Probate Fee Calculator
Calculate probate application fees and estimated solicitor costs for administering an estate.
Source: GOV.UK — Applying for probate
By Konstantin Iakovlev · Founder, Calks.uk
Last updated: · Verified against HMRC and GOV.UK 2026/27 rates
Disclaimer
This calculator is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial or tax advice. All calculations are performed locally in your browser — no personal data is collected or sent to our servers. Rates and thresholds are sourced from HMRC and GOV.UK and are updated for the current tax year. Always verify results with HMRC or consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions.
How It Works
A grant of probate (or letters of administration if there is no will) gives legal authority to deal with a deceased person's estate. The application fee is £300 for estates valued above £5,000. Estates valued at £5,000 or below pay no fee. Additional copies of the grant cost £1.50 each.
The fee applies to the gross value of the estate before debts are deducted. You need to estimate the total value of all assets — property, savings, investments, personal possessions — for the application. The executor or administrator is responsible for paying the fee, usually from estate funds.
What is probate and when is it needed. Probate is the legal process of administering a deceased person's estate — proving the Will is valid, paying debts and taxes, distributing assets. Required when: estate has over £15,000-£50,000 in any single asset (banks have different thresholds), or owns property in sole name, or has investments held outside ISA. Not always needed for joint property (automatic right of survivorship) or small estates.
Application fees 2026/27. Probate application fee: £273 (any value), or £0 for estates under £5,000. Government scrapped the controversial 2019 plan for tiered fees up to £6,000. Apply online at gov.uk/applying-for-probate — much faster than paper (4-8 weeks vs 12-16 weeks). Need: original Will, death certificate, estate inventory, IHT forms.
Solicitor fees and DIY probate. DIY probate: just the £273 application fee + your time (typically 20-50 hours of work). Solicitor probate: 1-5% of estate value + £273. £500k estate × 2% = £10,000. Worth using solicitor for: complex estates, IHT disputes, multiple properties, business assets, foreign assets, contentious Wills, missing/disputed Wills. DIY suitable for: simple estates, single property + savings, no IHT due.
Inheritance Tax considerations. IHT must be paid (or arrangements made) BEFORE probate granted. For estates above the Nil-Rate Band £325,000 + Residence NRB £175,000 (if applicable): pay 40% on excess. Strategies: arrange a 'grant on credit' (HMRC accepts later payment from estate), use 'Direct Payment Scheme' (banks pay IHT directly from deceased's accounts), or take out short-term bridging loan against estate. Specialist help essential for IHT estates.
Example: Estate valued at £350,000
- Estate value: £350,000 (above £5,000 threshold)
- Probate application fee: £300
- Extra copies (3 recommended): 3 × £1.50 = £4.50
- Total probate cost: £304.50
Source: GOV.UK — Applying for probate
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does the Probate Fee Calculator do?
- Calculate probate application fees and estimated solicitor costs for administering an estate.
- Probate fee structure 2026.
- £273 standard probate application fee (any estate value), or £0 for estates under £5,000. Government scrapped 2019 plan for tiered fees up to £6,000. Apply online at gov.uk/applying-for-probate — much faster than paper (4-8 weeks vs 12-16 weeks).
- Solicitor probate vs DIY.
- DIY probate: just £273 fee + your time (20-50 hours work). Solicitor probate: 1-5% of estate value + £273. £500k estate × 2% = £10,000. Worth using solicitor for: complex estates, IHT disputes, multiple properties, business assets, contentious Wills, missing Wills. DIY for: simple estates, single property + savings, no IHT due.
- Inheritance Tax payment before probate.
- IHT must be paid (or arrangements made) BEFORE probate granted. Strategies: (1) 'Grant on credit' (HMRC accepts later payment from estate); (2) 'Direct Payment Scheme' (banks pay IHT directly from deceased's accounts); (3) Short-term bridging loan against estate. Specialist help essential for IHT estates above £325k NRB + £175k RNRB thresholds.