Probate Fees

At Mantins we offer a bespoke service tailored to your individual needs; we calculate our costs based on the circumstances of the matter we are dealing with. We will work with you to make sure we support you in the way you need. To give you an idea of our charges, we have set out a range of examples and our fees for each below.

We know that each estate is unique and no two estates are the same, which is why we provide a personal service from start to finish.

Providing Advice only such as:

• Advice as to whether a Will is valid.
• Advice as to who is entitled both to inherit and deal with an estate where someone has died with no Will.
• Explaining to an executor or administrator what their legal duties and obligations.
• Advise as to whether a Grant of Probate or Grant of Letters of Administration is necessary based on actual circumstances.
• Advising on whether a Deed of Variation would be appropriate.

This includes a face to face or telephone appointment lasting for a maximum of 45 minutes and a letter following up and confirming our advice for a fixed fee of £350 + VAT.

We would anticipate that our follow-up letter would be with you within 10 working days of our meeting.

Making an Application for a Grant of Probate/Grant of Letters of Administration only 

Applications for the Grant on behalf of the executor or administrator. The executor or administrator then deals with the administration of the estate themselves once we have obtained the Grant for them.

Applications of this type vary in cost between £1,500 and £4,000 depending on whether or not an Inheritance Tax account needs to be completed and whether we need to obtain the information regarding the estate or whether this is provided to us.

We would anticipate that we would be able to obtain a Grant of Probate or a Grant of Letters of Administration within 3-6 months of receiving your instruction, again depending on the complexity of the matter.

Estate Administration

Where we are instructed to deal with the whole of the administration of the estate. Our typical fees would be within the following ranges:

This is based on how much time we believe the administration would take at our hourly rates, together with the overall complexity of the estate and our experience of dealing with similar matters. Our current hourly rate is £325 per hour plus VAT.

If there are multiple beneficiaries, multiple properties, multiple bank accounts, multiple shareholdings, further assets then costs will be toward the higher end of the fees stated above.

We will always try, where possible, to offer you a fixed fee quote so you know how much it is going to cost from the outset.

VAT is calculated at the rate applicable at the time the work is carried out, this is currently 20%. Pricing information is correct as of September 2025 and will be reviewed and updated annually.

What’s included in the price?

• Providing you with a dedicated and experienced probate lawyer to work on your matter.
• Taking your instructions and giving you initial advice.
• Where necessary dealing with registering the death and organising the funeral service.
• Identifying the legally appointed executors or administrators and beneficiaries.
• Ascertaining and obtaining valuations for the assets and liabilities of the estate, including joint or trust assets and generally gathering the information required to complete the probate papers.
• Obtaining details of any gifts made by the deceased in the seven years prior to death.
• Accurately identifying the type of probate application you require.
• Drafting the necessary Legal Statement or paper application to lead to the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration.
• Completing the relevant HMRC form for Inheritance Tax (where necessary)
• Applying for and obtaining the grant of representation.
• Collecting in the assets of the estate.
• Settling the estate liabilities, inheritance tax and administrative expenses.
• Preparing the estate accounts in the estate and obtaining the Executors/Administrators approval of these
• Distributing the estate in accordance with the will or rules of intestacy.

What’s not included in the price?

• Preparation of Income Tax returns up to the date of death.
• Income Tax and Capital Gains tax returns required during the administration of the estate.
• Preparation of Deeds of Variation.
• Preparation of Deeds of Disclaimer.
• Property work is charged separately, if there is a house in the estate to be sold or transferred to a beneficiary, we will provide a quote for the conveyancing work and disbursements.

A typical timescale where an estate requires an application to be made for a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration is 9 to 12 months

No estate is ever the same and therefore the timescales may differ. The timescales are dependent on the cooperation of third parties such as HMRC and other institutions whose timescales are outside our control.

We will always ensure that you are kept up to date with what is happening during the administration period.

