Latest proposed changes Grant of Probate fees by The Government

Proposed change in Probate fees

A Grant of Probate (or Letters of Administration) gives the Executors of an estate the authority to administer the deceased’s estate. The Government has proposed changing the way in which the fee for making an application for a Grant of Probate is calculated.

Currently there is a flat fee of £215 for a private individual making an application for a Grant of Probate (or the reduced fee of £155 if this application is made by a solicitor). This fee is payable on applications for all estates above £5,000.

The Government is proposing that this fee will now be banded dependent upon the value of the deceased’s estate. Under the new regime, it is proposed that estates worth up to £50,000 will be fee exempt.  If the estate has a value of more than £50,000 then the proposed minimum fee for a Grant of Probate will be £300.  The proposed maximum fee for large estates will be £20,000.

These changes are expected to come into force in May 2017.

The table below gives a full breakdown of the proposed new fees.

Proposed feeValue of estate
£300£50,000 – £300,000
£1,000£300,000-£500,000
£4,000£500,000-£1 million
£8,000£1 million – £1.6 million
£12,000£1.6 million – £2 million
£20,000Estates worth more than £2 million

Please contact our Private Client Dept for more information and advice.

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