The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has launched a consultation “Fee proposals for grant of probate”. Its proposes a new banding structure.

Under the current system, the fee for all estates worth more than £5,000 is £215, or £155 if the application is made by a solicitor.

The proposal is to introduce a banding structure, with fees as follows:

Value of estate Fee (£)
Up to £50,000 or exempt 0
From £50,001 to £300,000 300
From £300,001 to £500,000 1,000
From £500,001 to £1m 4,000
Over £1m to £1.6m 8,000
Over £1.6m to £2m 12,000
Over £2m 20,000

The MoJ estimates that under the new system 57% of estates will pay no fee, 27% will pay £300 and only 0.4% will suffer the maximum £20,000 fee.

The same fee will be charged regardless of who makes the application, and the “Help with Fees” scheme will no longer apply to applications for grant of probate.

The consultation, Fee proposals for grant of probate, closes on 1 April 2016.