Losing someone close to you is hard enough without having to immediately start thinking about legal and financial matters. Yet for most families, those practicalities cannot wait, and one of the questions we hear most from clients at Bartletts is, ‘How much does probate cost UK?’
To speak to our experts please call us free of charge on 0800 988 3674 or Make A Free Online Enquiry.
What Is Probate?
Probate is the legal process of administering a deceased person’s estate. It involves obtaining the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration, depending on whether the deceased person left a valid will. From there, the process involves gathering assets, settling debts, dealing with any tax obligations, and ultimately distributing what remains to the beneficiaries.
Not every estate requires probate, but the vast majority do. Smaller estates held solely in cash, with no property and no significant assets, may fall outside the requirement, but most families will find that at least one institution demands sight of a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration before releasing any funds. Moreover, where the deceased owned property in their own name, securing a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration is a must.
How Much Does Probate Cost UK?
A brief breakdown of how much probate costs in the Uk is as follows:
• The Court Fee
Every application for a Grant of Probate in England and Wales comes with a mandatory court fee. For estates valued above £5,000, the current fee is £300, paid directly to HM Courts and Tribunals Service at the point of application. Estates worth £5,000 or under are exempt from this charge entirely.
You will also need official copies of the grant to send to banks, building societies, share registrars and any other relevant organisations. For an estate with several accounts spread across different institutions, you might need five to ten copies as a starting point, so those costs add up and are worth budgeting for early on. We can help you work out how many copies you are likely to need based on the assets held in the estate.
• Solicitors’ Fees
At Bartlett’s, our probate fees depend on the size and complexity of the estate as well as how much of the administration you want us to handle.
To give our clients some certainty over fees, we tend to say that the costs involved in our full estate administration service will not exceed 2% of the gross estate. This does not mean that our bill will always be that amount, since it will depend on how long it takes to complete the matter, but this rule of thumb ensures that the legal costs are proportionate to the size of the estate.
If you prefer to do the majority of the work yourself but need legal advice on a discrete issue, such as ascertaining how the Intestacy Rules apply to the estate if the deceased did not leave a will, we will base our costs on the time we spend on your matter. We will always send you an estimate before we start work so that there will be no unwelcome surprises when the matter concludes.
Do You Always Need A Solicitor?
Where an estate is genuinely uncomplicated, with a straightforward will, a small number of assets and no property or inheritance tax, some people do manage the process themselves.
For most estates, though, the risks of proceeding without legal support are real and worth weighing carefully. Executors carry personal liability for errors in administration. An incorrectly valued estate, a missed asset, or a miscalculated tax return can result in penalties or, worse, a claim against the executor personally. Where disputes arise between beneficiaries, or where the validity of the will is questioned, matters can escalate quickly. Our team at Bartletts has many years of experience across the full range of estate administration and we can help you protect yourself from those risks from the very start.
Where someone dies without a will, the intestacy rules determine who inherits and in what proportions. An administrator must apply for Letters of Administration rather than a Grant of Probate, and the administration is often more complex because there is no document to guide the process. Family relationships may complicate matters, and disputes about who is entitled to what are not unusual. We work with families navigating intestate estates regularly and are well placed to help you understand your position and ensure that matters run smoothly.
Find Out How Much Probate Costs
The cost of probate in the UK is not a single fixed figure. Every estate is different, and the costs involved will depend on the assets, whether tax is payable, and the level of support you need.
If you have recently lost someone and are not sure where to begin, our wills, trusts, and probate team at Bartletts is ready to help. We will talk you through your situation with care and empathy, explain how we charge for our work, and answer any questions you have.
To speak to our experts please call us free of charge on 0800 988 3674 or Make A Free Online Enquiry.
