There is no single fixed price. Solicitors set their own fees for probate, and those fees sit on top of a fixed court application fee of £526 for an estate worth more than £5,000 (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change).
Most solicitors price probate work in one of three ways: a fixed fee, an hourly rate, or a percentage of the estate's value. What you pay depends on which structure the firm uses, how much of the work you hand over, and how complicated the estate is. This guide explains each part of the bill so the quotes you receive are easier to compare. Figures are current as at August 2026 and are subject to change.
The short answer
Two costs make up a probate bill. The first is the government's own charge, which is fixed and public. The second is the professional's fee, which each firm sets for itself and which is not set by government at all.
- The court fee is £526 where the estate is worth more than £5,000, and there is no fee if the estate is £5,000 or less (gov.uk, applying for probate fees, as at August 2026, subject to change).
- The solicitor's fee varies from firm to firm. Because the Solicitors Regulation Authority requires regulated firms to publish their probate prices, you can usually see a firm's fee structure before you make contact (SRA, transparency in price and service, as at August 2026).
For that reason, the most reliable figure is a written quote for your specific estate rather than a headline average. The sections below set out the fee models so a quote makes sense when you read it.
How solicitors charge for probate
Regulated firms generally use one of three pricing structures, and some combine them. None is set by government, so the amount is a matter for each firm.
| Fee model | How it works | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed fee | An agreed price for a defined piece of work, such as obtaining the grant only, or full estate administration. | Gives certainty up front. Check exactly what is and is not included before you agree. |
| Hourly rate | You are billed for time spent, often at different rates for partners, solicitors and support staff. | Ask for an estimate of total hours and a cap, so the final figure is not open-ended. |
| Percentage of the estate | The fee is calculated as a percentage of the estate's value, sometimes with a separate charge on the home. | A larger estate can mean a larger fee even where the work is not more complex. |
Fee structures reflect SRA price transparency guidance (sra.org.uk, as at August 2026). Each firm sets its own amounts.
Under the SRA transparency rules, a regulated firm must publish not only its prices but also what the price includes, the typical timescales, and the experience of the people doing the work (SRA, as at August 2026). Reading those three things together tends to make quotes more comparable than the price alone.
The court fee and disbursements
Separate from any professional fee, the estate pays the court fee and certain fixed costs known as disbursements. These are the same whoever submits the application.
| Item | Cost (August 2026) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Probate application fee, estate over £5,000 | £526 | gov.uk |
| Probate application fee, estate £5,000 or less | No fee | gov.uk |
| Extra copies of the grant, ordered with the application | £2 each | gov.uk |
| Extra copies of the grant, ordered later | £16 each | gov.uk |
Source: gov.uk/applying-for-probate/fees, as at August 2026, subject to change. Extra copies are useful so several banks or asset holders can be dealt with at once.
If inheritance tax is due, that is a separate liability from any fee. The standard inheritance tax rate is 40%, charged only on the part of an estate above the available thresholds, with a reduced rate of 36% where at least 10% of the net estate passes to charity (gov.uk, inheritance tax, as at August 2026, subject to change). Our guide to inheritance tax sets out the thresholds in full.
Grant of probate only, or full estate administration
The single biggest influence on a solicitor's fee is how much of the job you ask them to do. There are broadly two options.
The grant only
The firm prepares the application and any inheritance tax forms and obtains the grant, then hands it back to you to collect in the assets, pay the debts and distribute the estate yourself. This is the lower-cost route and often a fixed fee. It suits people who have the time and confidence to handle the administration.
Full estate administration
The firm handles everything from valuing the estate to paying tax, settling debts, selling or transferring property, and distributing to the beneficiaries. This costs more because it is far more work and carries more responsibility. It is the common choice where the estate is large, the family is spread out, or the personal representatives would rather not take it on. You can read what the process itself involves in our guide to what probate is.
