Probate cost by region

Last reviewed 18 August 2026

One part of the cost is fixed by the Crown and identical from Cornwall to Cumbria; the other, the solicitor’s charge, follows the price of everything else, and rises as you near the capital.

What varies, and what does not

The £526 HMCTS fee is the same across England and Wales, whatever the region. Solicitor fees, though, track local costs: firms in London and the South East generally charge more than those in the North, Wales or the South West, for the same straightforward administration. Hourly rates show the widest regional spread; fixed fees vary less but still move.

Finding a fair local price

Because the range for identical work is wide, the sensible course is to compare two or three firms’ published fees in your own area rather than accept the first quote. Our benchmark gathers published fixed fees by region so you can see where a quote sits. Scotland runs a separate system (Confirmation), with its own court fees.

Sources. GOV.UK, Applying for probate: fees (uniform £526); regional solicitor fee data aggregated from SRA-published pricing at build.