Being named as an executor is a real responsibility, and it usually arrives at the point when you are least able to take it on. You are grieving, you are fielding calls from banks and utility companies, and you are expected to understand a legal process you may never have encountered before. In 2026 that job has become more expensive, and the administration around it has changed too.
This article explains the new probate fee, who still qualifies for an exemption, what the current waiting times look like and what has replaced the old system for chasing a delayed application. If you would rather not deal with any of it yourself, our bereavement and probate support service is designed to lift the whole burden off your shoulders.
The Probate Application Fee Rose from £300 to £526 for Estates Over £5,000
From 13 July 2026, the fee for applying for probate in England and Wales increased from £300 to £526 for estates valued over £5,000. Estates of £5,000 or under remain exempt from the fee altogether. That is a rise of roughly 75 percent. The increase was made under the Court and Tribunal Fees (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2026, as amended.
For estates over the £5,000 threshold, £526 is a single flat rate whether a professional applies for the estate or a family member applies personally. A uniform fee has applied since January 2022, when the separate personal and professional fees were merged, so the July 2026 change increased the amount rather than changing who pays which rate. The real decision for executors is therefore about time, accuracy and stress rather than the court fee.
Who Is Still Exempt?
Estates valued at £5,000 or under remain exempt from the probate application fee. For very small estates, this is a meaningful protection, and it is worth checking carefully whether the estate falls below that threshold before assuming a fee is due.
Applicants on a low income or certain benefits may also qualify for Help with Fees. That is a remission based on the applicant's circumstances, rather than an exemption based on the estate's value.
Bear in mind that many small estates do not need a grant of probate at all. Individual banks and building societies set their own limits for releasing funds without a grant, and where the only assets are modest accounts and personal possessions, the institutions involved may be willing to deal with you directly. Working out whether a grant is genuinely required is one of the first things we look at for families who contact us.
How Long Is Probate Taking in 2026?
Figures from HM Courts and Tribunals Service reported in June 2026 showed average waits of around 4.3 weeks for applications submitted online and roughly 16 weeks for paper applications. The gap between those two numbers is striking, and it is the clearest argument for applying online wherever the estate allows it.
Remember that these are averages for the grant itself, not for administering the whole estate. Before you can apply, you need the death certificate, valuations of assets and liabilities, and any inheritance tax position resolved. Afterwards, you still have to collect in assets, settle debts, prepare estate accounts and distribute to the beneficiaries. A realistic timeline for a straightforward estate is months rather than weeks, and complications such as a property to sell or an inheritance tax return to file extend it further.
The New Escalation Process for Delayed Applications
HMCTS now uses a formal process for escalating delayed applications. The former professional-user escalation mailbox is closed, but the usual HMCTS contact route remains available for requesting a case-progression update. The rules are more structured, which is helpful, but only if you know what they are.
- First request a case-progression update through the usual HMCTS contact route and allow at least 10 working days for a response.
- If the case is still unresolved and 12 weeks have passed since the application, you can use the formal escalation process.
- If HMCTS paused the application to ask for further information, you can escalate once 6 weeks have passed since you supplied it.
- Use the formal escalation route rather than the former professional-user escalation mailbox.
- Keep a dated record of every submission and every response you send, because the escalation timescales run from those dates.
The practical lesson is to be organised from day one. Executors who keep a simple log of what was sent and when are in a far stronger position than those relying on memory three months later. The Ministry of Justice has published an official summary of the July 2026 fee changes if you would like the broader context.
Why the Rising Cost and Admin Burden Matters
A higher court fee is not, on its own, a disaster for most estates. What makes it difficult is that it lands on top of everything else an executor is dealing with. There are valuations to obtain, institutions that each want their own forms completed, inheritance tax deadlines to meet and beneficiaries who understandably want to know when things will be settled. Every one of those tasks takes time, and mistakes cost more time still.
Executors also carry personal responsibility. If an estate is distributed incorrectly, or a debt is missed, or tax is underpaid, the personal representatives can be held accountable. That is a heavy thing to hold while you are grieving, and it is the main reason families ask us to take over.
How AIB Estate Planning Supports Executors
Our bereavement and probate support is built around one idea: you should not have to become an expert in estate administration at the hardest moment of your life. We deal with the process so you can concentrate on your family.
- We establish early whether a grant of probate is actually needed, so nobody pays a fee unnecessarily.
- We gather valuations and prepare the application accurately, which is the single best way to avoid the delays that come from queries and corrections.
- We apply online wherever possible, given the significant difference in reported waiting times.
- We handle correspondence with banks, pension providers, HMRC and the land registry on the estate's behalf.
- We keep the records that the escalation process depends on, and we escalate on your behalf when the timescales allow it.
- We keep beneficiaries informed, which removes a great deal of pressure from the executor personally.
What This Means If You Are Planning Ahead
If you are reading this as someone thinking about your own affairs rather than administering an estate, the fee rise is a useful prompt. The cost and difficulty of probate depends heavily on how well organised your estate is when you die. A clear, professionally drafted Will, executors who know they have been appointed, an up to date list of assets and accounts, and documents stored somewhere your family can actually find them will all shorten the process and reduce the fees your estate pays.
It is also worth thinking about liquidity. Court fees, funeral costs and any inheritance tax have to be paid before an estate is distributed, and if everything you own is tied up in property, your executors may struggle to find the cash to get started.
Whether you are an executor facing the process now or a parent wanting to make it easier for your children later, we can help. Call AIB Estate Planning on 0800 048 7320 for a straightforward conversation about where you stand.
This article is general information, not legal or financial advice. For guidance on your circumstances, call AIB Estate Planning on 0800 048 7320.
Need help with probate? Let us take the paperwork off your hands.
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