What makes probate cost more
Two estates of similar value can cost very different amounts to administer. The factors that tend to raise a professional fee include:
- An inheritance tax account is required, rather than the shorter excepted-estate route (gov.uk, valuing an estate, as at August 2026, subject to change).
- Property to sell or transfer, especially more than one, or property held abroad.
- A business, farm, or shareholdings that need specialist valuation.
- Trusts created by the will, or an existing trust the deceased was part of.
- Missing beneficiaries, a home-made will, or a dispute over the estate.
- Many separate accounts, policies or holdings to trace and close.
Where an estate is straightforward, a fixed fee for the grant may be all that is needed. Where it is not, an hourly or percentage arrangement often reflects the extra work involved.
Keeping probate costs down
A few practical steps tend to keep the total in check. Ask each firm for its fee in writing, with a clear list of what is included and what counts as an extra. Ask whether a grant-only service would meet your needs before committing to full administration. Compare the published prices that regulated firms are required to show (SRA, as at August 2026), and check whether VAT and disbursements are shown on top of the headline figure or already inside it.
It is also worth knowing that a grant is not always needed. Where an estate is small or assets were jointly owned and pass automatically to the survivor, a full probate application may not be required at all (gov.uk, applying for probate, as at August 2026, subject to change). Planning ahead can reduce cost and delay for the family later; our overview of estate planning explains how a will and a lasting power of attorney fit together.
Scotland and Northern Ireland
This guide describes England and Wales. Scotland uses a different process called confirmation rather than a grant of probate, and its court fees are set separately (Scottish Courts and Tribunals, as at August 2026, subject to change). Northern Ireland has its own probate system and its own fees (nidirect, applying for probate, as at August 2026, subject to change). If an estate touches more than one jurisdiction, it can be worth taking advice in each.
- Probate court application fee: £526 for an estate over £5,000; no fee at £5,000 or less (gov.uk).
- Extra copies of the grant: £2 each with the application, £16 each afterwards (gov.uk).
- Solicitor's fee: set by each firm, not by government; commonly a fixed fee, hourly rate, or percentage of the estate (SRA).
- Regulated firms must publish their probate prices, inclusions and timescales (SRA).
Frequently asked questions
How much do solicitors charge for probate in the UK?
There is no fixed price. Solicitors set their own fees, usually as a fixed fee, an hourly rate, or a percentage of the estate's value, and those fees sit on top of the court's own charge. The court application fee is £526 for an estate worth more than £5,000, and there is no fee if the estate is £5,000 or less (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change). The most reliable guide to cost is a written quote for the specific estate.
Is the probate court fee the same if I use a solicitor?
Yes. The court application fee of £526 for an estate over £5,000 is the same whether the personal representative applies directly or a solicitor applies on their behalf (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change). A solicitor's professional fee is a separate charge on top of this.
Do solicitors charge a percentage of the estate for probate?
Some do. A percentage of the estate's value is one of the three fee models firms commonly use, alongside fixed fees and hourly rates (SRA, as at August 2026). A percentage can mean a larger fee on a larger estate even where the work is not more complex, so it can help to compare a percentage quote against a fixed-fee quote for the same job.
Can I do probate myself to avoid solicitor fees?
Yes. Personal representatives can apply for probate directly and administer the estate themselves, paying only the court fee and any disbursements rather than a professional fee (gov.uk, applying for probate, as at August 2026, subject to change). Many people choose professional help where the estate is large, involves property or a business, has inheritance tax to pay, or is likely to be disputed.
How much are extra copies of the grant of probate?
Extra copies of the grant cost £2 each when ordered with the application and £16 each if ordered later (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change). Ordering several with the application lets more than one bank or asset holder be dealt with at the same time.
Is a grant of probate always needed?
Not always. Where an estate is small, or assets were jointly owned and pass automatically to the surviving owner, a full probate application may not be required (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change). Whether a grant is needed usually depends on the individual asset holders and the way assets were held.