How much solicitors charge for probate depends on the fee model: a fixed fee, usually £1,500 to £6,000 plus VAT for a straightforward estate; an hourly rate of roughly £150 to £450; or a percentage of the estate, commonly 1% to 5%. On top of any of these sits the HMCTS application fee of £526.
Figures are current as at August 2026 and subject to change.
How do solicitors charge for probate? The three fee models
Solicitors price probate in one of three ways, and the model matters more than the firm: on the same estate, a fixed fee and a percentage charge can differ by thousands of pounds. Firms regulated by the SRA must publish their probate pricing online under the SRA Transparency Rules, so you can compare before you enquire.
| Fee model | How it works | Typical range (plus VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed fee | A set price for a defined scope, agreed in writing before work starts | £950 to £1,500 grant-only; £1,500 to £6,000 full administration of a simple estate |
| Hourly rate | Time charged per hour by the fee earner doing the work | £150 to £250 junior; £350 to £450 senior; often 15 to 25 hours |
| Percentage of estate | A percentage of the estate's gross value, sometimes plus an hourly element | 1% to 5%, most often 1.5% to 2.5% |
Based on published UK probate pricing and the SRA price transparency rules, surveyed August 2026, subject to change. VAT is charged at 20%.
What does a fixed-fee probate service cost?
A fixed-fee probate service is a set price for a defined scope, agreed in writing before work starts. For a straightforward estate in England and Wales it usually runs £950 to £1,500 plus VAT for a grant-only service, or £1,500 to £6,000 plus VAT for full administration. It is the clearest model to compare, and it splits into two common tiers.
- Grant-only service. The solicitor prepares the application and any Inheritance Tax forms and obtains the grant; you, as personal representative, collect the assets and distribute the estate. Typically £950 to £1,500 plus VAT.
- Full estate administration. The solicitor handles the whole process: valuing the estate, tax, the grant, collecting assets, paying debts and distributing. Typically £1,500 to £6,000 plus VAT for a simple estate, rising to £15,000 or more where there is Inheritance Tax to pay, a business, foreign assets or a dispute.
Estate complexity drives the number. A single property and no Inheritance Tax sits low; multiple properties, trusts, or a full Inheritance Tax account on form IHT400 push it up, as the probate process shows.
How much is a percentage fee, and why it usually costs more
A percentage fee, or "ad valorem" charge, is a slice of the estate's gross value, commonly 1% to 5%. It usually costs the most, because an estate's value is mostly the house, and a £400,000 estate rarely takes twice the work of a £200,000 one. The table runs the three models over the same £400,000 estate (one property, some accounts, no Inheritance Tax).
| Fee basis | Solicitor fee | Plus VAT (20%) | Plus £526 court fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed fee, full administration | £3,000 | £3,600 | £4,126 |
| Percentage at 1.5% | £6,000 | £7,200 | £7,726 |
| Percentage at 3% | £12,000 | £14,400 | £14,926 |
Worked example, Fairchild Oldfield, August 2026. Illustrative only; actual quotes vary by firm and estate. Court fee per gov.uk, probate fees, subject to change.
The same job can cost roughly £4,100 or nearly £15,000 depending only on how the fee is set. Where a solicitor quotes a percentage, ask them to justify it and to offer a fixed-fee alternative for the same scope.
What costs sit on top of the solicitor's fee?
The solicitor's fee is rarely the whole bill. Two extras apply on almost every estate: VAT at 20% on the professional fee, and the HMCTS probate application fee of £526 where the estate is over £5,000. On top of these sit disbursements, payments the solicitor makes for you, such as creditor notices and bankruptcy searches, all added at cost.
- VAT at 20%. Solicitors' fees carry VAT, so a "£3,000" quote is £3,600 to pay. A headline figure "plus VAT" is one fifth higher than it looks.
- HMCTS application fee: £526. The probate application fee in England and Wales is £526 where the estate is over £5,000, and nothing where it is £5,000 or less. Extra copies of the grant cost £2 each with the application, or £16 each afterwards (gov.uk, probate fees, as at August 2026, subject to change).
- Disbursements. Common ones include statutory creditor notices in The Gazette and a local paper (often around £70 to £250), bankruptcy searches against beneficiaries (£2 each), and property valuations, passed on at cost.
Is doing probate yourself cheaper than using a solicitor?
Yes, doing it yourself is usually cheaper. A personal representative can apply directly and pay only the £526 court fee and any disbursements, with no professional fee. The trade-off is time, and personal liability if something is missed. These questions help you judge the route.
- Is there Inheritance Tax to pay, or a full IHT400 to file? If so, the reporting is more involved and many take advice; if the estate is well within the nil-rate band (£325,000, or up to £1,000,000 for many couples using the residence nil-rate band, per gov.uk, Inheritance Tax, as at August 2026, subject to change), a DIY application is more manageable.
- Are the assets simple? One property and a few accounts suit a DIY or grant-only route. A business, a trust, foreign assets, or lifetime gifts to trace point towards fuller support.
- Could anyone dispute the estate or the will? A possible claim, for example under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, is a strong reason to take advice before distributing.
- Have you asked for a fixed-fee quote in writing? Ask for the scope and fixed fee in writing, and confirm whether VAT, the court fee and disbursements are included.
Solicitors are not the only option. Estate planners, probate specialists and grant-only services can also do this work, often at lower cost, and comparing a fixed fee against a percentage quote is usually where the saving is. See what probate is, or our pricing page.