2025 Current Probate Court Fees

Stephen Pett — Thu, 04 Jan 2024 15:28:10 +0000

Having softened us with an even greater potential increase in Probate Court fees 2 years ago, which was squashed, the Treasury is now having another go at raising revenue by increasing those fees even further. But they have now done so, and the increase is not quite as alarming as originally expected, but it does hit lower-value estates harder than large ones. Until further notice, current Probate Court Charges are £300 + £16 (was £1.50 to 17th November 2025) for each extra copy of the grant. Solicitors pay the same now. For estates valued at less than £5,000, there is no fee. If probate has already been granted, it costs £20 to make a second application. For example, if you want to apply as an executor after holding ‘power reserved’ on the first application.

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Probate Registry Fees for Probate Applications

- If probate has already been granted, it costs £21 to make a second application. For example, if you want to apply as an executor after holding ‘power reserved’ on the first application. You’ll have to pay the fee even if the value of the estate is £5,000 or less.
- If you are applying for probate initially, and you have completed a PA1A or PA1P. The application fee is £300.

For example: you have requested 4 official copies in addition. The total fees would be ~~£306. That is £300 + 4 x £1.50.~~ NOW £460!

- If you are only eligible for fee remission (see below) for the £300 application fee only (waiver or refund), then you must pay for the 4 official copies, as the additional fees are not covered by the Help with Fees Scheme. So that would be 4 x £16 = £64

Additional Copies of Grant and Will or Letters of Administration (with Will or not).

Please pay for any official copies you require when applying for probate at the payment stage of the online application OR send a postal order for the value of £16 per copy required or a cheque, made out to ‘HM Courts and Tribunals Service’ and sent to: HMCTS Probate, Scanning Department, PO Box 12625, Harlow, CM20 9QE.

Please send an accompanying note, stating the full name of deceased, date of birth and 16-digit probate reference, if known or write this information on the reverse if sending a cheque.

- For general ‘fee’ queries, please email Probate at co************@*********ov.uk or call Probate on 0300 303 0648 (if you can get through)..

How to pay fees for Probate Applications

If applying by post, include a cheque with the application payable to HMCTS Probate for the full fee, including any copies required. The advantage is that when the cheque clears, you know your application has arrived.
If you forgot to include payment you can send a cheque with your case reference number (failing which, the full name and date of death of the deceased and your details) to HMCTS Probate, Scanning Department, PO Box 12625, Harlow, CM20 9QE. If you don’t have cheque book, you can send a Postal Order or get a cheque from your bank or building society payable HMCTS Probate. OR
You can ring the Probate Registry Helpline 0300 303 0646 with your case reference number (failing which, the full name and date of death of the deceased and your details) and pay by card – IF you can get through.

How to claim Probate Registry Fee Remission – discounts on the full probate fee if you qualify:

The Help with Fees Scheme page on Gov.uk provides information on applying for fee remission for the application fee (up to £273). Please visit Link 1: https://www.gov.uk/applying-for-probate/fees. You can download a form or do it online. If you can’t do that, call 0117 930 2430 and ask for an EX160 form to be sent to you. When complete, it goes to the Newcastle Probate Registry 2nd Floor, Kings Court, Earl Grey Way Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE29 6AR.
For information on the new eligibility criteria for Help with Fees, which took effect on 27^th November 2023, please visit Link 2: https://www.gov.uk/get-help-with-court-fees.

If making an application for Help with Fees online a ‘HWF reference’ will be populated. EXAMPLE: HWF-123-ABC. Please send the reference to the Probate Registry (NOT ME!) at pr*****************@*********ov.uk, along with the Probate application case reference number (16-digit) you have been provided with.
Please note that fee remission applications under the Help with Fees Scheme includes the application fee only, NOT fees for official copies.
You can also complete an EX160 form, which can be emailed to us, along with the Probate application case reference number (16-digit) you have been provided with. Alternatively, you can print off the EX160 form from Link 2, above, and send it to: Newcastle District Probate Registry, 2nd Floor, Kings Court, Earl Grey Way, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE29 6AR.

Probate Court Fees – How Much Are Court Fees? 2023/4

Stephen Pett — Sun, 06 Apr 2014 16:17:33 +0000

Probate Court Fees: Current Rates 2023/4

(Free Guide to what to do on death and or probate advice HERE.)

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Probate Court fee in all cases where the net estate is over £5,000 (ie the amount remaining in the deceased’s sole name after funeral expenses and debts owing have been taken off) (see example 1 below).

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Court fee £273.

Note: Joint assets passing automatically to the surviving joint owner should not be included when calculating the fee.But are you sure you are doing the right thing?If the net estate as above is under £5,000 (see example 2 below) then

Court fee: NO FEE.

Application for a second grant in an estate where a previous grant has been issued.

Court fee: £20.

Additional Copies.Official (sealed) copies of the Grant of Representation if ordered when you lodge your application for a Grant of Representation.

Court fee: £1.50p per copy.

Note: You should decide how many copies you will need and add the cost to your application fee – this will give you the total amount payable. See examples below. It can save you a lot of time when collecting in the deceased’s assets if you have a few extra copies of the grant to produce to the organisations holding the assets.‘Sealed and certified copy’ – if assets are held abroad you may need one or more of these. Please check with the appropriate organisations before ordering.

Court fee: £1.50 per copy (including Will and Grant).

Additional copies (consisting of grant including a copy of the Will, if applicable) ordered after the Grant of Representation has been issuedCourt fee: £10 for first copy then £1.50 per additional copy.You should state the number and type of copies you need on the checklist on page 4 of the PA1 (application form). Please print the name of the deceased person on the back of the cheque. Please ensure you order sufficient copies for your needs, when you send in your application.Please note: appropriate post must be paid. Standard rate postage may not be sufficient. If your forms weigh over 60g they may need to be weighed at your local Post Office.

Probate Court Fee Refunds/Remissions.

If you consider that you would suffer financial hardship if you pay a court fee you can apply for remission (or if you have already paid a fee a refund of that fee or part thereof). If you wish to make such an application you should ask a member of the Registry staff to supply you with form EX160 (including form EX160A). Your application will not processed until the fee is paid (or an application for refund/remission has been successful).

Example 1 of Probate Court fees.

Net estate of £75,000.4 copies of grant at £1.50 each + Fee £273Total Probate Registry Fee £279

Example 2 of Probate Court fees:

Net estate of £2,000.1 copy of grant at £1.50 each = Court Fee Nil = Fee £1.50.Total Probate Registry Fee £1.50.With fees constantly under review, you should always check the fees are correct at that time. Just ring your local Probate Court Office and they will advise you.The Ministry of Justice attempts to justify the increase by saying that in many instances the fees will be met from the estate of the deceased, while fee discounts are available for some who are unable to afford fees.

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