Probate: cost & decisions

Before you pay anyone, it helps to know whether you even need a grant of probate — and if you do, what the realistic options cost. A solicitor typically charges a percentage of the estate or a fixed fee from around £2,750; the same grant can often be obtained yourself for the statutory fee alone. These guides lay out the decision and the numbers honestly, with the costs normally reclaimable from the estate.

8 guides

All guides

Best Online Probate Services in the UK (2026)A calm, factual overview of the main ways to get probate online in England and Wales in 2026 — from free DIY via GOV.UK to guided and full-service options. Costs, control and how to choose.
Do I Need Probate If Everything Is Jointly Owned?If everything was owned jointly, you often don't need probate — assets pass to the survivor by survivorship. But there are important exceptions, especially tenants in common. Here's how to tell.
Do You Need a Solicitor for Probate? An Honest GuideYou rarely need a solicitor for a simple estate — but sometimes you genuinely do. An honest guide to when you can DIY probate, when to get professional help, and the middle ground.
Farewill vs Solicitor vs DIY Probate: An Honest ComparisonA calm, factual comparison of three ways to get probate in England and Wales: Farewill's online service, a high-street solicitor, and doing it yourself. Costs, control and who each route suits.
How Much Does DIY Probate Cost in 2026? Full BreakdownWhat DIY probate actually costs in 2026: the £526 application fee, copies, valuations and creditor notices — plus how DIY, guided and solicitor routes compare. Most costs are reclaimable from the estate.
Probate on a House in One Name With No Will: What HappensIf someone dies owning a house in their sole name with no will, you almost always need a grant — letters of administration — before the property can be sold or transferred. Here's the process.
Probate Without a Solicitor: What You Can Safely DIYWhat you can genuinely do yourself in probate and where to get help. Honest about the roughly one-in-three applications the registry stops for errors, and how to avoid the common mistakes.
The Cheapest Way to Get a Grant of Probate (2026)The routes to a grant of probate ranked cheapest to dearest: pure DIY, guided DIY, grant-only services and full solicitor administration — what each costs and the honest trade-offs.

All guides