Probate Cost Calculator
What a grant of probate costs if you apply yourself, and how solicitors price it. Free, instant, no sign-up.
A rough total is fine — property, savings, investments and other assets, less any debts.
Banks and pension providers usually each want to see one. They cost £2 each when ordered with the application.
The Two Routes at a Glance
Applying yourself
£526
Application fee (£0 at £5,000 or less), plus £2 per sealed copy
A probate solicitor
Varies by firm
Firms publish their prices; the application fee is on top
What Does Probate Actually Cost?
"Probate" is the legal authority an executor needs to deal with a deceased person's estate — to close accounts, sell property, and distribute what's left. Getting that grant of probate can cost anything from a few hundred pounds to tens of thousands, and the difference comes down almost entirely to who does the work, not the grant itself.
There are two ways to get the grant.
1. Applying Yourself
Executors are entitled to apply for probate themselves. The only unavoidable cost is the HMCTS application fee: £526 where the estate is worth more than £5,000, and nothing if it is £5,000 or less. Sealed copies of the grant ordered with the application are £2 each. The trade-off is that the valuation, any inheritance tax forms and the application are on you. The application fee rose from £300 to £526 on 13 July 2026.
2. A Probate Solicitor
A solicitor can apply for the grant and deal with the whole estate, or just obtain the grant and leave the rest to you. No official body publishes what solicitors charge, and firms price in different ways: fixed fees, hourly rates, or occasionally a percentage of the estate. What you can rely on is that firms offering to administer an uncontested estate in the UK must publish their prices on their website under the SRA Transparency Rules, so you can compare them. The application fee is charged on top.
These Costs Come Out of the Estate, Not Your Pocket
The application fee and any solicitor's fees are a legitimate expense of the estate. Whoever pays them upfront is reimbursed from the estate before anything is distributed to beneficiaries.
When It's Worth Speaking to a Solicitor
Solicitors commonly take on estates with a property to sell or transfer, inheritance tax to pay, a will that is unclear or missing, a disagreement between family members, a business, a trust or assets abroad, and estates where the executor simply does not have the time. Speak to a regulated probate solicitor for free, with no obligation. They'll be in touch within 48 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does probate cost in the UK?
Applying yourself costs the HMCTS application fee: £526 where the estate is worth more than £5,000, and nothing if it is £5,000 or less, plus £2 for each sealed copy of the grant ordered with the application. A solicitor charges for their work on top of that. No official body publishes a typical solicitor's fee, but firms offering to administer an uncontested estate in the UK must publish their prices on their website.
What is the probate application fee in England and Wales?
The HMCTS probate application fee is £526 where the estate is worth more than £5,000. There is no fee if the estate is £5,000 or less. Sealed copies of the grant ordered with the application cost £2 each. The fee is the same whether you apply yourself or a solicitor applies for you; a solicitor's charge is on top of it. It rose from £300 to £526 on 13 July 2026.
Are probate costs paid out of my own pocket?
Not usually. Probate costs, the application fee and any solicitor's fees, are normally paid from the estate itself as an estate expense. Whoever pays them upfront is reimbursed from the estate before it is distributed to beneficiaries.
How much do solicitors charge for probate?
There is no official figure. Firms charge in different ways: a fixed fee, an hourly rate, or occasionally a percentage of the estate, and some offer a grant-only service where they obtain the grant and you do the rest. Under the SRA Transparency Rules, firms offering to administer an uncontested estate in the UK must publish their prices on their website, so you can compare them. Ask exactly what is included before instructing anyone. Farra can put you in touch with one. Speak to a regulated probate solicitor for free, with no obligation. They'll be in touch within 48 hours.
Can I get probate myself without a solicitor?
Yes. Executors are entitled to apply to HMCTS directly, and many straightforward estates are handled that way. Doing it yourself costs the £526 application fee (or nothing for estates of £5,000 or less) and any sealed copies. The trade-off is that you complete the valuation, any inheritance tax forms and the application yourself.
Is this probate cost calculator free?
Yes. It is free, needs no sign-up, and runs entirely in your browser; nothing you enter is stored or shared. Enter a rough estate value and the number of sealed copies to see what applying yourself costs.
Does every estate need probate?
No. Probate is not always required, for example where assets are jointly owned and pass automatically to a survivor, or where balances are small enough that banks release them without a grant. Where probate is not needed, there is no application fee to pay.
Sources
- GOV.UK — Applying for probate: fees. Application fee £526 where the estate is over £5,000; £0 if £5,000 or less; sealed copies ordered with the application £2 each.
- SRA Transparency Rules, rule 1.3(b): price publication for administering uncontested estates in the UK.
This is general information, not financial or legal advice. Always confirm a firm's fees in writing before instructing them.