questions
How much does probate cost in England and Wales in 2026?▾
The HMCTS probate application fee is £526 for estates over £5,000. If you apply yourself that is usually the only compulsory fee. A solicitor running the full estate administration typically charges 1 to 4 percent of the estate value plus VAT, which on an average estate is several thousand pounds.
What is the probate application fee?▾
A single flat fee of £526, from 13 July 2026, for estates valued over £5,000. Estates of £5,000 or less pay no fee, and many small estates need no grant of probate at all because banks release the funds without one.
Do I need a solicitor to get probate?▾
No. Many executors apply themselves using the online service or paper form PA1P (with a will) or PA1A (without one). A solicitor or a fixed-fee probate service is worth the cost for large, complex, disputed or insolvent estates, or where inheritance tax has to be calculated and paid.
How are solicitor probate fees worked out?▾
Often as a percentage of the estate value, commonly 1 to 4 percent plus VAT, sometimes with an hourly element on top. Fixed-fee probate services are usually cheaper than a percentage charge on a larger estate. Always get the basis of charging in writing before you instruct anyone.
Does the estate pay inheritance tax as well as the probate fee?▾
Possibly, and it is separate from the probate fee. Inheritance tax can apply above the £325,000 nil-rate band and must usually be paid before the grant is issued. Use the Inheritance Tax Calculator to estimate it.