PROBATE FEES

Ministers' decision to allow a probate fees increase to lapse has been welcomed by the Law Society, which ran a campaign to stop the fee hike. Under the government's proposals, probate fees would have risen from the current fixed fee of £215 '“ or £155 with a solicitor '“ to a sliding scale of up to £6000 depending on the size of the estate. The motion to approve the non-contentious probate (fees) order fell with the prorogation of parliament. If the government wanted to proceed with the fee increase it would have to reintroduce the vote to the commons in the next session. 11 September 2019