Probate Applications Statistics: Who Applies for Probate

In the latest published quarter, October to December 2025, 59% of probate grants issued in England and Wales were applied for by legal professionals and 41% by personal applicants, according to the Ministry of Justice, Family Court Statistics Quarterly, Oct-Dec 2025.

That single split is the clearest answer to a common question: who actually applies for probate. This piece gathers the official numbers on applicant type, grant volumes, digital take-up and processing times, each drawn from named government statistics. Figures are current as at July 2026 and are subject to change. This is general information, not advice about any particular estate.

Key figures at a glance

Across recent quarters, roughly four in ten probate grants in England and Wales have gone to personal applicants and around six in ten to legal professionals, on Ministry of Justice figures. The table below sets out the headline statistics with their reference period and primary source, so each number can be checked at its origin.

Statistic	Figure	Period	Source
Personal applications (share of probate grants issued)	41%	Oct-Dec 2025	MoJ FCSQ, Oct-Dec 2025
Legal professional applications (share of probate grants issued)	59%	Oct-Dec 2025	MoJ FCSQ, Oct-Dec 2025
Probate grants issued (latest quarter)	54,310	Oct-Dec 2025	MoJ FCSQ, Oct-Dec 2025
Applications for grants of representation	79,299	Apr-Jun 2025	MoJ FCSQ, Apr-Jun 2025
Applications made digitally	92%	Oct-Dec 2025	MoJ FCSQ, Oct-Dec 2025
Mean time to issue a grant after application	approx. 5 weeks	Oct-Dec 2025	MoJ FCSQ, Oct-Dec 2025
Probate application fee (estate over £5,000)	£300	As at July 2026	gov.uk, applying for probate fees

All figures as at July 2026 and subject to change. Percentages and volumes are as reported by the Ministry of Justice; the £5,000 fee threshold is set out on gov.uk.

Quarter	Probate grants issued	Legal professional	Personal
Jan-Mar 2025	64,595	54%	46%
Apr-Jun 2025	60,620	57%	43%
Jul-Sep 2025	59,572	56%	44%
Oct-Dec 2025	54,310	59%	41%

How many people apply for probate

Volumes run in the tens of thousands each quarter. There were 79,299 applications for grants of representation in April to June 2025, of which 62,943 (79%) were for probate grants, the type used when there is a will (MoJ FCSQ, Apr-Jun 2025). The remainder are grants of letters of administration, used where there is no valid will. Source: gov.uk, as at July 2026, subject to change.

Reading the two figures together. "Grants of representation" is the umbrella term covering both probate grants (with a will) and letters of administration (without a will). In the latest published quarter, 54,310 probate grants were issued in October to December 2025 (MoJ FCSQ, Oct-Dec 2025). Quarter-to-quarter totals move with seasonal patterns and processing, so single quarters are best read as part of a series rather than as a trend on their own. For background on what these grants are, see our guide to What Is Probate? Figures as at July 2026, subject to change.

Not every estate needs a grant at all. Where an estate is small or assets were held jointly and pass automatically to a survivor, a grant may not be required, which is one reason application volumes are lower than the number of deaths. Whether a grant is needed depends on the assets and how they were held, so many people check the position for the specific estate before applying.

How applications are made, and what they cost

Most probate applications are now digital. In October to December 2025, 92% of applications and 94% of grants issued were made digitally, and grants took approximately 5 weeks on average to be issued after the application was submitted, down around 2 weeks on the equivalent quarter in 2024 (MoJ FCSQ, Oct-Dec 2025). Source: gov.uk, as at July 2026, subject to change.

On cost, the application fee is £300 where the estate is valued at over £5,000, and there is no fee if the estate is £5,000 or less (gov.uk, applying for probate fees, as at July 2026, subject to change). The fee is the same whether a legal professional or a personal applicant submits the application; any professional charges are separate and set by the firm. For a fuller breakdown of application numbers over time, see our companion data page on probate grant volumes.

Around four in ten probate grants are applied for without a legal professional, yet the majority of estates still involve one.

What the numbers mean

The professional share of probate applications sat between 54% and 59% across the 2025 quarters, on Ministry of Justice figures (MoJ FCSQ, Oct-Dec 2025). In our reading, that points to a settled pattern rather than a rapid shift toward do-it-yourself probate. Source: gov.uk, as at July 2026, subject to change.

A few observations, offered as general commentary rather than advice:

A large minority go it alone. With roughly 41% to 46% of grants applied for personally across 2025, applying without a solicitor is common, though it may suit simpler estates more than complex ones (MoJ FCSQ, Jan-Mar 2025). Source: gov.uk, as at July 2026, subject to change.
Digital is now the norm. With 92% of applications made digitally in the latest quarter, the online route dominates for both groups (MoJ FCSQ, Oct-Dec 2025). Source: gov.uk, as at July 2026, subject to change.
Timescales have eased. A mean of about 5 weeks to issue, down around 2 weeks year on year, suggests processing has generally improved, though individual cases that are stopped for missing information can take considerably longer (MoJ FCSQ, Oct-Dec 2025). Source: gov.uk, as at July 2026, subject to change.

