Probate solicitor fees compared
Probate solicitors typically charge a percentage of the estate, often between 1% and 5%, or an hourly rate, or a fixed fee for the grant only. On a £400,000 estate a percentage-based quote commonly lands between £4,000 and £15,000 plus VAT and the same court fee you would pay yourself.
Jurisdiction: England & Wales. Last reviewed 13 August 2026.
The three ways firms charge
| Model | How it works | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Percentage of the estate | A share of the gross estate value | Cost tracks house prices, not workload |
| Hourly rate | Billed per hour, often in six-minute units | Open-ended; ask for a written cap |
| Fixed fee, grant only | A set fee to obtain the grant; you do the rest | Confirm exactly what is excluded |
The court fee is the same either way
The £526 court fee is payable to HM Courts & Tribunals Service whoever submits the application. A solicitor cannot reduce it, and neither can we.Where the money actually goes
Most of the work in a simple estate is correspondence: writing to banks for date-of-death balances, chasing replies, and assembling consistent figures. That is administration, not legal judgement. A percentage fee charges a bigger estate more for identical letters.
Our comparison
Our guided self-help package is £349, paid once, whatever the estate is worth. You still pay the £526 court fee and any Inheritance Tax directly to the authorities. We are not a law firm and do not give legal advice — we give structure, prepared forms, correspondence templates and estate accounts.
Some estates should go to a solicitor
If the will is contested, the estate is insolvent, there is a trust, a business, foreign property, or a claim against the estate, pay for regulated advice. Our checker flags these before you spend anything.Frequently asked questions
- Are solicitor probate fees negotiable?
- Often yes, particularly the percentage element. Ask for a fixed fee, and ask what is excluded from it.
- Can I use a solicitor for only part of the process?
- Yes. Grant-only services are common, and you handle the administration afterwards.
- Is a bank's probate service cheaper?
- Rarely. Bank and trust-corporation executor services are typically among the most expensive options.
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.