Probate fees increase May 2017

The government have announced an increase to probate fees in England and Wales from May 2017. The full extent of the increase is:

Value of estate (before inheritance tax) £	Existing fee* £	New fee £
Up to 5,000	Nil	Nil
5,001 - 50,000	155/215	Nil
50,001 – 300,000	155/215	300
300,001 – 500,000	155/215	1,000
500,001 – 1,000,000	155/215	4,000
1,000,001 – 1,600,000	155/215	8,000
1,600,001 – 2,000,000	155/215	12,000
Over 2,000,0000	155/215	20,000

*£155 for applications via a solicitor, £215 for personal applications The Ministry of Justice expects these reforms to response to deliver around £300 million in additional income per year, a substantial contribution to the running costs of HMCTS [Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service]. It is projected that 58% of estates will fall within the £50,000 threshold and thus face no fee but estates worth in excess of £2m will have to pay £20,000. We understand that this could mean a couple’s estate paying fees of £40,000. The probate fee will not be a relievable costs for inheritance tax purposes.