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Increase in Probate Fees from April 2019

7th November 2018

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by Sam Bodger

Please note, the information in this story has been superseded. Please read our up to date article on this subject here. 

On 5th November 2018, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Justice Lucy Frazer QC MP announced an increase in probate fees. In England and Wales, probate fees – the charge paid for administering someone’s estate after they die – will now be paid on a sliding scale depending on how much the estate is worth, beginning in April 2019.

Before the 2017 General Election, the Government had planned to change the way that probate fees were structured, moving from a flat fee to a sliding scale that maxed out at £20,000 for estates over £2 million. After the loss of their majority in Parliament, these plans were dropped and probate fees remained at £215 for all estates over £5,000, or £155 if the application was made through a solicitor.

This time, the fees that will be payable are lower than those proposed last time, with a maximum fee of £6,000 for estates valued at over £2 million. While this is significantly lower than the £20,000 originally proposed, it still represents a large increase from the £215 fee that would currently be charged.

However, for estates worth less than £50,000, there will be no charge at all, which the Government has stated will lift around 25,000 estates annually out of fees altogether but if the estate’s value is higher, there will be an increase in probate fees. Estates worth between £50,000 and £300,000 will now be charged £250.

How Much Will the Increase in Probate Fees be?

The new increase in probate fees will depend on the value of the estate, a breakdown can be seen below.

Value of the Estate New Fee  Difference to Current System
Less than £5,000 Free No change
From £5,000 up to £50,000 Free Saving of £215
From £50,000 up to £300,000 £250 Increase of £35
From £300,000 up to £500,000 £750 Increase of £535
From £500,000 up to £1 million £2,500 Increase of £2,285
From £1 million up to £1.6 million £4,000 Increase of £3,785
From £1.6 million up to £2 million £5,000 Increase of £4,785
More than £2 million £6,000 Increase of £5,785

What the Government Say

In a written statement to Parliament, Lucy Frazer MP said: “This new banded fee model represents a fair and more progressive way to pay for probate services compared to the current flat fee and reflects our commitment to protecting access to justice by ensuring we have a properly funded and resourced courts system.

“We are also confident these fees will never be unaffordable. The cost of the fee is recoverable from the estate and executors have several options to fund it. Moreover, the Lord Chancellor retains a power to remit a fee if he considers there are exceptional circumstances.”

Find Out More

Find out more information about our probate services here.

Read our guide to administration of estates here.

Read the Government’s official announcement here.

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