Probate Quotes: How much can we save you? It costs nothing to find out.

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.

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

Probate Quotes                    Probate Disputes

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.

I am the sole executor and a major beneficiary in a will that names 15 other beneficiaries and I have a question about Deeds of Variation.I would like to make a deed of variation so that my inheritance passes either directly to my children or to my grandchildren.  As I understand it that means that my estate would not be liable for any Inheritance Tax if I died within 7 years.I have not discussed this with them yet as I want to know if it is possible to do this before I talk to them.If I make the variation when I send the distribution account to all of the beneficiaries would I show myself as the beneficiary or those named in the deed of variation?

Deed of Variation Disclosure Answer.

The most common reason for Deeds of Variation is, as you say, to legally avoid unnecessary Inheritance Tax.Too often, people’s Last Wills are not kept up to date and already wealthy children inherit money they have no need for from their parents, when their children and grandchildren are in genuine need of help with massive mortgages, school or university fees to pay.Creating a variation to under age children is more complex than a standard variation as it means that trusts have to be created.As far as the distribution account, it should reflect the actual situation, but if you don’t want to tell others, use the deed of variation immediately after you have distributed to the other beneficiaries. In other words, there is no reason that anyone other than your intended beneficiaries even knows you have made the Deed of Variation (apart from us and HMRC of course!) So in general, there is no requirement for deed of variation disclosure except to the Taxman where it affects Tax, normally IHT or capital gains tax.I have had a word with Deed of Variation and tax planning solicitor and it is likely that we would charge just our basic fee for such a variation.Main Deed of Variation page.

Probate Quotes: How much can we save you? It costs nothing to find out.

We find that working with professionals who mirror our friendly and cooperative approach to dealing with an estate after death often results in reduced probate costs / probate fees of around 75% less though it may be more or occasionally less – as well as being a great relief to family executors who don’t really have the experience of a probate lawyer. In the end, both executors and beneficiaries can lose out – which may result in probate claims rather than low probate administration fees. Rushing off to the nearest high street solicitor may result in excessive bills and non-expert staff.We have seen cases where folk have tried to avoid probate lawyers costs and accidentally triggered needless 6 figure tax charges in Last Wills designed to save tax!If you do feel that you need some help, our job is to keep the cost of probate fees as low as possible. Contact us to find out how to reduce probate costs.Using The Probate Department to reduce probate costs after a death will probably save thousands of pounds will be available for the benefit of your chosen beneficiaries if we help you to cut probate costs.

Check out the Assisted Probate Service.

This is pretty much the best way to reduce probate costs, but still have access to professional assistance – as much or as little as you wish. Just pay for the time needed – their is a £250 deposit, but if that isn’t used up, the balance will be returned. We invented the concept and persuaded one of our contacts to implement it, which some success, I am pleased to sayAssisted Probate Service page.

Let us help you to Cut Probate Costs.

Our contacts fees are based on a simple hourly rate in most cases.  They will quote a flat fee based on full disclosure of the case, if that is your preference. They will deal with as much or as little of the probate work needed to wind up the estate as you wish.  The more work the family does, the lower the probate costs!In terms of additional hidden charges, they only charge for significant things which they have to pay out.  They don’t charge for letters or phone calls (though they might if they are overseas!) or or stamps, or £35 per letter or email.  They will charge for Court Fees, Registrars fees, and specialist work like conveyancing and mileage. More on “disbursements.”In the vast majority of cases, discussions can take place on the phone, email reduces costs if appropriate and the post is very useful.If you haven’t had a quote for probate from the executors appointed in your Will and they are professionals – you should obtain one immediately before it is too late, you are dead and they are in sole charge – and it is too late to renegotiate the fees!  All you can do is ask them to resign, but they won’t resign if they have started work. Some charge a “responsibility allowance” of as much as 1.5% plus VAT of the entire value of your estate. Plus their hourly rate which could be twice that of the firms we recommend.If you have appointed ludicrously expensive professionals (they aren’t all!) or (worse) banks, why not contact us immediately and we can assist you to set up a Codicil to put your family back in charge, and able to negotiate cut probate costs (preferably through us!)  You can still use the same bank or solicitors, but the family will appoint them after death and the family will then be in charge, not the professionals.For friendly professional probate help contact us here and reduce probate costs.

Cut Probate Costs and save thousands.

