Guide
Probate solicitor fees: how much solicitors charge in 2026
Updated
Solicitors charge for probate in three ways, and the difference between them matters more than the difference between firms. Here is how each works, with honest numbers, so quotes make sense when they arrive.
The three charging models
- Fixed fee, grant only
- The firm prepares and submits the probate application; you gather the figures and deal with the estate afterwards. Typically £500–£1,500 in 2026 quotes, plus the £526 court fee. The right fit for straightforward estates with a willing executor.
- Hourly rates
- Common for full administration at many firms, with the final bill depending on how much work the estate turns out to need. Ask for the hourly rate, who will actually do the work, and a written estimate of total hours before instructing; a wide estimate is normal, no estimate is not.
- Percentage of the estate
- Full administration commonly comes to 1–2.5% of the estate's value in 2026 quotes, sometimes structured as value bands. On a £300,000 estate that is £3,000–£7,500. Some firms combine a lower percentage with hourly charges; ask for the total both ways on your numbers.
What full administration actually includes
- Valuing the estate and preparing the inheritance tax forms, whether or not tax is due.
- Obtaining the grant, then collecting in bank accounts, investments and property sale proceeds.
- Paying debts and any tax, preparing estate accounts, and distributing to the beneficiaries.
- Carrying the legal responsibility for getting it right, which is a real part of what the fee buys, particularly where executors are anxious about personal liability.
Quiet facts worth knowing before you compare quotes
- Fees are usually quoted excluding VAT, currently 20%; a 2% fee is 2.4% after VAT. Always ask for the VAT-inclusive total.
- Fees are normally paid from the estate, not from your own pocket, once funds are available.
- You do not have to use the firm that holds the will, and you are free to move if a quote feels high.
- A percentage fee on a large, simple estate (one house, one bank account) can be poor value against a fixed or hourly quote; the reverse can be true for messy estates. Compare on your actual numbers.
All professional fee figures are typical 2026 quotes and vary by firm and estate; court fees are official gov.uk figures. If you'd like real numbers rather than ranges, a couple of quotes cost nothing and carry no obligation.