Debate as Government set to increase probate fees
The Law Gazette has reported that probate fees are set to rise as the government ‘seeks extra £25 million a year’.
Recent proposals look at increasing fees to apply for a grant of probate from £155 and £215, this is for probate professionals and individuals respectively. The proposal looks at a flat fee of £273 for all applicants, regardless of the size of the estate.
The Ministry of Justice has stated that the increases are not to increase profit for the government.
The government said it currently costs HM Courts & Tribunals Service ‘more to process probate applications than the fees it receives’, meaning the service operates at a loss. This transfers the burden on the taxpayer in the form of subsidising the processing of probate applications.