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Probate Direct

Probate Costs & Alternatives

Compare your options and see how much you could save

Official Court Fees

Everyone applying for probate in Northern Ireland must pay the official court fee. As of October 2024, the fees are:

Court fee (estates over £10,000):£310
Personal application fee:£77
Total court fees:£387

The £77 personal application fee applies when you apply without a solicitor and the estate exceeds £10,000.

Extra sealed copies of the Grant cost £16 each. You may need multiple copies if the estate includes several banks or institutions.

Traditional Solicitor

Typical costs for standard estate

Solicitor fees£2,000 - £5,000+
Court fee (£310 + £77 personal application)£387
Additional costs£200 - £500
Total Cost£2,587 - £5,887+

Typical pricing:

  • 1.5% - 2.5% of estate value, or
  • £150 - £300 per hour
  • Often 20-40 hours of work
RECOMMENDED

Probate Direct

Fixed price, no surprises

Probate Direct service£395
Court fee (£310 + £77 personal application)£387
Additional costs£0
Total Cost£782

What's included:

  • Completed NIPF7 form
  • Estate summary spreadsheet
  • Submission guide
  • Email support
  • 100% money-back guarantee

Your Potential Savings

£1,805 - £5,105

That's money that goes directly to the beneficiaries instead of solicitor fees

What About Doing It Yourself?

You can complete probate entirely on your own without any paid service. However, this requires:

  • Understanding complex legal and tax requirements
  • Researching current Northern Ireland probate rules and procedures
  • Manually completing all forms with no validation
  • Risk of errors that could delay the process by months
  • No support if you encounter problems

Probate Direct offers the best of both worlds: the cost savings of DIY with professional guidance and validation, all for a fixed £395 fee that's reimbursable from the estate.

What does "reimbursable from the estate" mean? As executor, you're legally entitled to claim back expenses from the estate funds before distributing to beneficiaries. This £395 fee counts as an estate expense and can be paid back to you from the deceased's money once you have the Grant of Probate. You don't need to pay for this service out of your own pocket permanently.

When Should You Use a Solicitor?

While Probate Direct handles most estates, you may want to consider a solicitor if:

  • There are disputes between beneficiaries or challenges to the will
  • The estate includes complex business assets or overseas property
  • There are significant inheritance tax liabilities requiring specialist planning
  • The deceased owned part of a business that needs to continue operating

Save Thousands with Probate Direct

Fixed £395 fee • 100% Money-Back Guarantee • Complete in 30 Minutes