Probate fees
Our typical fees and timescales for applying for probate and for full estate administration.
In short
Our typical fee for applying for a grant of probate starts from £1,250 plus VAT where there is a will and no inheritance tax to pay, and full estate administration starts from £2,000 plus VAT. Fees are higher where there is no will or inheritance tax is payable. These figures are for uncontested estates with all assets in the UK, and expenses such as the court fee are extra.
Probate Applications and Estate Administration
What our full estate administration service includes
Our full Estate Administration service typically includes the following:
- Provide you with a dedicated and experienced probate solicitor or specialist
- Verify the validity of the Will
- Identify the legally appointed executors or administrators and beneficiaries
- Identify the type of probate application required
- Ascertain the value of the estate for Probate and Inheritance Tax ("IHT") purposes
- Prepare the relevant HMRC account
- Calculate and arrange payment of any Inheritance Tax due
- Prepare and submit the application for the Grant (Grant of Probate / Letters of Administration / Letters of Administration with Will annexed)
- Respond to any enquiries HMRC may raise (excluding a full compliance check, if raised)
- Respond to any enquiries from the Probate Court
- Receive the Grant and register it with relevant institutions
- Encash assets or transfer them to beneficiaries as required (our Property team will quote separately for any transfer or sale of estate property)
- Settle estate liabilities and expenses from estate funds
- Review the estate's IHT position and, if appropriate, pay additional tax or claim any refund
- Obtain formal IHT clearance from HMRC where required
- Ensure the deceased's income tax and capital gains tax affairs are compliant during the administration period
- Prepare Estate Accounts and income statements for beneficiaries where required
- Undertake bankruptcy searches on beneficiaries
- Pay all legacies
- Distribute the remainder of the estate to the residuary beneficiaries
Our fees
Our typical fees, services and timescales for probate applications and estate administration are set out below, in line with the SRA Transparency Rules. These relate to uncontested estates where all assets are in the UK. We will always provide a tailored estimate once we have sufficient information about the estate.
Grant application only (typical fees, excluding VAT)
| Scenario | Typical timescale | Typical fees (from) |
|---|---|---|
| Will present + No IHT payable | 3 months | £1,250 |
| No Will + No IHT payable | 6 months | £1,500 |
| Will present + IHT payable | 3 months | £2,500 |
| No Will + IHT payable | 6 months | £3,000 |
Full administration (typical fees, excluding VAT)
| Scenario | Typical timescale | Typical fees (from) |
|---|---|---|
| Will present + No IHT payable | 6–12 months | £2,000 |
| No Will + No IHT payable | 12 months | £2,250 |
| Will present + IHT payable | 9 months – 2 years | £4,000 |
| No Will + IHT payable | 1–2 years | £4,500 |
What can affect the fees
Our fees for dealing with estates not liable to Inheritance Tax will usually be lower than for taxable estates. Other factors that can affect our fees include:
- The number of assets
- Whether there are foreign, agricultural, business or digital assets to administer
- The number of beneficiaries, and whether we need to trace them
- Any disputes between beneficiaries or executors
- The condition of the Will and how clearly it sets out the distribution of the estate
Likely expenses (disbursements)
These are typical third-party costs we may have to pay on your behalf. We will ask you for funds on account to cover anticipated expenses where the estate is not yet in funds.
| Disbursement | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Probate application court fee | £526 + £2 per additional copy |
| Land Registry Office Copy Entries | £7 + VAT per title required |
| UK bankruptcy search | £6 + VAT per beneficiary |
| Overseas bankruptcy search | Dependent on country of residence |
| Advertisements: London Gazette (to help protect against unexpected claims from unknown creditors) | Approximately £85 + VAT |
| Advertisements: local newspaper | Variable |
VAT
All fees and disbursements quoted in this section are exclusive of VAT where applicable.
Timescales
We will advise you of the likely timescale to complete the Grant application and the administration of the estate at the outset of the matter. Any timescale will depend heavily on HMRC and Probate Registry processing times, which can vary considerably. We will keep you updated and explain any changes to expected timescales or fees.
Our team
Your matter will be handled by our specialist Wills, Trusts and Probate team, which collectively has over 75 years' experience and a strong reputation in dealing with high-value and agricultural estates.
For full team profiles and experience, visit our Wills, Trusts and Probate department page.
Hourly rates (excluding VAT)
Our full hourly rates for all fee earner classes are set out on a single page so they're always up to date.
Request a tailored estimate
Each estate is different. Once we have discussed the estate with you and reviewed the key paperwork (for example the Will and asset information), we will provide a personalised fee estimate and will always keep you updated if our estimate needs to be revised as the matter progresses.
Talk to our wills and probate team
If you are ready to make or update your will, or you need help with an estate, contact us to arrange a confidential consultation.