Costs and fees
Probate: Do I Need a Solicitor or Lawyer?
This is one of the most common questions people ask when they find themselves dealing with probate for the first time. The short answer is: for the great majority of estates, no. You do not need a solicitor to apply for probate in England and Wales.
What is probate, and who can apply?
Probate is the process of obtaining legal authority to deal with a deceased person’s estate, collecting their assets, paying any debts and taxes, and distributing what remains to the beneficiaries. There is no legal requirement to use a solicitor. The executor named in the will (or the next of kin where there is no will) can apply directly.
Why do people assume they need a solicitor?
Probate has historically been associated with solicitors. Firms have long marketed their services as a necessary intermediary, and many people at a difficult time simply defer to what feels like the safest option. The reality is that solicitors charge significant fees for a process that is mostly administrative rather than requiring specialist legal qualifications.
When might a solicitor actually be worth it?
- The will is being disputed or there are concerns about its validity
- The estate includes business assets requiring Business Property Relief
- There are complex trust arrangements
- Overseas assets are involved
- There are family disputes about entitlement or the interpretation of the will
- The estate is very large and the IHT position is genuinely complex
These situations describe a minority of estates.
What about most estates?
For the typical estate in England and Wales, a platform like YouCanDoProbate is a far more cost-effective route. The estate information you supply is the same regardless of who completes the forms. A solicitor simply takes what you tell them and translates it into the right paperwork. YouCanDoProbate does the same thing, at a fraction of the cost, with unlimited support from our UK-based expert team throughout.
What is the risk of doing it yourself?
The main risk of doing probate entirely alone using only GOV.UK guidance is that the IHT400 and its supplementary schedules are detailed and easy to get wrong. An error can delay your application, prompt HMRC queries, or result in an incorrect tax calculation. YouCanDoProbate removes that risk by performing every calculation and applying every exemption automatically.
The easy and affordable way to apply for probate
Related articles
Due to the present extenuating circumstances i.e. Coronavirus Lockdown, I decided to do Probate on my own behalf. Having now completed the paper work. Sincerely I should like to thank the support team for their help and guidance.It was reassuring to know that there was always someone at the end of the phone to call upon if I was uncertain.
Very easy to follow step by step instructions
After revisiting the IHT400 form several times and googling some of the terms used, stumbled upon You can do Probate. I was a little sceptical about signing up as it was£499 versus a minimum of £2k for a solicitor. The site breaks everything down into manageable sections. provides plain English guidance and videos to help you complete the form. it turns out I did not have to use the IHT400 as I had an excepted estate. once everything is completed, click print form, signed and sent off. I had probate granted after 7 working days and the certificate after 9. I cannot recommend the service enough
Easy to do. Help always available. And it costs a lot less than solicitors. Excellent service.
I came across YouCanDoProbate whilst whilst scanning to get a company to help me do probate myself. At first I was surprised that this service was a fraction of the price that I had come across previously. What a great move to choose YCDP A great friendly and professional service. Got through our Probate with ease and total support. We had Tom supporting us. Such a terrific service, and great value Highly recommended Thank you
What a brilliant service, a simple money saver. Thoroughly recommended to do Probate yourself. Very well supported by Probate experts on the end of the telephone. I phoned 4 times and nothing was to much trouble. Reasonably simple forms to download and fill in. You can at any point return to the start and edit anything. Even if you make a total hash of it you can start again as many times as you like. It collates all the information you enter into the forms and then when you print it out it is in a recognised format for the HMCTS people. If you are unsure just phone the help line and talk to an expert, if they bare busy they will call you back. I applied for Probate on 29th April, on 12 May I had conformation that Probate had been granted and I would receive my Grant Of Probate paperwork within 10 working days. You cant beat that, well worth the £499.
I was bit hesitant about using them, but OMG im so glad I made initial contact with them, they were so helpful, they answer my questions & put me @ ease, solicitors quoted thousands to do it for me, so I took the plunge, had forms to fill out & if u had any questions they were only a phone call away definitely 10/10
Very helpful app that is easy and intuitive to use. The one question I needed to ask was answered promptly and helpfully.
Such a great help at a time of loss
Easy to use , never needed to contact them , awaiting the grant but confident having used you can do probate I’m not expecting mistakes
An Excellant service. I made good use of the advice given in the app which made the process simple and unbelievably it was granted by the HMCTS just four working days after it was delivered to them. Admittedly it was a relatively simple estate but definitely worth considering using this app rather than very expensive solicitors.
So easy always called if you have a problem super helpful
AFFORDABLE FIXED PRICE
Forms filled in for you
No expertise needed
Unlimited UK support
One time payment
£499
including VAT
Get started in 3 simple steps
Back Guarantee
T&Cs apply.
Monday to Saturday; 9am - 6pm
Trusted & Secure
