In this article
The headlines are clear: DIY probate costs £526. A solicitor costs £1,500 to £10,000+. But the honest comparison is more subtle than that. Cost alone is not the question, the question is whether you can DIY safely, and what happens if it goes wrong.
DIY probate cost vs solicitor fees: side by side
| DIY | Solicitor | |
|---|---|---|
| Court application fee | £526 (free under £5,000) | £526 (same) |
| Extra grant copies | £16 each (you order as needed) | Usually included or charged |
| Disbursements (searches, valuations, etc.) | You pay direct, roughly £50–£200 | Usually £100–£500+ |
| Professional fees | £0 | £1,500–£10,000+ (1–4% of estate, or fixed fee, or hourly) |
| Total cost | £350–£800 | £2,000–£15,000+ |
The saving is real, DIY can save £2,000–£9,000. But that assumes it stays straightforward and nothing goes wrong. Which brings us to the harder question.
When is DIY probate straightforward?
DIY is manageable, and safe, only if all of these are true:
- There is a clear, valid will (or you are the entitled next-of-kin and applying for letters of administration).
- The estate is small to moderate (under £500k as a rough guide).
- The only assets are UK-based: a house, bank accounts, premium bonds, shares in listed companies.
- No inheritance tax is due (or it is straightforward, the Direct Payment Scheme covers it).
- There are no disputes, and all beneficiaries are in agreement.
- You have a reasonable level of admin skill and patience: you are comfortable with forms and have time to manage the process.
If any of these do not apply, overseas property, a business, disputed assets, complex IHT, blended-family disputes, or you simply do not feel confident, a solicitor is the safer choice. It is not about cost; it is about liability.
What can go wrong if I DIY, and who pays?
This is the part most DIY articles gloss over, and it is the real risk. If you are the executor and you distribute assets to beneficiaries, you are personally liable for any debts or claims that come to light later.
Picture this: you pay out the estate to the beneficiaries after six months. A year later, a creditor emerges, an unpaid care home bill, a disputed invoice, a tax demand. If there is no money left in the estate, the creditor can come after you personally, and you must pay from your own pocket. That is executor personal liability, and it is why a solicitor’s professional indemnity insurance (and their due diligence in searching for creditors) is valuable.
You can protect yourself by advertising for creditors in a solicitor-led process or by applying to a court for indemnity insurance, but that costs money and defeats much of the DIY saving. Most DIY executors rely on being reasonably careful and hoping no creditors appear. That can work, but it is a risk you are taking on yourself.
The time cost, it is not just about money
A typical executor spends 35 to 40 hours managing probate over four to six months. That includes gathering documents, filling forms, chasing financial institutions, arranging valuations, managing the sale of property (if relevant), and distributing the estate. The work is not difficult, but it is relentless and emotionally heavy, you are doing it while grieving.
A solicitor absorbs that workload and stress. When you factor in your time at even a modest £20 per hour, DIY can save far less than the headline figures suggest. On a straightforward £120,000 estate, a DIY executor might save £2,500 in solicitor fees, but invest 35 hours, which is a saving of roughly £1,700 once you value your time. Still worthwhile, but not the £3,000+ saving the cost table alone suggests.
Can I start DIY and switch to a solicitor midway?
Yes, absolutely. If you start the process and realise it is beyond you, or if something unexpected emerges, you can hand the whole thing over to a solicitor at any point. They will review what you have done, correct any errors, and take it from there. You will pay their fees from that point on, but you can cap your own involvement. It is not all-or-nothing.
How banks release money during probate
Banks and building societies often release funds for probate fees, funeral costs, and inheritance tax before the grant is formally issued, via the Direct Payment Scheme. This can ease the cash flow burden of DIY. For inheritance tax on property (where the cash is not immediately available), HMRC allows payment in 10 annual instalments, so you do not need to find a lump sum upfront. Knowing this helps the budget.
What does “straightforward estate” actually mean?
Three examples:
- Lisa’s estate: £120,000, straightforward. House (£95,000), building society account (£18,000), premium bonds (£7,000). Two beneficiaries, clear will, no inheritance tax due. Lisa applied online, paid £526, and handled everything herself over four months. Total cost: £332. She would have paid a solicitor £2,500–£3,200 for the same work. DIY made sense.
- Robert’s estate: £240,000, getting complex. House with a mortgage, rental property, a small business interest, and inheritance tax due. Beneficiaries in dispute over the business valuation. Robert was quoted £4,000–£6,000 by a solicitor. DIY would have exposed him to valuation errors and personal liability in a dispute. A solicitor was the right call.
- Margaret’s estate: £500,000, too complex for DIY. Multiple properties (two in England, one in Spain), investments, and inheritance tax payable of roughly £100,000. The overseas property alone means complex legal work. Margaret hired a solicitor at 1.5% of the estate (£7,500) and it was worth every penny.
How we help if you get stuck
If you start DIY and run into trouble, or if you are considering DIY and want a second opinion on whether your estate qualifies, our probate team can help. We offer fixed-fee probate administration if you want us to take it on from the start, or we can review what you have done and step in if DIY becomes too much. To discuss your situation or get a fixed-fee quote, request a callback and we will come back to you.
A note on figures: the fees and figures in this article are correct as at the date of publication shown on this article. Court fees, taxes and other charges change from time to time, so please check the current figures with the relevant official source before relying on them.
Frequently asked questions
What makes an estate straightforward enough for DIY?
A valid will, UK-only assets, no inheritance tax, no disputes, and beneficiaries in agreement. If any of these do not apply, DIY becomes risky.
What if I start DIY and can't finish?
You can hand over to a solicitor at any point. They will review and correct what you have done and take it from there, and you pay their fees from that date.
What does executor personal liability actually mean?
If you distribute assets and a creditor appears later, you must pay them from your own pocket if the estate is empty. A solicitor's insurance protects against this.
Do probate costs get paid from the estate?
Yes. The u00a3300 court fee and solicitor fees are paid from estate funds. Banks often release money upfront for these costs via the Direct Payment Scheme.