Solicitor fees for probate are often the largest single cost in the process, yet many people instruct a solicitor simply out of habit or uncertainty.
What solicitors typically charge
Fixed-fee quotes
Many solicitors now offer fixed-fee probate services. Headline prices for straightforward estates typically start at around £1,000 to £1,500, but the final fee often rises once the estate’s specific circumstances are taken into account.
Percentage fees
- 1 to 3% (solicitor): £3,000 to £9,000 on a £300,000 estate
- 2 to 4% (bank): £6,000 to £12,000 on the same estate
What you actually get
A solicitor gathers the estate information from you, completes the IHT400 and probate application forms, and deals with the Probate Registry. Crucially, you still have to provide all the estate information. A solicitor does not locate the bank accounts, arrange the property valuation, or trace the gifts.
When a solicitor is worth the cost
For most straightforward estates, a solicitor is not necessary. A specialist is genuinely worth their fee where there is a contested Will, complex trust arrangements, business asset reliefs, overseas assets, or family disputes about entitlement.
The alternative
YouCanDoProbate provides the same technical output for a single fixed fee of £499 inc. VAT. No percentage of the estate, no add-ons, no guessing what the final bill will be.
