Probate Fees Increase to £526 – But Are Executors Getting Better Value?

From 13 July 2026, the probate application fee increased from £300 to £526, representing one of the largest increases in recent years. The Ministry of Justice has stated that the increase reflects inflation and the cost of maintaining an “ever-improving service”.

For executors and beneficiaries, however, the key question is whether the significant increase in fees is matched by improvements to the probate service.

The increase is particularly notable given that the probate fee stood at £273 until May 2024, rose to £300, and now stands at £526. In little over two years, the fee has increased by almost 93%.

The latest HMCTS management information suggests that performance has improved considerably since the delays experienced during and after the pandemic. In May 2026, the average time from submission of a probate application to the issue of a grant was 6 weeks across all applications, falling to 4.1 weeks for digital applications. The average time from document upload to grant issue was 5 weeks overall and 2.9 weeks for digital applications. HMCTS also processed over 24,000 probate applications and issued almost 22,000 grants during the month, demonstrating the volume of work being handled by the Probate Registry.

However, those headline figures do not tell the whole story.

While straightforward digital applications are now being processed relatively quickly, many estates involve issues that make the application more complex. These may include unusual wills, foreign assets, non-domicile status, questions over inheritance tax reporting, missing documentation, or HMCTS requisitions requiring further information. The HMCTS data shows that applications which are “stopped” for further investigation take significantly longer to process. In May 2026, stopped digital applications took an average of 13.7 weeks from submission to grant, more than three times longer than the overall average for digital applications. Many practitioners are finding that these are actually taking up to at least 52 weeks.

This reflects what many probate practitioners continue to experience in practice. Whilst routine applications are generally progressing much faster than a few years ago, complex estates can still encounter substantial delays. For executors attempting to sell property, access estate funds or make interim distributions, these delays can have significant financial consequences.

The Government has justified the increase in fees on the basis that it supports a modern and efficient probate service, and there is evidence that processing times have improved. Nevertheless, clients dealing with more complex estates may question whether a fee of £526 represents good value when applications requiring additional scrutiny can still take several months to progress.

For executors, the message remains clear: careful preparation of probate applications and early advice on any unusual aspects of the estate can help reduce the risk of delays. Whilst HMCTS has undoubtedly improved processing times for straightforward applications, complex estates continue to face a very different reality.

If you need specialist advice on probate or estate administration, our experienced Wills & Probate team is here to help. Contact us today on 0330 822 3451 to speak with one of our solicitors, or alternatively, request a call back.