Please note: We offer a low-cost fixed fee Probate service for England and Wales. Call 01793 764 486 for details.

What is Probate?

When someone dies, the process of gaining Probate will establish ownership of an estate before the tax is paid and the assets distributed. Gaining probate is the responsibility of the executors of a Will, who will often appoint a professional firm to handle Probate administraiton and to take on the responsibility for these assets. Probate is still required where there is no Will.

Is a Grant of Probate always needed?

When a grant is needed

A grant of Probate will be required when the person who dies leaves one or more of the following:

- £5,000

- stocks or shares

- certain insurance policies

- property or land held in their own name or as ‘tenants in common’

In most cases above, the bank or relevant institution will need to see the grant before transferring control of the assets.

When a grant may not be needed

A grant of representation may not be needed where:

- the person who died left less than £5,000

- they owned everything jointly with someone else and everything passes automatically to the surviving joint owner

How much does it cost to gain probate?

Normally people engage a solicitor to wind up an estate, a process which can be complex. Costs start at £2,000-£3,000 and can rise sharply depending on what is involved. A more common fee is in the £5,000 region so you’d be advised to look into Solicitors fees and gain quotes before proceeding.