What the split does not tell us is why a family chose one route. The figures record who applied, not the size or complexity of the estate, whether inheritance tax was due, or how confident the applicant felt. Whether to use a professional can depend on factors such as whether the estate is taxable, whether it holds a business or foreign assets, and whether the will is disputed. Many people weigh those factors and, where an estate looks complex, choose to discuss it with a qualified professional. For how probate fits within wider planning, see our estate planning guide.

Scotland and Northern Ireland

The statistics above cover England and Wales, and the Ministry of Justice figures relate to that jurisdiction. Scotland uses a different process called confirmation, administered through the sheriff courts, rather than a grant of probate, and its statistics are published separately. Northern Ireland has its own probate system and its own data. If an estate spans more than one UK nation, the position can differ, and it can be worth checking the rules that apply in each.

Sources and methodology

Every statistic on this page comes from named official statistics and was checked against the source before publication. The applicant split, grant volumes, digital shares and processing times are drawn from the Ministry of Justice Family Court Statistics Quarterly series; the application fee is from gov.uk guidance. Figures are current as at July 2026 and are subject to change.

Ministry of Justice, Family Court Statistics Quarterly: October to December 2025: applicant split (59% professional / 41% personal), 54,310 probate grants issued, 92% of applications digital, approx. 5 weeks to issue.
Ministry of Justice, Family Court Statistics Quarterly: July to September 2025: 56% professional / 44% personal, 59,572 probate grants issued.
Ministry of Justice, Family Court Statistics Quarterly: April to June 2025: 57% professional / 43% personal, 79,299 grants of representation applications, 62,943 probate applications (79%), 60,620 probate grants issued.
Ministry of Justice, Family Court Statistics Quarterly: January to March 2025: 54% professional / 46% personal, 64,595 probate grants issued.
Ministry of Justice, Family Court Statistics Quarterly: July to September 2023: 56% professional / 44% personal (longer-view comparison).
Ministry of Justice, Justice Data: applications for grants of representation: underlying time series.
gov.uk, Applying for probate: fees: £300 fee where the estate is over £5,000; no fee at £5,000 or less.

Frequently asked questions

What share of probate applications are made by solicitors?

In October to December 2025, 59% of probate grants issued in England and Wales were applied for by legal professionals and 41% by personal applicants, on Ministry of Justice figures (MoJ FCSQ, Oct-Dec 2025). The split has stayed broadly in that range across 2025. Figures are as at July 2026 and subject to change.

How many probate applications are made each quarter?

Volumes run in the tens of thousands. There were 79,299 applications for grants of representation in April to June 2025, of which 62,943 were for probate grants (MoJ FCSQ, Apr-Jun 2025). In October to December 2025, 54,310 probate grants were issued (MoJ FCSQ, Oct-Dec 2025). Figures as at July 2026, subject to change.

How long does a probate grant take to be issued?

In October to December 2025, probate grants took approximately 5 weeks on average to be issued after the application was submitted, down around 2 weeks on the equivalent quarter in 2024 (MoJ FCSQ, Oct-Dec 2025). Cases stopped for missing information can take longer. Times can vary, so this is general information rather than a prediction for any one application. Figures as at July 2026, subject to change.

Do you have to use a solicitor to apply for probate?

No. The statistics show a large minority of grants are applied for personally, with 41% of probate grants issued in October to December 2025 coming from personal applicants (MoJ FCSQ, Oct-Dec 2025). Applying personally can suit simpler estates, while complex or disputed estates often involve a professional. Many people weigh the position before deciding. Figures as at July 2026, subject to change.

How much does it cost to apply for probate?

The application fee is £300 where the estate is over £5,000, and there is no fee if the estate is £5,000 or less (gov.uk, applying for probate fees). The fee is the same for personal and professional applicants; any professional charges are separate. Figures are as at July 2026 and subject to change.

Are these figures the same across the whole UK?

No. The Ministry of Justice statistics cover England and Wales. Scotland uses confirmation rather than a grant of probate, administered through its own courts, and publishes separate data; Northern Ireland runs its own probate system with its own figures. Where an estate spans more than one UK nation, the position can differ, so it can be worth checking each.

About Fairchild Oldfield

The Fairchild Oldfield team brings together estate planning, tax, independent financial advice and client care, working with families across England and Wales.

Fairchild Oldfield are estate planning specialists and will writers, not a firm of solicitors. This article is general information based on published official statistics, not legal, tax or financial advice.

Important: This article is general information only and is not legal, tax or financial advice. Reading it does not create a professional relationship. It is based on the law and published statistics for England and Wales, and other UK jurisdictions may differ. Figures are current as at July 2026 and are subject to change. Before acting, many people choose to seek advice from a suitably qualified professional, such as a solicitor, a STEP practitioner, an accountant, or an FCA-authorised financial adviser, who can consider your individual circumstances.