Probate Fees Hike
8th November 2018
The government is to push ahead with plans to change the fees for applying for probate, which will see many executors faced with funding significantly higher fees in order to obtain probate to enable them to administer the estate. The changes, which are planned to come in from next April, will see the introduction of a banded system based on the value of the estate. Small estates of up to £50,000 will face no fees but those estates of over £2m will face a cost of £6,000 instead of the current modest fee of £215 (or £155 if the application is made by an solicitor or authorised accountant). The plans are subject to a period of consultation but are set to apply from 1st April 2019. The fees will need to be paid up front before the issue of the grant of probate – so executors will need to fund the payment themselves or arrange for banks to release funds in advance of the issue of the grant.
Full details of the proposed fees are as follows:
| Size of Estate | Fee |
| 0 to £50,000 | Nil |
| £50,000 to £300,000 | £250 |
| £300,000 to £500,000 | £750 |
| £500,000 to £1m | £2,500 |
| £1m to £1.6m | £4,000 |
| £1.6m to £2m | £5,000 |
| Above £2m | £6,000 |
Disclaimer - All information in this post was correct at time of writing.
