How much are probate fees?

How much does it cost to apply for probate? Here’s what you know to know when applying for probate in England and Wales.

Probate Fees UK England Wales

How much does it cost to apply for probate?

Applying for the legal right to deal with someone’s property, money and possessions (their estate) when they die is called applying for probate.

In England and Wales, the application fee for probate is currently £300 if the value of the estate is £5,000 or over. There’s no fee if the estate is under £5,000.

Extra copies of the probate cost £1.50 each. This means you can send them to different organisations at the same time. If probate has already been granted, it costs £20 to make a second application.

When do you need to apply for probate?

You usually need probate to deal with an estate if it includes property. If there’s no will, you can apply for letters of administration as an administrator and follow the same steps as applying for probate.

You may not need probate if the person who died:

  • had jointly owned land, property, shares or money (these will automatically pass to the surviving owners)
  • only had savings or premium bonds

How do you apply for probate?

If you’re an executor (someone named in the will to manage the deceased’s estate), you can apply for probate in England and Wales yourself, use a solicitor, or appoint another person licensed to provide probate services. In Scotland you apply for confirmation and the process is also different in Northern Ireland.

If there’s inheritance tax to pay, normally you’ll have to pay at least some of it before you’ll be granted probate. You’ll usually receive the grant of probate (or letters of administration) within 4 weeks of sending in your documents.

Apply for probate online

In England and Wales, you can apply for probate online if you’re the executor and you:

  • have the original will to upload
  • have the original death certificate or an interim death certificate from the coroner to upload
  • have already reported the estate’s value for inheritance tax to HMRC

You’ll need to send the original will by post after you submit your online application. No additional copies of the will are required.

Apply for probate by post

If you are applying for probate by post, use these application forms:

Send completed forms with the original will and the death certificate.

See also

Place a deceased estates notice in The Gazette

What are the responsibilities of an executor?

Wills and probate law changes in 2020

Find out more

Applying for probate (GOV.UK)

Applying for confirmation when someone dies (mygov.scot)

Applying for probate (nidirect)

Form PA1P: Apply for probate by post if there is a will (GOV.UK)

Form PA1A: Apply for probate by post if there is not a will (GOV.UK)

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Publication updated

28 August 2024