Probate cost calculator

Applying yourself against a solicitor, in England and Wales, for your estate.

How much does probate cost?

As of October 2026, applying for probate yourself in England and Wales costs the £526 court fee (nothing if the estate is £5,000 or less), plus £2 for each extra copy. Solicitors publish fixed fees from about £900 plus VAT for the grant only, and £3,600 to £8,000 plus VAT to deal with a straightforward estate.

Updated 30 October 2026

Value of the estate, £

Everything the person owned, before debts. A rough figure is fine.

Does the estate need the full inheritance tax account?

Most estates don't. Firms charge more where the IHT400 form is needed.

NoYes, the full IHT400 account

Extra copies of the grant

Banks and others each want one. £2 each with the application, £16 each later.

What probate costs

Enter the value of the estate to compare the costs.

What are the official probate fees?

Fee	Amount
Application, estate over £5,000	£526
Application, estate of £5,000 or less	£0
Each extra copy of the grant, ordered with the application	£2
Each extra copy ordered later	£16

The fee is £526 (GOV.UK), set from 13 July 2026, up from £300 (MoJ announcement). You can apply yourself online or by post on GOV.UK, and the court fee is the same with or without a solicitor. You may be able to get help with fees on a low income.

What do solicitors charge for the grant only?

Grant-only prices as published on each firm's website, read on 30 October 2026
Firm	Published price (plus VAT)
Levi Solicitors	From £900
Gorvins	From £1,000 (no inheritance tax)
TV Edwards	£1,650 to £2,500 (no inheritance tax); £2,300 to £3,000 (with)
Slater Heelis	Minimum £1,950 (simple); minimum £5,250 (taxable estate)
Clarke Willmott	From £2,500 (simple); from £3,500 (IHT400 needed, no tax)

What do solicitors charge to deal with the whole estate?

Estate administration prices as published, read on 30 October 2026
Firm	Published price (plus VAT)
Womble Bond Dickinson	£3,600 to £5,600 (grant and a simple estate)
Clarke Willmott	From £4,500 to £7,500 (straightforward; fees "will typically start from" these)
TV Edwards	£5,400 to £8,000 (no inheritance tax)
Gepp	£7,500 in total (straightforward)
Irwin Mitchell	About 2.95% of the gross estate, minimum £5,000
Levi Solicitors	£10,000 (larger estates service, full IHT400 needed; not in the calculator range)
TLW Solicitors	3% of the gross estate up to £500,000, 2% above

Firms must publish probate prices under the SRA's transparency rules. These pages give no date for their prices, and some still show the old court fee, so ask any firm for a written quote.

Making plans while you can? See what a lasting power of attorney costs.

Questions

How much is the probate fee in 2026?

£526 for an estate worth more than £5,000, and nothing for an estate of £5,000 or less. It went up from £300 on 13 July 2026. Extra copies of the grant cost £2 each if you order them with the application, or £16 each later.

Can I apply for probate without a solicitor?

Yes. You can apply yourself online or by post on GOV.UK, and the court fee is the same. Many people use a solicitor where the estate is complicated, inheritance tax is due or there is a dispute.

How much do solicitors charge for probate?

From the prices firms publish: from about £900 to £2,500 plus VAT for the grant only on an estate with no inheritance tax, and £3,600 to £8,000 plus VAT to deal with a straightforward estate. Some firms charge a percentage of the estate instead, such as 2% to 3%.

Is a percentage fee or a fixed fee cheaper?

It depends on the size of the estate. On a large, simple estate a percentage can cost much more than a fixed fee. The calculator works out the published percentages on your figure so you can compare.

Do solicitors' prices include the court fee?

Usually not: firms list the court fee as a disbursement. Several firm pages still show the old £300 fee, so check the current fee on GOV.UK.

Sources

Rates checked against these sources on 30 October 2026. Updated 30 October 2026. This is a calculation, not legal or tax advice: Instrukt is not a law firm or a tax adviser.