Probate Explained: How Long It Takes and What It Actually Costs

Probate has a reputation for being slow, expensive, and requiring a solicitor - all three are only partly true. Here’s a realistic picture of the timeline and genuine costs involved.

What probate actually is

Probate is the legal process of proving a will is valid and giving the named executor(s) the legal authority to deal with the deceased’s estate - collecting assets, paying debts and any tax, and distributing what remains to beneficiaries. If there’s no will, the equivalent process results in ‘Letters of Administration’ instead of a ‘Grant of Probate’ (see our dedicated article on dying without a will). Probate only becomes relevant after death - while someone’s alive but loses mental capacity, it’s a Lasting Power of Attorney (or a court-appointed Deputyship without one) that gives someone the legal authority to manage their affairs instead (see our dedicated article on protecting your finances if you lose capacity).

Whether probate is even needed

Not every estate requires probate. Small estates (thresholds vary by financial institution, but often somewhere between £15,000 and £50,000), assets held jointly that pass automatically to a surviving joint owner (see our dedicated article on joint ownership), and assets already held in trust typically don’t require a formal grant. Most estates involving a property in the deceased’s sole name, or significant savings and investments, will need it.

The current cost

• Court application fee: £300 for estates over £5,000 (no fee for estates at or below this), a flat fee regardless of overall estate value, which rose from £273 in January 2025.
• Certified copies of the Grant: typically £1.50 each - most executors need several (banks, investment platforms, and the Land Registry each generally require their own copy).
• Optional professional fees if using a solicitor or specialist probate firm - ranging from a few hundred pounds for basic guidance to several thousand pounds (sometimes calculated as a percentage of the estate, commonly 1-4% plus VAT) for full-service administration of a complex estate.

DIY probate vs professional help

For a straightforward estate - a valid will, no dispute, no complex assets or overseas elements - many executors handle probate themselves via the gov.uk online application, with the £300 court fee as the main mandatory cost. The main risk of DIY probate is executor error: undervaluing assets, distributing too early (before creditors have had a chance to make a claim), or completing HMRC Inheritance Tax forms incorrectly, all of which can create personal liability for the executor or delay the process significantly.

A realistic timeline

• Gathering information and valuing the estate: typically 4-10 weeks.
• Preparing IHT forms and the probate application: typically 4-8 weeks.
• Waiting for the Grant of Probate itself: typically 8-16 weeks after submission, depending on complexity and current Probate Registry backlogs.
• Collecting assets and distributing the estate after the Grant: typically a further 3-12 months for a straightforward estate, longer for more complex ones.

Altogether, a straightforward estate with no Inheritance Tax liability commonly takes 6-12 months from death to final distribution, while more complex estates - involving property sales, business interests, overseas assets, or any dispute - can take 12-24 months or longer.

What can significantly delay the process

• Disputes over the will’s validity, or claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 (see our dedicated article on contesting a will), can add 12 months or more.
• Inheritance Tax complications, particularly if the estate includes agricultural or business property affected by the recent relief changes (see our dedicated article), or if valuations are contested by HMRC.
• Overseas beneficiaries or assets, which typically add a few weeks for identity verification and international payment arrangements, though this is usually a modest rather than major delay.

What can be paid before probate is granted

Funeral costs and some urgent bills can often be paid directly from the deceased’s own bank account before the Grant is issued, once the bank has sight of the death certificate - meaning families aren’t always left completely unable to access any funds during the waiting period, even though most of the estate remains inaccessible until the Grant arrives.

The bottom line

Probate for a straightforward estate is more accessible and less expensive than its reputation suggests - the mandatory £300 court fee, plus a realistic 6-12 month overall timeline, is achievable without a solicitor for many estates. Complexity, disputes, or significant Inheritance Tax considerations are what genuinely justify professional help and a longer timeline.