Answers · UK 2025/26
How much are probate registry fees in 2026?
The standard Probate Registry application fee in England and Wales is £300 for estates worth more than £5,000, regardless of the estate's actual size above that threshold -- estates worth £5,000 or less are exempt and pay no fee. Additional sealed copies of the Grant of Probate (needed to send to multiple banks, pension providers, and other institutions) cost £1.50 each.
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The Probate Registry fee is a fixed, flat charge payable when applying for a Grant of Probate (or Letters of Administration if there's no valid will), and understanding the current structure helps executors budget accurately for the estate administration process. **The flat £300 fee** Unlike some other government fees that scale with value, the probate application fee is a flat £300 for any estate valued at more than £5,000, whether the estate is worth £6,000 or £6 million -- this flat-fee structure followed a previous, more controversial government proposal (never implemented) to introduce a sliding scale fee that could have run into thousands of pounds for larger estates, which was dropped after significant public and professional criticism. **Small estate exemption** Estates valued at £5,000 or less are exempt from the probate fee entirely -- if the total value of the estate (assets less debts, calculated in broadly the same way as for Inheritance Tax purposes) falls at or under this threshold, no fee is payable when applying for the grant. **Additional copies** Because you'll typically need to send an official sealed copy of the Grant of Probate to each institution holding the deceased's assets (banks, building societies, pension providers, share registrars, and so on) as proof of your authority to deal with the estate, executors usually order several extra copies at the point of application, each costing £1.50 -- ordering enough copies upfront avoids delays waiting for further copies later in the process. **This fee is separate from Inheritance Tax** It's worth being clear that the probate registry fee is entirely separate from any Inheritance Tax that might be due on the estate -- Inheritance Tax (if applicable, generally on estates above the £325,000 nil rate band, plus any available residence nil rate band) must typically be paid, or arrangements made to pay it, before the Grant of Probate can be issued in cases where tax is due, using funds released early from the estate's bank accounts under HMRC's 'Direct Payment Scheme' or via a loan if needed. **Fee remains payable whether DIY or via a solicitor** Whether you apply for probate yourself or instruct a solicitor to handle the whole process on your behalf, this Probate Registry fee is payable either way, since it is a court fee for issuing the grant itself, entirely separate from and in addition to any professional fees a solicitor might charge for their services. **How and where you pay** The fee is paid as part of the online or paper probate application process, either from your own funds initially (which can usually be reimbursed from the estate later) or, in some circumstances, directly from estate funds if the bank is willing to release money for this specific purpose before the full grant is issued. **Practical tip** Order a realistic number of extra copies when applying (a rough rule of thumb is one copy per financial institution or asset holder you'll need to contact), since each additional copy costs only £1.50 but requesting extra copies later can add delay to an already lengthy process.
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This answer is informational only and does not constitute financial, tax or legal advice. Figures are for the 2025/26 UK tax year. See our methodology and sources.