The cost of applying for probate in England and Wales is set to increase again in July 2026, with the Ministry of Justice confirming substantial fee changes across more than 170 HM Courts and Tribunals Service services.
The changes, which are intended to reflect inflation and help fund improvements to court and tribunal services, will have an impact on executors and families.
Probate application fee increasing from £300 to £526
The probate application fee for estates worth over £5,000 is currently £300 and is set to rise to £526, representing an increase of 75.33%. According to the Ministry of Justice, the revised fee is designed to “recover the cost of an ever-improving service” and reflects both rising inflation and continued investment in creating a more efficient and modern probate system.
Cost of probate copies slashed by 87.5%
While the application fee for grants is increasing sharply, there is some positive news when to obtaining copies of the grant from the Probate Registry. The cost for this service is set to decrease from £16 to £2.
The change effectively reverses the controversial fee increase introduced in November 2025, when the cost of obtaining copies rose from £1.50 to £16, a dramatic increase of almost 967%.
When will the new probate fees take effect?
The fee changes took effect from 13 July and apply to probate applications and probate copy requests submitted on or after that date.
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Audio versions of this article are autogenerated and occasional errors in interpretation may be made. The content of this article is for general information only. It is not, and should not be taken as, legal advice. If you require any further information in relation to this article, please contact the author in the first instance. Law covered as at July 2026.