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.
Need to apply for probate?
Answer 15 questions and we'll tell you exactly what to file, in what order — from £95.
DIY probate costs £273-£800 but requires 20-40 hours over 3-6 months. Solicitors charge £1,500-£10,000+ (1.5-5% of estate) but only need 5-10 hours from you. Choose DIY for simple estates with no inheritance tax. Use solicitors for estates over £325,000 or complex situations.
When you're named as an executor, one of the first questions you'll face is: should I do probate myself or hire a solicitor?
The financial difference is significant. DIY probate costs £273-£800 in fees. Probate solicitors charge £1,500-£10,000+ depending on estate complexity. That's a potential saving of £2,000-£9,000 by doing it yourself. Before deciding which route to take, you might want to check whether you even need probate. For a comprehensive understanding of the full probate process, see our complete guide to probate in the UK.
But the choice isn't just about money. It's about time, stress, complexity, and risk. Executors are personally liable for mistakes in estate administration – even honest errors can result in financial penalties or legal claims. To understand the full scope of what's involved in the UK probate process, read our comprehensive probate guide.
This guide provides a complete cost and complexity comparison to help you make an informed decision based on your specific situation.
| Probate application fee | £273 |
| Additional grant copies (£1.50 each) | £10-£30 |
| Property valuation (if needed) | £0-£300 |
| Professional valuations (antiques, jewelry) | £0-£500 |
| Death certificate copies | £11-£50 |
| Postage, printing, travel | £50-£150 |
| Typical Total Cost | £373-£773 |
Plus your time: 20-40 hours over 3-6 months
£1,500-£3,000 fixed fee
No property, straightforward assets, no IHT, clear will
£3,000-£5,000 fixed fee or 1-2% of estate
One property, bank accounts, investments, no IHT complexity
£5,000-£10,000+ or 2-5% of estate
Multiple properties, business assets, IHT calculations, overseas assets
£150-£300/hour (no cap)
Contentious probate, will challenges, beneficiary disputes
Note: 2-5% of estate can be very expensive. On a £400,000 estate, 2% = £8,000 in solicitor fees.
Estate value: £250,000 (family home + savings)
Total Executor Time: 20-40 hours over 3-6 months
Total Executor Time: 5-10 hours over 3-8 months
Solicitors save you 15-30 hours of work, but they don't speed up the legal process. The Probate Registry takes 4-8 weeks regardless of who submits the application.
The calendar time from death to distribution is similar (3-8 months). The difference is who does the work: you or a paid professional.
DIY probate is suitable when the estate is straightforward and you're comfortable with paperwork and administration.
"My father passed away leaving everything to my mother in his will. The estate is their jointly-owned home (worth £280,000) plus his sole bank account (£45,000) and a small pension payout (£12,000). No inheritance tax is due. All three children are supportive. I'm the executor and I'm happy to do the paperwork to save £3,000+ in solicitor fees."
✓ Perfect for DIY probate
Some estates are too complex or risky to handle yourself. Solicitor fees are worth it to avoid personal liability and costly mistakes.
Executors are personally liable for mistakes in estate administration. If you distribute the estate incorrectly and a creditor or beneficiary makes a claim later, you must pay from your own money.
Solicitor fees include professional indemnity insurance. If the solicitor makes an error, their insurance covers it – you're protected. This peace of mind is valuable for complex estates.
DIY probate is manageable for straightforward estates, but you're taking on legal responsibility and personal liability.
As executor, you're personally responsible for estate administration. If you distribute assets and a creditor comes forward later, you must pay them from your own funds.
Protection: Place statutory notices
Advertise in The Gazette and local newspaper (£200-£300) to protect against unknown creditors. Wait 2 months before distributing.
Incorrect IHT calculations can result in penalties. For a detailed overview of how IHT works, see our inheritance tax guide.
Even honest mistakes ("careless") can trigger 30% penalties on substantial sums. If your estate includes IHT, check our IHT400 form guide for help.
Common DIY mistakes that add 3-6 months to the process:
If you don't conduct thorough searches, you might miss:
Missing assets shortchange beneficiaries. Missing beneficiaries leaves you vulnerable to future claims. Our estate valuation guide can help you find and value all assets correctly.
Without legal representation, you're vulnerable if:
If doing DIY probate:
Use this decision tree to help determine the right approach for your situation:
Is inheritance tax due?
→ YES: Use a solicitor (too risky for DIY)
→ NO: Continue to Step 2
Does the estate include business assets, foreign property, or agricultural land?
→ YES: Use a solicitor (specialist knowledge required)
→ NO: Continue to Step 3
Is there a clear, valid will with no disputes?
→ NO (or intestacy): Use a solicitor
→ YES: Continue to Step 4
Do assets exceed debts?
→ NO (insolvent): Use a solicitor (complex creditor priority rules)
→ YES: Continue to Step 5
Are all beneficiaries cooperative and unlikely to dispute?
→ NO: Use a solicitor (legal protection needed)
→ YES: Continue to Step 6
Are you comfortable with forms and have 20-40 hours available over 3-6 months?
→ NO: Consider a solicitor or guided service
→ YES: DIY probate is viable
You don't have to choose between expensive solicitors and going it completely alone. Guided DIY services like Farra provide:
Ideal for: Standard estates under £500,000 with no IHT where you want professional support without full solicitor fees
Probate solicitor fees vary dramatically. Always get detailed written quotes from at least 3 firms before deciding.
Estimated cost: £373-£773 + 20-40 hours your time
Estimated cost: £500-£1,500 + 10-20 hours your time
Estimated cost: £1,500-£10,000+ + 5-10 hours your time
Step-by-step probate application process, forms needed, costs, and typical timeframes for grant of probate.
Ultimate step-by-step probate guide: 10-stage process, realistic timelines (6-18 months), complete costs (DIY vs solicitor), IHT forms, executor duties, common problems & solutions.
When executors face personal liability. Distributing before paying debts, Section 27 Gazette notices, and when to consider an executor's bond.
When to use a solicitor for estate administration. Simple DIY estates vs complex ones, typical solicitor fees, and the grant-only service option.
Probate timeline UK: how long from death to grant of probate to distributing estate. Average 3-12 months. Delays, speeding up probate, what affects timeline.
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