Are probate solicitor fees paid from the estate?

Usually yes. Properly incurred professional fees are an estate expense and are paid before the residue is distributed, but the executor is personally liable to the firm if the estate cannot cover them.

Is VAT charged on probate fees?

Yes. Professional fees carry VAT at the standard rate, so a £2,000 quote is £2,400 in practice. Court fees and other disbursements do not carry VAT.

Cost · 6 min read

Probate solicitor fees explained

Two firms can quote wildly different amounts for identical work, because they are charging on completely different bases. Once you know which basis you are being quoted on, comparing becomes straightforward.

Written and reviewed by Ramani Gill, Founder & CEO — Solicitor, TEP, BA, LLM. Last reviewed 2026-08-19.

The three charging models

Model	Typical level	Who it suits
Hourly rate	£150 – £350 + VAT per hour	Small, contained tasks
Percentage of the estate	1% – 5%, sometimes plus hourly time	Firms, rarely the family
Fixed fee, grant only	£1,000 – £3,000 + VAT	Straightforward estates
Self-help platform	£349 one-off	Executors doing the legwork themselves

The percentage model is the one that surprises people. A 2% charge on a £600,000 estate is £12,000 plus VAT, for work that does not get harder simply because the house is worth more.

What is a disbursement, and what is a fee?

Disbursements are costs the firm pays on your behalf and passes straight through. They are payable whoever handles the estate, so they should never be presented as part of the value a firm adds.

HMCTS application fee: £526 where the estate is above £5,000
Sealed copies of the grant: £2 each ordered with the application
Statutory notices in The Gazette and a local paper, commonly £150 – £300
Bankruptcy searches against beneficiaries, a few pounds each
Land Registry office copies, £3 – £7 per title

Doing this yourself?

Our guided service walks an executor through valuations, the HMCTS forms and the estate accounts for a one-off £349.

Check if I can do probate myself

Questions that expose a soft quote

Is this a fixed fee, or an estimate that can be revised?
Does it cover the grant only, or the full administration including selling assets?
What specifically would take the estate outside the quote?
Is VAT included in the figure you have given me?
Who does the day-to-day work — a solicitor, or a paralegal charged at a solicitor's rate?

Estate value is not a measure of difficulty

A £900,000 estate with one house, two bank accounts and a valid will is far simpler than a £200,000 estate with a business, a missing beneficiary and no will. Pay for complexity, not for the size of the number.

When a solicitor is genuinely worth it

Someone has threatened to challenge the will, or a claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 is likely
The estate is or may be insolvent
There is a trust, a business, agricultural property or foreign assets
A beneficiary lacks capacity, or cannot be traced

GOV.UK — Applying for probate

Common questions

Are probate solicitor fees paid from the estate?: Usually yes. Properly incurred professional fees are an estate expense and are paid before the residue is distributed, but the executor is personally liable to the firm if the estate cannot cover them.
Is VAT charged on probate fees?: Yes. Professional fees carry VAT at the standard rate, so a £2,000 quote is £2,400 in practice. Court fees and other disbursements do not carry VAT.

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 checker

Where this fits in the probate process

What probate actually costsCourt fee, solicitor quotes and the self-help route compared.

General information only, not legal or tax advice. Last checked 2026-08-19.