What does probate really cost? Free calculator

Named as the executor? See what probate really costs before you sign anything.

Solicitors typically charge £2,000 to £4,000 for a straightforward estate. Banks take 2 to 4.5% of everything. The court fee itself? £526. Use the free calculator to see all three side by side for your situation.

What is probate really costing you?

Answer four quick questions to compare what this estate would cost with a solicitor, with a bank, and doing it yourself. Takes under a minute. Free, no obligation.

1About the estate

Roughly what is the estate worth in total? (house + savings + everything) Does the estate include a property?

Yes No

2Any quote so far?

If a solicitor or bank has quoted you, how much? (leave blank if none yet)

3Quick complexity check

Tick any that apply to this estate: Inheritance tax is likely to be due (single person estate over £325,000 not left to a spouse, or over £500,000 with the home passing to children) There is a trust involved, or business/agricultural assets Someone is disputing the will or likely to The estate may owe more than it owns There are assets abroad

4Your comparison

Doing it yourself (court fee + copies)

Typical solicitor (full administration)

Bank acting as executor (2 to 4.5% of estate)

Handling it yourself could keep as much as

in the estate, for the people it was meant for

One honest flag before you decide

Get your full personalised breakdown

We will email you this comparison plus The Executor's First Steps guide: what to do in which order, the documents you need, and the mistakes that cause months of delay.

Enter your details in the box just below this calculator and we will send it over.

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About these figures: court fee £526 for estates over £5,000 plus £2 per official copy (gov.uk, from 13 July 2026). Solicitor range reflects typical published fixed fees of £2,000 to £4,000 plus VAT for a straightforward estate, and percentage billing of 1 to 2.5% where used (Law Society guidance and published firm fees, 2026). Bank executor fees typically 2 to 4.5% of the estate. Actual quotes vary. This tool is educational information, not legal advice, and not a quote. Complex estates should take professional advice.

Most estates are more straightforward than you think

Most estates in England and Wales are straightforward: a house, some savings, a will that names you. Around 44% of families now handle probate themselves, up from 39% five years ago. The forms are designed to be completed by ordinary people, and the government's own service walks you through submission. What is missing is confidence: knowing what to do in which order, what the deadlines are, and which mistakes cause months of delay. That is exactly what we teach.

Not every estate should be DIY

If inheritance tax is due, if there is a trust, a dispute, or more debts than assets, professional advice is worth paying for, and the calculator will tell you so plainly. We are an education service, not a law firm, and we would rather send you to a solicitor than sell you the wrong thing.

Probate Kit provides educational information for self-completion, not legal advice or legal services. Figures: gov.uk probate fees (July 2026), Law Society fee guidance, published firm fees. Privacy policy. Contact.

Probate Kit provides educational information for England and Wales, not legal advice. If inheritance tax is due, or the estate involves a trust, a dispute, or more debts than assets, take professional advice.