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Farra is a death administration assistant for UK families. Get step-by-step guidance for registering a death, applying for probate, notifying banks, and managing bereavement admin. From essential documents to practical checklists, Farra simplifies estate paperwork and funeral-related tasks so you can focus on what matters.
The single cheapest way to obtain a grant of probate is to apply yourself directly to the Probate Registry: you pay only the £300 application fee (planned to rise to £526 from 13 July 2026, subject to parliamentary approval) plus any valuations you need. Everything else is a step up in cost that buys you either help with the paperwork or someone to do the whole job. Below, the routes are ranked cheapest to dearest — with an honest note on when spending more is worth it.
“Cheapest” can mean two different things: the smallest bill, or the least it costs you once your time and the risk of mistakes are counted. Here are the four main routes, from lowest cash cost upward.
| Feature | Pure DIY | Guided (e.g. Farra)Recommended | Grant-only service | High-street solicitor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Typical cost | £300 fee + valuations | One fixed fee | £400–£800 + fee | £1,500–£10,000+ (often 1–5%) |
| Who does the paperwork | You, entirely | You, with step-by-step guidance and pre-filled forms | A professional gets the grant; you do the rest | The solicitor does almost everything |
| Executor time | Highest | Moderate | Moderate | Lowest |
| Best for | Simple estates, confident executors | Simple estates where the forms feel daunting | Those happy to administer but wanting the grant handled | Taxable, disputed or complex estates |
Costs indicative and reclaimable from the estate. Last reviewed July 2026. The £300 application fee is planned to rise to £526 from 13 July 2026, subject to parliamentary approval.
Applying yourself is the lowest-cost route. You complete the inheritance tax paperwork, submit the probate application (PA1P if there is a will, PA1A if not), pay the £300 fee, and collect and distribute the estate. For a straightforward, tax-free estate with a clear will, this is entirely doable — and it keeps the most money in the estate for the family.
The DIY route asks the most of you. Beyond the 20–40 hours a typical estate takes, there is a real error risk: around one in three do-it-yourself applications is initially stopped or rejected by the Probate Registry — usually for small paperwork problems — which can add weeks or months. As executor, you are also personally liable for mistakes, such as distributing before debts are settled.
So a route that looks dearer on paper can be cheaper once you value your time and the risk of a costly slip. A guided route or a grant-only service can reduce both, for a modest step up in cost.
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A guided, do-it-yourself service — like Farra — keeps you as the executor and in control, but gives you a clear plan and prepared forms for one fixed fee. A grant-only service goes a little further: a professional obtains the grant for you (typically £400–£800 plus the fee) while you handle the administration afterwards. Both cost far less than full-service probate and remove the part most people find hardest.
Sometimes the dearest route is the sensible one. A full-service solicitor is usually the right call when inheritance tax is due, there are business, agricultural or foreign assets, there is no will, the estate is insolvent, or beneficiaries are likely to dispute. In those cases, trying to save on fees can be a false economy — a single error can cost far more than the solicitor would have. Equally, if the estate is simple, paying 1–5% of its value for full-service probate is often more than the job needs.
This is general guidance, not legal advice. If you are unsure which camp your estate falls into, our guide to whether you need a solicitor walks through it honestly.
Before you commit to a route, check two things. First, whether you even need a grant — try the do I need probate checker. Second, what each route would cost for your estate — the probate cost calculator gives you a quick, personalised comparison. For the full cost detail, see how much DIY probate costs in 2026.
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Where they normally lived, even if they died somewhere else.
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