The cost of applying for probate in the United Kingdom is set to increase by 75%, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from consumer advocates and legal professionals who argue it will place an undue burden on grieving families. Effective July 13, the fee for applying for probate will rise from £300 to £526, an increase of £226, according to the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).
Probate documents are necessary to grant authority to deal with a deceased person's estate. Individuals must pay this application fee if the estate is valued at over £5,000; smaller estates are exempt. The MoJ stated that the increased fee is intended to recover the costs of an "ever-improving service" and accounts for inflation and investment in a more efficient system.
This is the second fee increase in recent years. In 2024, when Rishi Sunak was Prime Minister, the probate fee rose from £273 to £300. Unlike the previous increase, which followed a public consultation, the current 75% hike has not undergone a similar public review.
Consumer rights expert Scott Dixon described the increase as "shocking" and "exploitative of grieving families" during an already stressful period. He expressed skepticism that the fee hike justifies improvements to a probate system that has historically suffered from delays and backlogs. Probate allows executors to manage bank accounts, settle debts, and distribute assets. Co-op Legal Services reports that approximately half of all families require probate after a death.
Some probate solicitors anticipate a surge in applications before the July 13 deadline to avoid the higher fee. A minor adjustment will be introduced simultaneously: the fee for requesting copies of probate documents alongside an application will decrease from £16 to £2. Previously, the cost for obtaining copies of grants, wills, and letters of administration had seen a substantial increase, rising from £1.50 to £16 in late 2025.
Reports suggest that some bereaved families continue to experience hardship and disruptions, such as falling house sales, due to ongoing probate delays. A 2024 report presented to Parliament criticized the government's probate service for being error-prone and understaffed.
In response, an MoJ spokesman emphasized the importance of a "smooth, swift, and simple" probate service during a difficult time. He reiterated that the new fee reflects the full cost of an improving service, which he claimed enables disputes to be resolved in as little as two weeks. The spokesman added that fee increases are a last resort and that financial assistance is available through a "help with fees" scheme for those most in need. Some households may also face fines from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) if inheritance tax bills are not settled within the required timelines, typically by the end of the sixth month after a death, with inheritance tax returns due within 12 months.
Sarah Coles, head of personal finance at AJ Bell, criticized the fee increase as "adding insult to injury" for families already dealing with complex post-death administration. Laura Bywater, a partner at JMW Solicitors, expressed hope that the fee increase would translate into tangible service improvements at the Probate Registry, citing current lengthy waiting times for applications. HM Courts and Tribunals Service stated that investments in staffing and systems have more than halved the time taken to resolve probate cases since 2023.