The Government has confirmed that the proposed significant increase in Probate fees has been abandoned. The current fee to obtain a Grant of Probate is £215, or £155 when the application is made through a solicitor. The Grant is the document required to allow personal representatives to deal with the administration of an estate and, in particular, to sell property held by the Deceased. The increased fees would have been based on a sliding scale based on the value of the estate, with many estates likely to become liable for a fee of several thousand pounds.
The Law Society has welcomed the news. “A hike in probate fees would have been a tax on grief,” said Law Society president Simon Davis “We campaigned vigorously against the increase on behalf of bereaved families and are relieved the government has listened to reason. It is inherently unfair to expect the bereaved to fund other parts of the courts and tribunal service when they have no other option but to apply for probate.”
If you have any questions about the administration of Estates, please contact our Charlotte Searle.