Month: Feb 2017
Last time this was actually in the Family law Act 1996 and was never implemented. No change there then.
New Probate Fees? Fairer System or Stealing From The Deceased?
Make your own mind up.
Current probate fees are £215, or £155 for those applying through a solicitor.
Putting aside the issue of whether an estate should be charged at all I think we can all just about live with the fees charged.
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is now proposing a massive hike in the fees for Probate.
On the new scale, the fees will be as follows:
a) estates below £50,00 will be exempt from fees
b) estates valued between £50,000 and £300,000 will pay £300.
sounds bearable so far …..but look at the higher end of the scale:
c) estates between £1.6m and £2m will be charged £12,000
d) estates worth more than £2m will be charged £20,000,
The MoJ describes the new structure as a ‘fairer banded system’ and said the fees will be used to fund the court service. (is that not the governments job though national taxation? Do we get a better service as a consequence?
The MoJ consulted on the proposals in February last year. Out of 831 respondents, fewer than 2% (13 responses) were in favour.
What do you think ?
The information provided in this article is not intended to constitute legal advice and each case requires careful consideration in our view by a fully qualified Solicitor before decisions are made and before you embark on a certain course of action.
Shak Inayat
Solicitor
Penn Chambers Solicitors
0207 183 2898
Shak Inayat Blog 