| Probate application fee (estate over £5,000) | £526 — no VAT (from 13 Jul 2026) | HMCTS Probate Registry | With the application, before the grant issues | Statute ↗4 Sept 2026 |
| Probate application fee (estate £5,000 or under) | £0 — no fee | HMCTS Probate Registry | N/A | Statute ↗4 Sept 2026 |
| Extra sealed copies of the grant, ordered with the application | £2 each — no VAT (from 13 Jul 2026) | HMCTS Probate Registry | With the application | Statute ↗4 Sept 2026 |
| Extra sealed copies of the grant, ordered after it has issued | £16 each — no VAT (from 13 Jul 2026) | HMCTS Probate Registry | Any time after the grant, as institutions need originals | Statute ↗4 Sept 2026 |
| Duplicate or second grant for the same estate | £22 — no VAT (from 13 Jul 2026) | HMCTS Probate Registry | Only if the original grant is lost or a further grant is needed | Statute ↗4 Sept 2026 |
| Death certificate — additional certified copies | £12.50 each standard; £38.50 priority (next working day if ordered by 4pm) — no VAT (from 28 May 2024) | General Register Office / local register office | Throughout administration, as institutions require originals | Statute ↗4 Sept 2026 |
| Section 27 Trustee Act notice — The London Gazette | £96.55 + VAT (£115.86 inc) by web form/template; £131.70 + VAT (£158.04 inc) other channels (2026 tariff) | The Gazette (official public record) | Before distributing — opens the 2-month creditor window | Market ↗4 Sept 2026 |
| Section 27 notice — local newspaper, placed via The Gazette | £240 + VAT (£288 inc), web form/template only (2026 tariff); direct newspaper rates vary | The Gazette placement service / local newspaper | Alongside the Gazette notice, same 2-month window | Market ↗4 Sept 2026 |
| Land Charges bankruptcy-only search (form K16), per name | £6 electronic, £7 by post — no VAT (from 9 Dec 2024) | HM Land Registry, Land Charges Department | Before paying each beneficiary, to confirm they are not bankrupt | Statute ↗4 Sept 2026 |
| Land Registry official copy of the register or title plan | £7 electronic, £11 by post, per document — no VAT (from 9 Dec 2024) | HM Land Registry | During administration, to confirm title | Statute ↗4 Sept 2026 |
| Land Registry fee to assent/transfer the property to a beneficiary (AS1 with AP1, Scale 2) | £45–£305 by post, banded on property value; £20–£140 via portal (conveyancers' Business e-services only) — no VAT (from 9 Dec 2024) | HM Land Registry | When the property is assented or transferred, not sold | Statute ↗4 Sept 2026 |
| RICS (Red Book) probate valuation — property | £450 + VAT (£540 inc), site visit — one named RICS firm's fixed price | Chartered (RICS) surveyor | Before submitting the IHT400 | Market ↗4 Sept 2026 |
| Household contents / chattels valuation | £300 + VAT (£360 inc) online; £450 + VAT (£540 inc) with visit; up to £250 extra for research on rare or high-value items | RICS-qualified valuer or auctioneer | Before submitting the IHT400 | Market ↗4 Sept 2026 |
| National Will Register search | £65 inc VAT (register check); £140 inc VAT (Combined search incl. REACH and Missing Will Noticeboard) | The National Will Register (Certainty) | Early on, to confirm no later will exists | Market ↗4 Sept 2026 |
| Financial / unclaimed asset search | £210 + VAT (£252 inc) — one named firm's list price | Probate research firm (e.g. Title Research) | Early on, if the deceased's assets are not fully known | Market ↗4 Sept 2026 |
| Missing-beneficiary indemnity insurance | Typically 0.5%–1% of the net estate for distribution, one-off premium (insurance — IPT applies, not VAT) | Specialist insurer, via a broker or research firm | Before final distribution, instead of further tracing | Market ↗4 Sept 2026 |
| Genealogist / heir-hunter contingency fee | Around 20% of the traced heir's share (VAT treatment varies — check the agreement) | Probate genealogist or heir-locator firm | Deducted from the beneficiary's share once traced and paid | Market ↗4 Sept 2026 |
| House clearance | 3-bed house £500–£1,200; probate clearance £400–£1,500 (Q3 2026); VAT status not stated by source — VAT-registered firms add 20% | House clearance company | Before selling or handing back the property | Market ↗4 Sept 2026 |
| Unoccupied property insurance | £35 (3 months, basic) to £570 (12 months, top tier), before Insurance Premium Tax — one insurer's book, Mar 2025–Apr 2026 | Specialist insurer | Throughout the vacancy — standard cover usually stops after 30 consecutive days empty | Market ↗4 Sept 2026 |
| Energy standing charges on an empty property | ≈£26/month with zero usage (57.19p electricity + 29.04p gas per day, incl. 5% VAT, 1 Jul–30 Sep 2026 cap; ≈£25.70 from 1 Oct 2026) | Energy supplier | Throughout the vacancy | GOV.UK ↗4 Sept 2026 |
| Storage of household contents | From £18/month (small unit); 50 sq ft ≈ £72/month; larger units more — inc VAT (Mar 2026) | Self-storage or removal firm | During clearance, before sale or distribution of contents | Market ↗4 Sept 2026 |
| Conveyancing — sale of the estate property (legal fee only) | Average £1,072 + VAT (£1,286 inc); median £962 + VAT (£1,155 inc), freehold, excl. disbursements (Apr 2026 survey of 146 firms) | Solicitor or licensed conveyancer | On completion of the sale | Market ↗4 Sept 2026 |
| Conveyancing — Deed of Assent (AS1) to a beneficiary | From £299 fixed fee (VAT status not stated by source) — one named firm | Solicitor or licensed conveyancer | On transfer of title where there is no sale | Market ↗4 Sept 2026 |
| Capital Gains Tax on a sale by the personal representatives | 24% flat rate for personal representatives (from 6 Apr 2026); £3,000 annual exempt amount for the tax year of death and the next two | HMRC | On a chargeable disposal during administration | GOV.UK ↗4 Sept 2026 |
| Interest on unpaid Inheritance Tax | 7.75% per year (from 9 Jan 2026) | HMRC | Accrues from the day after the end of the sixth month following the month of death | GOV.UK ↗4 Sept 2026 |
| Accountant / solicitor time on the estate's tax return and R185s | £150–£450 + VAT per hour (£180–£540 inc) — general probate hourly rate, not a task-specific fee | Accountant or solicitor | Each tax year of the administration period | Market ↗4 Sept 2026 |
| Executor loan / IHT bridging finance | 1.5%–2% per month simple interest + 1%–2% arrangement fee; representative 26.5% APR — one named lender (no VAT on finance) | Specialist probate lender | If IHT must be paid before assets can be sold or released | Market ↗4 Sept 2026 |
| Resealing a Commonwealth grant in England & Wales | £526 (estate over £5,000); no fee at £5,000 or under — no VAT (from 13 Jul 2026) | HMCTS Probate Registry | Instead of a fresh grant, where a recognised jurisdiction's grant exists | Statute ↗4 Sept 2026 |
| Apostille (legalisation) of a document | £45 per document, standard service, plus postage/courier | FCDO Legalisation Office | When a foreign grant, overseas beneficiary or overseas asset needs legalised paperwork | GOV.UK ↗4 Sept 2026 |
| Certified translation of documents | £30–£55 per page (Apr 2026; VAT not stated by source) | Certified translator / agency | When a foreign will, certificate or grant must be filed in English | Market ↗4 Sept 2026 |