Over the last 10 years, DIY Probate has taken market share from solicitors.In 2011, nearly 16,000 people whose Last Wills came up for probate didn’t appoint an executor to sort out the estate, or appointed  executors who were unwilling or unable to get involved, say the latest data from the Probate Service. This is a 5% worse than 2010. More on Probate Disputes.  Probate Claim Checker.Kevin Cole, Head of Research at Title Research seemed to think this indicated a need for greater regulation of Will Writers, but we can’t see the relevance and think he was just jumping on a bandwagon.   The real problem is two fold:1)      People writing DIY Wills and2)      Wills not being reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that the executors (and everything else) remain appropriate.   What is relevant when you are 20 or 40 or 60 won’t be the same 20 years later, and may change within months.  We are great fans of the system at Will Custodian Ltd, which is designed to prevent this problem, as well as the problem of Lost Wills.  Will Custodian also offer a Will Checking Service to new members.

DIY  Probate.

The 2011 statistics also show that 86,470 grants of probate were issued to private individuals, mostly doing DIY Probate.Mr Cole said: “The Legal Services Board’s plans to regulate estate administration will not affect the thousands of people who don’t use a probate service provider to administer an estate. The risks of mistakes will remain with complex DIY probate such as undervaluing the estate, under paying tax or missing out entitled heirs.”That is why we offer our hand holding service at the Probate Department Ltd – we recognise that many people do want to cut costs and DIY probate.  But we also understand that most of them would like a little help here and there and maybe for a quick check at the end.  Unlike most probate firms, we’re happy to do as little as 15 minutes work, and we charge by the minute, not in units of 6 minutes which can substantially increase fees.   Nor do we charge a percentage of the value of the gross estate as a “responsibility allowance.”Solicitors share of the probate market  has dropped by 30% between 2006 and 2010. In 2011 that decline has slowed with 148 more solicitor grants being issued than in 2010.  Grants to individuals for DIY Probate remained at the same level for the period.The Probate Department Ltd offers a range of services from doing everything to helping for 15 minutes.  And our fees are VERY sensible.  Why not give us a call?

DIY Probate

Our friendly and co-operative approach to dealing with an estate after death typically results in a cut of probate fees of 75%  or even more.  As well as being a great relief to family executors who don’t really have the time or experience to carry out the work of probate efficiently. In the end both executors and beneficiaries can lose out – which may result in probate claims rather than low probate fees.We have seen cases where folk have tried to avoid probate fees and and accidentally triggered needless £100,000 plus tax charges in Last Wills specifically designed to save inheritance tax!If you do feel that you need some help, our job is to keep probate fees as low as possible. Please do contact us to find out how to cut probate fees.Using The Probate Department to cut probate fees after a death will probably mean many extra thousands of pounds will be available for the benefit of your chosen beneficiaries if we help you to cut probate fees.

Probate Quotes: How much can we save you? It costs nothing to find out.

what to do when someone diesOur probate fees are based on a simple hourly rate in most cases.  We will quote a flat fee based on full disclosure of the case, if that is your preference. We will deal with as much or as little of the probate work needed to wind up the estate as you wish.  The more work the family do, the lower the probate fees! At least, as long as it is correct ;-)In terms of hidden charges, we just charge for significant things which we have to pay out.  We don’t charge extra for letters or phone calls (we might charge if they are overseas!) or stamps.  We will charge for Court Fees, Registrars fees, conveyancing and mileage etc.   We charge by the minute so 6 one minute calls are charged as 6 minutes, not 6 units of time (each unit being 6 minutes!) as many firms do.   We don’t charge £45 for a letter which takes 5 minutes to send – we charge for 5 minutes.   It always pays to read the small print.Provided you are within reasonable reach of our main bases in Hastings, Eastbourne, Burgess Hill  and Worthing we can easily come to see you to get the details, and we have representatives in most areas of England and Wales.  And that can be outside of office hours if that makes life easier.If you haven’t had a quote for probate fees from any professional executors appointed in your Will  – you should obtain one immediately, before it is too late, you are dead and they are left in sole charge.  It is then far too late to renegotiate the fees!  Solicitors often charge a “responsibility allowance” of as much as 1.5% of the entire value of your estate.  Plus their hourly probate fee rate which could be three times ours.If you have appointed ludicrously expensive solicitors (they aren’t all!) or (worse) banks, why not contact us immediately for a Codicil to put your family back in charge, and able to negotiate sensible probate fees (preferably with us!)  You can still use the same bank or solicitors – if you wish.  But the family will appoint them after death and the family will then be in charge, not the professionals.  And if the don’t like the probate fees or their work rate, they are able to change.Contact us to cut probate fees here.

Cut Probate Fees