Probate costs in 2026: England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Court fees for probate and confirmation in each part of the UK, how solicitors charge for estate administration, and when you may not need a grant at all.
Probate solicitors in England: compare fees
To deal with an estate in England, executors usually need a grant of probate (or letters of administration where there is no will) from HM Courts and Tribunals Service. Firms in England and Wales must publish prices for uncontested probate, so a fixed-fee grant-only service is easy to compare against full estate administration.
Compare fees in EnglandChoose your nearest city
- Bath
- Birmingham
- Bradford
- Brighton & Hove
- Bristol
- Cambridge
- Canterbury
- Carlisle
- Chelmsford
- Chester
- Chichester
- Colchester
- Coventry
- Derby
- Doncaster
- Durham
- Ely
- Exeter
- Gloucester
- Hereford
- Hull
- Lancaster
- Leeds
- Leicester
- Lichfield
- Lincoln
- Liverpool
- London
- Manchester
- Milton Keynes
- Newcastle upon Tyne
- Norwich
- Nottingham
- Oxford
- Peterborough
- Plymouth
- Portsmouth
- Preston
- Ripon
- Salford
- Salisbury
- Sheffield
- Southampton
- Southend-on-Sea
- St Albans
- Stoke-on-Trent
- Sunderland
- Truro
- Wakefield
- Wells
- Winchester
- Wolverhampton
- Worcester
- York
Frequently asked questions
How much do probate solicitors in England charge?
Fees are set by each firm and vary with the work involved. Compare fixed fees side by side on Compare Legal, check what each quote includes, and make sure VAT and disbursements are in the total before you choose.
Do I always need probate?
Not always. Small estates, and assets held jointly that pass automatically to the survivor, may not need it. Banks and other holders set their own limits, so check with each one before you apply.
What should a quote include?
The firm's own fee, VAT, and disbursements: the costs the firm pays for you, such as searches, registration fees or court fees. Ask whether the fee is fixed and what would make it go up.