Huge Hike In Probate Fees Is Scrapped By Government

PLANS to charge bereaved families up £6,000 to gain control over their loved one’s estate – known as probate – have been scrapped by the Government.

Applying for probate currently costs a flat rate of £215 regardless of the value of the estate, but this could have risen to up to £20,000 for the largest estates under the initial plans, or £6,000 under revised proposals.

However, both proposed tiered charging structures have been taken off the table after a wave of public anger.

Confirming the news, Justice Secretary Robert Buckland told the Daily Mail: “While fees are necessary to properly fund our world-leading courts system, they must be fair and proportionate.

‘We will withdraw these proposals and keep the current system while we take a closer look at these court fees as part of our annual wider review.”

Under the proposed changes probate for estates valued at £50,000 or less would have cost nothing – a better deal than that which exists now. Currently only estates valued at £5,000 or less are exempt.

But after that the new fees would have been levied leading many observers to accuse the Government of a hidden tax grab because the charges did not reflect the real administration costs.

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