The cost of applying for probate in England and Wales increased significantly in July 2026.
A grant of Probate gives an executor the legal authority to manage and distribute a deceased person's estate
Where the value of an estate is more than £5,000, the probate application fee is now £526. There is currently no application fee where the estate is valued at £5,000 or less.
Whether a grant is required will depend on the assets involved, their value, how they were owned and the requirements of the banks, investment providers and other organisations holding those assets.
Probate is only one part of administering an estate.
Executors need to identify the deceased's assets and liabilities, obtain valuations, deal with Inheritance Tax where applicable, settle outstanding debts and ultimately distribute the estate correctly to beneficiaries.
There have also been changes to the cost of obtaining copies of probate documents. Additional copies ordered at the same time as the probate application currently cost £2 each, while copies requested later attract a higher fee.
For some applicants, help with probate and other court fees may be available depending on income and whether they receive certain benefits.
The Government has said that the increased probate fee reflects the cost of delivering and modernising the probate service.
Although many estates can be administered without difficulty, matters can quickly become more complicated where an estate contains property, businesses, trusts, overseas assets or significant tax issues.
Disagreement between beneficiaries or uncertainty about the terms of a will can add another layer of complexity.
Understanding at an early stage whether probate is required, what the estate contains and what responsibilities fall on the executor can help avoid unnecessary delays and problems later in the administration.
References
Ministry of Justice (2026) Court and Tribunal Fees: Updates from July 2026. London: Ministry of Justice.
HM Courts & Tribunals Service (2026) Applying for Probate: Fees. GOV.UK.
Non-Contentious Probate Fees Order 2004, as amended.
