The cost of applying for probate is set to increase significantly from 13 July 2026, with the government announcing that the standard probate application fee will rise from £300 to £526.  This represents an increase of more than 75%, making it one of the largest increases in probate application fees in recent years.

The Ministry of Justice says the increase is intended to recover the true cost of providing the probate service, reflecting inflation and continued investment in improving and modernising the system.

There is, however, one welcome change.  The fee for requesting extra copies of probate grants at the same time as making the probate application will reduce to £2 per copy, rather than the current £16 fee.