Probate fee index
What 1,436 law firms in England and Wales publish that they charge for probate, by kind of work and by how they charge for it. Last rebuilt 7 September 2026.
By kind of work
Fixed fees only, one figure per firm, taken as the lowest that firm publishes for that work. Excludes VAT unless the firm stated otherwise, and excludes court fees and other disbursements.
| What the price covers | Firms | Lowest | Median | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grant of probate only | Firms: 522 | Lowest: £400 | Median: £1,210 | Highest: £30,000 |
| Full estate administration | Firms: 452 | Lowest: £400 | Median: £2,500 | Highest: £36,400 |
| No will (intestacy) | Firms: 68 | Lowest: £400 | Median: £1,500 | Highest: £8,000 |
| Estates paying inheritance tax | Firms: 218 | Lowest: £400 | Median: £2,000 | Highest: £24,341.65 |
| Probate work | Firms: 307 | Lowest: £400 | Median: £2,000 | Highest: £50,000 |
By how firms charge
The three models are different products, and this is the distinction most comparisons lose. A fixed fee prices the work. An hourly rate prices the time, and the rate alone tells you nothing about the bill. A percentage prices the estate, so it rises with the value of a house rather than with the work involved.
| How the firm charges | Firms | Published figures | Middle of the range |
|---|---|---|---|
| A fixed fee for a defined piece of work | Firms: 1,152 | Figures: 2,746 | Median: £1,500 |
| An hourly rate | Firms: 724 | Figures: 1,155 | Median: £240 |
| A percentage of the estate | Firms: 309 | Figures: 386 | Median: £1 |
Using these figures
They are free to quote under CC BY 4.0. Name Probate Panel, link this page, and say the date, because a probate fee figure without a date is worth very little.
Computed from 4,287 published prices on 7 September 2026. Method and limits on the dataset page. Every figure traces to a named firm and the page it was published on.