What probate actually costs
Probate has three separate cost layers: the official court fee of £526 (nothing for estates at or below £5,000), unavoidable estate expenses such as office copies, statutory notices and valuations, and whatever you choose to pay for help. Only the third layer is really in your control.
Jurisdiction: England & Wales. Last reviewed 13 August 2026.
Layer 1: the official fee
HM Courts & Tribunals Service charges £526 to issue a grant where the estate is above £5,000. Below that, there is no fee. Extra office copies are £2 each with the application, or £16 each afterwards — order plenty at the start, because you will need one per institution.
Layer 2: estate expenses
| Item | Typical range | Necessary? |
|---|---|---|
| Certified death certificate copies | A few pounds each | Yes — order several |
| Statutory notices in The Gazette and a local paper | Low hundreds | Strongly recommended — it protects you personally |
| Professional property valuation | Varies; estate agents often value free for probate | Yes if the estate is near a tax threshold |
| Unclaimed asset and will searches | Modest | Optional, sometimes worth it |
| Property insurance while empty | Varies | Yes if a property is standing empty |
Layer 3: help
This is where the range is enormous. Percentage-based professional fees are common and scale with the estate rather than the work. Fixed-fee firms are easier to compare. Our self-help package is £349, once, whatever the estate is worth — and it is separate from the £526 court fee, which you always pay directly to HMCTS.
Do not confuse the fees
Our fee is not the probate fee. The probate fee is not a tax. Inheritance Tax, if any, is a third and entirely separate liability paid to HMRC.Who pays
Probate costs are estate expenses and come out of the estate before beneficiaries are paid — but they usually have to be funded before the grant releases the money. Many banks will release funds directly to HMCTS or to a funeral director on request, which is worth asking about early.
Frequently asked questions
- Is there a fee for small estates?
- No application fee is charged where the estate is at or below £5,000.
- Can probate costs be reclaimed from the estate?
- Yes. Reasonable costs of administration, including the court fee and statutory notices, are paid from the estate before distribution.
- Is Inheritance Tax part of the probate cost?
- No. Inheritance Tax is a separate liability to HMRC, due by the end of the sixth month after the month of death.
Dealing with a straightforward estate yourself?
Our free probate checker helps you work out whether this estate appears suitable for a self-help route. It asks about jurisdiction, disputes and complexity, takes a few minutes, and needs no account.
£349 one-off service fee if you go ahead. Court fee and any Inheritance Tax are paid separately.
Sources
Continue your probate journey
Apply For Probate Online is an independent self-help service and is not part of HM Courts & Tribunals Service or GOV.UK.