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.
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The probate services market has grown considerably in the last few years. Where once executors had to choose between doing it all themselves or paying a solicitor a percentage of the estate, there are now several options in between. This guide compares the main types of probate service available in the UK in 2026 — from free DIY tools to full-service solicitors — so you can make an informed choice for your situation. For context on overall costs and timescales, see our guide to DIY probate vs solicitor costs.
There are four broad categories of probate support available to UK executors in 2026:
Farewill is one of the UK's best-known online death administration businesses, originally founded as a will-writing service and subsequently expanding into probate.
What they offer:Farewill's probate service handles the probate application on your behalf. Their team collects information from you, prepares the IHT forms (where required), submits the probate application, and collects the grant. Some packages extend to collecting assets and distributing to beneficiaries.
Pricing (approximate, as of early 2026): Farewill typically charges from around £895 for a standard probate-only service, with fuller packages (including estate administration) priced higher. Pricing can vary depending on estate complexity — check their website for current figures as these change periodically.
Who it suits: Executors who want the core paperwork handled by professionals but do not want to pay traditional solicitor rates. The service works best for straightforward estates — single property, modest number of accounts, no significant IHT complexity.
Watch out for: Scope limitations. Check whether the quoted price includes IHT advice, completion of the IHT400 (if required), and what happens if HMRC raises a query. Additional fees can apply for complex estates, multiple properties, or international assets.
Settle is a UK probate and estate administration service that positions itself on speed and simplicity for straightforward estates. The service is technology-led, with most of the process handled via an online portal.
What they offer: Settle focuses on the probate application itself and, for some packages, extends to collecting assets from financial institutions. They use a digitised workflow that reduces the volume of paper required from executors.
Pricing (approximate): Pricing is typically fixed-fee and varies by estate type. Check their current website for pricing — rates in this market change frequently.
Who it suits: Executors who want a technology-forward experience and a straightforward application handled efficiently. Best for estates without significant IHT complexity or disputed assets.
Co-op Legal Services is a regulated law firm (not a will-writing service) and one of the UK's larger providers of fixed-fee probate. It is Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) regulated.
What they offer:Full probate and estate administration service, including IHT advice, PA1P/IHT400 preparation, collecting assets, paying debts, and distributing to beneficiaries. Also offers a "probate only" package (grant only, no administration).
Pricing (approximate):Co-op's pricing is generally fixed-fee for straightforward estates, with fees typically in the range of £1,000–£2,500 for a basic grant-only service, rising significantly for full administration depending on estate complexity. Check their website for current pricing.
Who it suits: Executors who want the reassurance of SRA-regulated solicitor oversight, particularly where there is a property to transfer, modest IHT to calculate, or a beneficiary who wants a solicitor involved.
Watch out for: As with all full-service firms, costs can increase significantly if the estate is more complex than initially assessed. Request a full scope of work and fee estimate in writing before committing.
Which? (the consumer organisation) offers a probate service through a partnership with a regulated law firm. The service is marketed on the strength of the Which? brand and consumer trust.
What they offer: Which? Wills provides a probate application service and, for some packages, fuller estate administration. The actual legal work is carried out by a partner law firm rather than Which? itself.
Who it suits: Executors who want the Which? brand assurance and are comfortable with a third-party firm carrying out the work.
The simplest and cheapest route is to apply for probate directly through GOV.UK. You complete the PA1P (with a will) or PA1A (without a will) form yourself, pay the £273 probate fee (for estates over £5,000), and submit to the Probate Registry.
Cost: £273 probate fee only (plus IHT if payable, and the Gazette notice at approximately £80–£95).
What you get: The grant of probate. GOV.UK provides basic guidance notes but no step-by-step support, no IHT calculation help, and no assistance if something goes wrong.
Who it suits: Executors with a simple estate (one property, few accounts, no IHT), who are confident working through legal paperwork, and who have time to research and manage the process themselves.
