Probate fees set to increase for high value estates
Probate fees set to increase for high value estates
It has been confirmed by the Government that probate fees in England and Wales will change in May 2017 when a new banded system is introduced to replace the current system of flat fees.
For estates valued at less than £50,000 there will be no fee. However, for estates worth over £2million the maximum fee of £20,000 will be payable.
Probate fees were last increased in April 2014 when the cost of a probate application through a solicitor increased from £45 to £155 and the cost of a personal application rose to £215.
The Ministry of Justice has commented that “court fees are never popular but they are necessary if we are as a nation to live within our means”. “These proposals would raise an additional £250 million a year, which is a critical contribution to cutting the deficit and reducing the burden on the taxpayer of running the courts and tribunals.”