Committee publication · Correspondence · 30 June 2026
Correspondence to Sarah Sackman KC MP, Minister for Courts and Legal Services, dated 24 June 2026 relating to Probate fees
From: Justice Committee
Summary
The Justice Committee writes to the Minister for Courts and Legal Services questioning a planned 75% increase in probate application fees from £300 to £526, effective 13 July 2026. The committee seeks justification for the increase, clarification on cost-recovery calculations, confirmation that revenue will fund probate services, explanation for omitting public consultation, and historical data on fee thresholds and low-value estate applications.
Key findings
- Probate application fee set to rise 75% (from £300 to £526) on 13 July 2026 with limited departmental justification provided
- Government cites HM Treasury cost-recovery guidance but committee requests detailed breakdown of how cost-recovery level was calculated
- Department claims increase 'recovers cost of ever-improving service' but committee seeks specific information on how revenue will be allocated to probate services
- No public consultation held ahead of this increase, unlike the May 2024 fee rise from £273 to £300 which was preceded by consultation
- Committee requests five-year data on probate applications for estates under £5,000 threshold and when that threshold was last updated
Tone
ProceduralTopics
courts-and-tribunalslegal-servicespublic-financefees-and-charges
Key actors
Sarah Sackman KC MP, Andy Slaughter MP, Justice Committee, HM Treasury, Ministry of State for Courts and Legal Services
Notable line
“… the proposed increase represents a 75% uplift on the current fee and yet the department has provided limited justification for such a significant change.”
Key Quotes
“We are concerned that the proposed increase represents a 75% uplift on the current fee and yet the department has provided limited justification for such a significant change.”
“Could you please provide us with an explanation of how the department calculated the cost recovery level of a probate application?”
“Can you set out how the money raised from the increase will directly contribute to the probate service? Will all the money raised be used to fund the probate service?”
“Can you set out the rationale for not holding a public consultation ahead of this change?”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