If you've been putting off applying for probate, now may be the time to act.

Probate fees are increasing significantly, with the UK Government raising the fee for probate applications from £300 to £526 from Monday 13th July 2026.

That represents a 75% increase, adding an extra £226 to the cost of obtaining a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration.

For many families already dealing with the financial and emotional impact of losing a loved one, this increase comes as an unwelcome additional expense.

In this guide, we'll explain exactly what the probate fee increase means, who will be affected, and whether you can avoid paying the higher fee.

Irom Monday 13th July 2026, the Government's application fee for probate will increase as follows:

Before 13 July 2026               From 13 July 2026
             £300                                     £526

This applies to applications for:

• Grant of Probate (where there is a Will)
• Letters of Administration (where there is no Will)

The increase applies regardless of the size of the estate.

The Government has announced the increase as part of wider changes to court and tribunal fees.

Unlike Inheritance Tax, probate fees are administrative court fees charged for processing probate applications.

Although the actual work involved in processing an application has not changed significantly, applicants will now pay considerably more to obtain the legal authority needed to administer an estate.

The increase affects anyone who needs to apply for probate after 13th July 2026, including:

• Executors named in a Will
• Family members applying where there is no Will

Potentially, yes.

If you are ready to submit your probate application before the new fees take effect, you may still be able to pay the current fee of £300.

However, simply starting the paperwork is unlikely to be enough.

You will usually need to have:

• gathered the estate information
• completed the relevant probate application
• paid any Inheritance Tax due (where applicable)
• submitted your application before the new fee comes into force.

Leaving everything until the last minute could mean missing the deadline and paying the increased fee.

If you are struggling to pay the application fee of £300 (current cost) for your probate or letters of administration application, you might be able to claim for Help With Fees which means the fees are waived. 

This waiver is offered by the Government for cases where applicants for court services & fees such as probate are waivered if you are on a low or variable income (including self-employment) or are in receipt of certain benefits. 

We can help you claim this waiver. Find out more about this here.

If you need help getting your Probate Application ready to submit, or accessing the Help With Fees waiver for probate application fees, give the Let's Do Probate team a call on 0330 229 0319 , and we’ll be happy to help. You can schedule a free timed call to suit you, using our online booking system here