Cost · 5 min read
Fixed fee or percentage: how to compare probate quotes
A percentage quote sounds modest until you multiply it out. A fixed fee sounds safe until you read what falls outside it. Comparing them properly takes about ten minutes.
Written and reviewed by Ramani Gill, Founder & CEO — Solicitor, TEP, BA, LLM. Last reviewed 2026-08-19.
Multiply the percentage out first
| Gross estate | 1.5% | 2.5% | 4% |
|---|---|---|---|
| £250,000 | £3,750 | £6,250 | £10,000 |
| £500,000 | £7,500 | £12,500 | £20,000 |
| £750,000 | £11,250 | £18,750 | £30,000 |
| £1,000,000 | £15,000 | £25,000 | £40,000 |
Add VAT to every figure above. Note that the percentage is normally applied to the gross estate, before the mortgage and other debts are deducted, so the charge can be a large slice of what beneficiaries actually receive.
What a fixed fee usually excludes
- A full IHT400 account where the quote assumed an excepted estate
- Conveyancing on the sale or transfer of the property
- Tracing or corresponding with a difficult beneficiary
- Deeds of variation
- Any dispute, caveat or claim against the estate
Doing this yourself?
Our guided service walks an executor through valuations, the HMCTS forms and the estate accounts for a one-off £349.
Compare on a single sheet
- Write down the total each route would cost including VAT and disbursements
- Write down what you would still have to do yourself in each case
- Write down the trigger that makes the quote go up
- Divide the difference by the number of beneficiaries — that is what the choice is worth to each of them
A third option
Many executors do the gathering, valuing and form-filling themselves for £349 and pay a solicitor by the hour for one specific problem. You are not choosing between full service and no help at all.Before you accept either kind of quote, compare it against the cost of doing it yourself.
Common questions
- Is a percentage fee ever cheaper?
- Occasionally, on a small estate with a lot of unusual work. Below roughly £150,000 a low percentage can undercut a fixed fee, but above that the fixed fee almost always wins.
Not sure whether this estate is straightforward?
The free suitability checker asks about jurisdiction, disputes and complexity, and tells you in a few minutes whether a self-help route is sensible — or whether you should speak to a solicitor. No account needed.
Start the free checkerWhere this fits in the probate process
Related guides
- Probate solicitor fees explained
- The probate costs executors forget to budget for
- How much does probate cost in the UK?
- Is DIY probate actually cheaper?
General information only, not legal or tax advice. Last checked 2026-08-19.