FACTORS THAT COULD MAKE A CASE MORE COMPLEX AND INCREASE THE COST AND TIMESCALE

• If there are problems locating the financial assets held by the deceased at the date of death.
• If assets are uncovered that make the estate liable for Inheritance Tax.
• Lengthy negotiations with HMRC to agree the amount of Inheritance Tax payable by the estate.
• Estates that are subject to claims for agricultural property relief and/or business property relief and/or heritage claims
• Multiple beneficiaries or beneficiaries who are difficult to identify and/or locate.
• Difficulty in obtaining documents to prove available tax reliefs, resulting in us having to obtain duplicates, e.g. copies of Grant of Probate of first spouse to die, copies of marriage certificates.
• Where a trust is created within the will, e.g. for minor beneficiaries or vulnerable beneficiaries.
• Where a claim is made against the estate, or the executor or administrator is put on notice of a possible claim.

DISBURSEMENTS

Disbursements are payments that we make to third parties on your behalf.  They are separate payments for which the estate is liable in addition to our fees.

Typical disbursements in probate matters are:

• Probate Court Fee in application for the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration – £300.00*
• Sealed Copies of the Grant – £1.50 each*
• Trustee Act Notice – £200 to £400 plus VAT
• Bankruptcy search fees – £6 plus VAT per beneficiary
• Land Registry Fees - £7 per property

*Only payable where a Grant of Probate or Grant of Letters of Administration is required to administer the estate of the deceased.

If you are the Executor or Administrator of the estate, you can opt for the legal fees and disbursements to be paid from the assets within the estate.

NEXT STEPS

Please arrange a meeting to talk through your needs with us so we can discuss your individual circumstances and what we can offer you.

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Grant of Probate - a court order applied for to ‘prove’ the will of a deceased person, made by the executors appointed by the deceased person in a fully valid will.

Grant of Letters of Administration - a court order applied for in relation to the estate of a person who died without a fully valid will, appointing ‘Administrators’ to act in the administration of the estate.

Our Team

Katie Mantin

Solicitor/Notary Public

Katie is the founder of Mantins and manages all areas of the business.  She is a highly experienced solicitor and acts for a broad range of clients including corporate investors and lenders, as well as private individuals and trusts.

In addition to her work as a solicitor, Katie is a Notary Public, appointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, which position enables her to authenticate documents for use in other countries worldwide.

Katherine Hopkins

Solicitor

Katherine joined the firm in 2010, qualifying as a solicitor in 2013.  She has a wealth of experience in all residential and commercial property matters and is also a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).

Jessica Smith

Legal Advisor

Jessica is a Legal Advisor specialising in residential conveyancing.  She joined Mantins in 2013 and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives.  Jessica has extensive experience in all aspects of residential conveyancing including freehold and leasehold transactions, re-mortgages and transfers of equity.

Tracey Cooper

Legal Assistant

Tracey joined the firm in 2011, having previously worked at another local law firm.  Her knowledge and experience in a wide range of residential conveyancing matters is invaluable to the Property Team at Mantins.

Tracy Gardner

Legal Assistant

Tracy came to Mantins in 2021 with a background in management and bookkeeping.  She now works in our Private Client department and provides essential support to fee earners for all matters relating to Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney and the Administration of Estates.

Caroline Everett

Legal Assistant

Caroline provides excellent administrative support to all departments.  She also has a wealth of experience in client care and customer services, gained over many years of work within financial services, charities and the legal profession.

Katie Flodin

Front of House

Prior to joining Mantins, Katie has experienced a full and varied career working in many different embassies in numerous countries over a 25-year period.  She now provides a genuinely warm welcome to each and every client, whilst keeping the office efficient and organised.

Emma Boyce

Legal Executive

Emma joined Mantins in 2025 having qualified as a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Legal Executive in 2008 and has worked in law firms both locally and in the Northeast of England. Emma has vast experience in Estate Administration, Wills, Trusts, Lasting Powers of Attorney and Court of Protection work.

Emma is a fully accredited member of the Association of Lifetime Lawyers with a special interest in the protection of vulnerable and disabled adults and children.