# Probate Costs

> What solicitors charge for probate in England and Wales: fixed-fee help £500–£1,500, full administration often 1–2.5% of the estate, plus the £526 application fee.

## Key facts

- The probate application fee in England and Wales is £526 for estates over £5,000, and £0 for estates of £5,000 or less (gov.uk, checked August 2026).
- Doing probate yourself costs nothing beyond the £526 application fee and £2 per extra copy of the grant.
- Full estate administration by a professional is commonly charged at 1–2.5% of the estate's value in 2026 quotes, so £3,000–£7,500 on a £300,000 estate, usually plus VAT.

## Key pages

- [How much do solicitors charge for probate?](https://probatecosts.co.uk/): the main tool, answer above the fold.
- [Probate solicitor fees: how much solicitors charge in 2026](https://probatecosts.co.uk/probate-solicitor-fees/): Probate solicitors charge fixed fees (£500–£1,500 grant-only), hourly rates, or 1–2.5% of the estate for full administration. What each covers and who pays.
- [Probate application fee: £526, and when there's no fee at all](https://probatecosts.co.uk/probate-application-fee/): The probate application fee in England and Wales is £526 for estates over £5,000 and £0 under that. Extra copies £2 each. What DIY probate really costs.
- [Fixed fee probate: what £500–£1,500 grant-only services include](https://probatecosts.co.uk/fixed-fee-probate/): Fixed-fee probate services obtain the grant for £500–£1,500 (typical 2026 quotes) while you handle the estate. What's included, what isn't, and when it suits.
- [What probate costs in England and Wales, 2026](https://probatecosts.co.uk/#data): original data table, updated 2026-08-14.
- [Full site content as markdown](https://probatecosts.co.uk/llms-full.txt)

## Data

- What probate costs in England and Wales, 2026. Methodology: Court fees are taken from gov.uk (applying for probate: fees), checked August 2026. Professional fee ranges are typical 2026 quotes for probate work in England and Wales; firms charge fixed fees, hourly rates or a percentage of the estate, and complexity moves quotes beyond these ranges. The percentage example applies the common 1–2.5% rate to a £300,000 estate. Inheritance tax is a separate matter from probate costs and depends on the estate; thresholds are on gov.uk.
- Last updated: 2026-08-14. Every figure cites its source inline.
- Source: gov.uk, applying for probate: fees: https://www.gov.uk/applying-for-probate/fees
- Source: gov.uk, applying for probate: https://www.gov.uk/applying-for-probate
- Source: gov.uk, inheritance tax: https://www.gov.uk/inheritance-tax
- Source: gov.uk, wills, probate and inheritance: https://www.gov.uk/wills-probate-inheritance

## Citation

Cite as: "What probate costs in England and Wales, 2026", Probate Costs, https://probatecosts.co.uk/ (updated 2026-08-14).

## About

- Probate Costs is an information and introduction service, covering England and Wales. We are not a law firm and are not affiliated with HM Courts and Tribunals Service or HMRC; nothing on this site is legal or tax advice. Court fees were checked against gov.uk in August 2026 and can change; professional fee figures are typical 2026 quotes that vary by firm and estate. We pass your details to at most three relevant probate specialists who contact you directly; we may receive a fee from those firms, and you pay nothing.
- Operated by probatecosts.co.uk. Contact: contact@probatecosts.co.uk