Detailed guide
The current court fee
The current court fee for probate applications in England and Wales is:
- **£300** if the value of the estate is over **£5,000**
- **no application fee** if the estate is **£5,000 or less**
These are the court application fees, not the total cost of administering an estate.
Extra copies and later applications
There are a couple of other costs people often miss.
- extra copies of the probate document cost **£16 each**
- if probate has already been granted, a second application costs **£21**
That second application point matters in some multi-executor estates, for example where someone later applies after previously holding power reserved.
What the probate fee does not cover
The court fee is only one line in the wider estate cost picture.
Other costs can include:
- certified copies of the death certificate
- valuation fees for property or specialist assets
- legal or tax advice where needed
- conveyancing costs on property sales or transfers
- notices, searches, or other administration expenses
That is why it helps to separate the court fee from the wider cost of administering the estate.
Who usually pays the fee
The fee is typically an estate administration cost.
In practice, the person applying may need to make the payment at the application stage, but the cost is usually treated as an estate expense rather than a personal gift to the estate.
That said, cash flow can still be awkward in the early stages, especially if estate money is not yet accessible.
Help with fees
Some applicants may be able to get help with fees depending on income or benefits.
That is separate from the probate decision itself. It is about whether the applicant may qualify for help with the court fee.
The mistakes people make around probate costs
The most common cost misunderstandings are:
- assuming the probate fee is the whole cost of the estate process
- forgetting to budget for extra copies where several institutions need to see the grant
- not thinking about cash flow before the estate funds are accessible
- ignoring the wider record-keeping needed to show what has been paid and why
This is one reason it helps to keep probate fees in the same record as the rest of the estate expenses.
Using Estate Suite to track costs properly
Estate Suite is most useful here when the probate fee sits alongside:
- the supporting application record
- any extra copy costs
- related court or adviser costs
- the wider estate expense record that will feed into final estate accounts
That makes it easier to explain later why the estate paid what it did.
Good next steps
- Read How to Apply for Probate in England and Wales if you are about to submit the application.
- Read How Long Does Probate Take? Typical Timelines if you are trying to understand the wider process around the fee.
- Read Keeping Accurate Estate Accounts and Estate Records if you want the costs to feed cleanly into the final accounts.
FAQ
How much is the probate application fee?
The current fee in England and Wales is £300 where the estate is worth more than £5,000. There is no application fee where the estate is £5,000 or less.
How much are extra copies of the grant?
GOV.UK currently lists extra copies at £16 each.
Is the probate fee the full cost of administering an estate?
No. Valuations, property work, notices, tax advice, legal advice, and other administration costs are separate.
