Comparison · Estate Planning · 2026
Probate Fees: DIY vs Solicitor 2026
Applying for probate yourself costs only the £300 court fee for estates over £5,000. Instructing a solicitor can cost anywhere from a fixed £1,500 to several thousand pounds if fees are charged as a percentage of the estate. Here is how the costs, risks and time commitment compare in 2026, and how to decide which route suits your estate.
TL;DR - 30-Second Summary
- - DIY probate: £300 court fee only, suits simple estates with a valid will and no IHT
- - Solicitor probate: £1,500-£20,000+ depending on fee structure and estate size and complexity
- - Fixed-fee services sit in between and suit estates too complex for DIY but not large enough to justify a percentage fee
Side by Side: DIY vs Solicitor Probate
| Feature | DIY Probate | Solicitor Probate |
|---|---|---|
| Court/registry fee | £300 (same for everyone) | £300 (same for everyone) |
| Professional fee | £0 | £1,500-£20,000+ (fixed or % of estate) |
| Time commitment | High — you do all the work | Low — solicitor handles most steps |
| Suits complex estates | No — risky for IHT, disputes, business assets | Yes — handles IHT400, disputes, valuations |
| Personal liability risk | Higher — executor bears the risk of errors | Lower — solicitor negligence claims available |
| Who pays the fee | N/A | Estate, before distribution |
What DIY Probate Involves
Applying for probate yourself means registering the death, valuing the estate, completing the probate application (online via gov.uk or by paper), paying the £300 registry fee, and once granted, collecting in assets, paying debts and inheritance tax if due, and distributing the estate according to the will or intestacy rules.
This route is realistic for smaller, simple estates: a clear will, one property or none, standard bank and investment accounts, no business interests, and an estate value below or close to the £325,000 nil-rate band so no inheritance tax return is needed.
What a Solicitor Adds
A probate solicitor manages the full estate administration: valuing complex or illiquid assets, completing IHT400 forms where inheritance tax is due, resolving disputes between beneficiaries, dealing with debts and creditors correctly, and providing a layer of professional liability insurance if something goes wrong.
Fee structures vary widely. A fixed fee is predictable and usually cheaper for mid-sized estates. A percentage fee (commonly 1-5% of the gross estate value) scales with estate size regardless of actual complexity, which can make it expensive for large but straightforward estates.
Worked Example: £400,000 Estate
On a straightforward £400,000 estate with a valid will and one beneficiary, DIY probate costs £300 in registry fees plus your own time (typically 10-20 hours spread over several months). A solicitor charging a 2.5% percentage fee would charge roughly £10,000 plus the £300 registry fee — a difference of around £10,000 for broadly the same outcome if the estate is genuinely simple.
A fixed-fee solicitor service for the same estate might charge £2,000-£3,000, narrowing the gap considerably while still removing most of the administrative burden from the executor.
Who Should Choose What?
- - The estate is simple with a valid, unchallenged will
- - There is no inheritance tax to pay
- - You have time and are comfortable with paperwork
- - The estate is large, has a business, or spans multiple jurisdictions
- - There is no will, or the will is disputed
- - Inheritance tax forms (IHT400) are required
- - You want liability protection as executor