The prorogation of Parliament has put on hold the planned legislation for a substantial increase in probate fees.
The proposed increase
The increase proposed has the effect of removing the current fixed fee of £215 for a personal application and £155 for an application by a solicitor, and instead imposing a stratified fee dependent on the assessed value of an estate:
- £250 for estates valued between £50,000 and £300,000
- £750 for estates valued between £300,000 to £500,000
- £2,500 for estates values between £500,000 and £1 million
- £4,000 for estates valued between £1 million and £1.6 million
- £5,000 for estates valued between £1.6 million and £2 million
- £6,000 for estates valued at £2 million or more.
The delay
The prorogation has brought to an end the current parliamentary session, also stopping the vote on the fee increase (the Draft Non-Contentious Probate (fees) Order 2018). If the Supreme Court upholds the Prime Minister’s decision to prorogue Parliament, the draft Order will have to be re-tabled in the next parliamentary session.
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