For context on what "simple" means in practice, see our guide to whether you need probate at all.
Farra takes a different approach from the services above. Rather than doing probate for you, Farra gives you the knowledge, tools, and step-by-step guidance to do it yourself — confidently and correctly.
The philosophy is that most executors are perfectly capable of handling probate; they just need support to understand the process, avoid mistakes, and know when to escalate to a professional. Farra is built around that insight.
What Farra provides: A personalised dashboard that guides you through every stage of probate — from registering the death and finding the will, through completing IHT forms and submitting the probate application, to collecting assets and distributing the estate. At each stage, Farra provides plain-English explanations, checklists, and flag-raising for situations that need professional input.
Cost: £179 — a fraction of the cost of either a full-service online provider or a solicitor.
Who it suits: Executors who want to stay in control of the process and understand what they are doing at each stage, rather than simply handing it over. Particularly valuable where the estate has a property, modest IHT, or a small number of accounts — the type of estate most solicitors would handle routinely, but where the cost of a solicitor is hard to justify.
| Service | Type | Approx. cost | Who does the work? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GOV.UK DIY | DIY | £273 (fee only) | You | Simple estates, confident executors |
| Farra | Guided DIY | £179 | You, with full guidance | Executors who want control and confidence |
| Farewill | Online fixed-fee | ~£895+ | Farewill team | Straightforward estates, hands-off approach |
| Settle | Online fixed-fee | Check website | Settle team | Tech-forward, simple estates |
| Co-op Legal Services | Regulated solicitor | ~£1,000–£2,500+ | Co-op solicitors | Moderate complexity, IHT involved |
| Traditional solicitor | Full service | 1%–3% of estate | Solicitor firm | Complex estates, disputes, trusts |
All pricing figures are approximate and based on publicly available information as of early 2026. Check each provider's website for current pricing.
Use this framework to guide your decision:
Executors acting in a personal capacity (not as a professional) cannot generally charge the estate for their time. However, the cost of a probate service — Farewill, Farra, a solicitor, or any other — is an estate expense and can be paid from estate funds. See our guide on whether executors can charge for their time.
No — you remain the executor throughout. Hiring a probate service means you are instructing them as your agent. You still have legal responsibility for the estate and its correct administration. If the service makes an error, you may ultimately be held responsible as executor, which is one reason to use SRA-regulated firms for important estates.
The Probate Registry currently takes 8–16 weeks to process applications once submitted. This timescale applies regardless of which service you use — the difference between services is how quickly they prepare and submit your application. HMRC's processing time for the IHT400 (where required) adds additional time before the Probate Registry submission can be made. See our guide on how long probate takes.
Yes — these are entirely different services. A will-writing service helps someone write a will before they die. A probate service helps after a death to obtain the Grant of Probate and administer the estate. Many providers (including Farewill and several others) offer both, which can cause confusion. Make sure you are enquiring about probate specifically.
The probate application fee is £273 for estates over £5,000. There is no fee for estates of £5,000 or less. This fee applies to all applications — DIY or via a service. See our guide to the probate threshold for 2026–27.
Should you do probate yourself or use a solicitor? Complete cost comparison: DIY £273-£800 vs Solicitor £1,500-£10,000+. Time, risk, and decision framework.
Probate specialists and solicitors both have the legal authority to apply for probate but differ significantly on cost and scope. How to verify credentials, compare fee structures, and choose correctly.
Yes — most executors can handle probate without a solicitor. Honest guide to what DIY probate involves, which estates are suitable, common pitfalls, time commitment, and cost comparison.
Percentage probate fees are almost always more expensive than fixed fees on UK estates. How to compare quotes properly, identify hidden VAT and disbursement costs, and what to ask before instructing anyone.
A grant-only service means a professional applies for the grant while you handle the administration. Costs £400–£800. When it makes sense, what's included, and what you still do yourself.
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