The rising cost of probate copies and what families need to know

While the application fee for a grant of probate in England and Wales remains unchanged, the cost of obtaining official copies of the grant has increased sharply and can come as an unwelcome surprise.

The fee for each additional copy of the grant of probate has risen from £1.50 to £16. Multiple copies are often required so that banks, pension providers and other organisations can be contacted at the same time, rather than sequentially.

Where someone has died without leaving a will, the process is similar but involves applying for letters of administration instead of a grant of probate. The same increased copy costs apply.

There is no fixed rule on how many copies will be needed, as each institution sets its own requirements. Banks and building societies, pension and insurance providers, share registrars, local authorities dealing with council tax and management companies for leasehold properties may all request an official copy.

In practice, it is common for executors to need several copies. Ten copies would now cost £160, in addition to the £300 probate application fee. No application fee is payable for very small estates valued at £5,000 or less, although copy charges still apply.

While many estates can be administered without professional support, there are situations where specialist advice is strongly recommended. These include cases involving inheritance tax, particularly where assets are difficult to value or reliefs apply, unclear or homemade wills where executors may be personally liable for errors, and estates where a claim against the will is likely from a spouse, former partner or child.

Additional complexity can arise where assets are held in trust, children under 18 are beneficiaries, or the deceased owned a business.

For those involved in a probate application, the government’s step-by-step guidance provides a useful starting point and is available here.