75% Probate fee increase from 13 July 2026: Are service levels keeping pace?
Further details can be found in the Government’s announcement: Court and tribunal fees: updates from July 2026.
The fee increase comes against a backdrop of improving performance for straightforward applications but continued delays on more complex matters.
HMCTS recently reported average turnaround times of around 4.3 weeks for straightforward applications, whilst paper applications continue to take significantly longer, averaging approximately 16 weeks and in some cases, way in excess of this.
For practitioners dealing with international estates, foreign domicile applications remain a particular challenge. HMCTS has confirmed that specialist teams continue to deal with these cases, but applications requiring registrar involvement can still experience severe delays.
These updates were discussed at the most recent Probate Professional User Group meeting with HMCTS and are summarised here: HMCTS update for probate firms – June 2026.
Whilst the reduction in the overall probate backlog is welcome, international estates and other complex applications continue to require careful planning and realistic expectations regarding timescales. With probate fees increasing significantly this month, practitioners and clients alike will no doubt be hoping that service improvements continue to follow, particularly in relation to applications made on paper.
For estates involving foreign assets, cross-border tax issues or questions of domicile, obtaining the grant is often only one part of the challenge. Specialist international probate advice can be invaluable in navigating multiple jurisdictions, avoiding unnecessary delays and ensuring that the administration progresses as efficiently as possible.
Please get in touch with Emma Jones if you would like more information.
