HM Courts and Tribunals Service proposes to raise the fee for obtaining a grant of probate from £300 to £526 on 13th July 2026. BSG Solicitors is already seeing increased interest from families wanting to submit applications ahead of that date. If you are currently dealing with a loved one's estate, acting now could save you more than £200.
What is changing and when?
From 13th July 2026, the flat fee for applying for a grant of probate in England and Wales rises from £300 to £526, subject to parliamentary approval. That is an increase of more than 75%.
The Ministry of Justice says the rise reflects the true cost of running the probate service and funds investment in a faster, more modern system.
Why we expect a rush
We have seen this before. In 2019 a proposed fee increase triggered a surge in applications ahead of the deadline. Processing times lengthened considerably as a result, with some families waiting months rather than weeks for their grant to be issued.
We expect the same pattern to repeat itself this time. With less than three weeks until 13th July, if you are in this position, time genuinely is of the essence.
What is a grant of probate?
When someone dies, their executor usually needs a grant of probate before banks, pension providers, investment platforms and property related organisations will release funds or transfer ownership. It is the legal authority that allows the estate to be administered and distributed to beneficiaries.
Applying for that grant means paying a court fee to HM Courts and Tribunals Service. From 13th July, that fee rises to £526.
One small piece of good news
While the application fee is rising sharply, the cost of obtaining certified copies of the grant is actually falling, provided you request them at the same time as your application. Copies currently cost £16 each. From 13th July, copies requested alongside the application will cost just £2 each.
This matters because banks, pension providers and other institutions typically each require their own sealed copy. Requesting everything you need at the point of application rather than returning for more later will save money as well as time.
Talk to our team today
If you are dealing with an estate and want to understand whether you can submit before 13th July, please get in touch with our private client team as soon as possible. We will let you know honestly whether the deadline is achievable and make sure nothing is rushed in a way that could cause problems further down the line.
If you are at an earlier stage, we are happy to talk through the process, the costs involved, and how we can help you and your family through what is rarely a straightforward time.
