The Ministry of Justice has announced a dramatic fee increase that will significantly impact anyone needing copies of wills and grants of probate. From 17th November 2025, the fee for requesting a copy of these documents will increase from £1.50 to £16 per document – a staggering rise of over 1,000%.
This change, introduced through The Court and Public Guardian Fees (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2025, represents one of the most substantial fee increases we’ve seen in the probate sector for many years.
The Impact on Access to Justice
At Fifty Six Law, we’re particularly concerned about how this fee increase will affect access to justice for vulnerable individuals. Consider the position of a disinherited beneficiary who believes they have grounds to challenge a will. They may need to obtain multiple documents – the Will itself, the Grant of Probate, and potentially earlier wills and Grants of Probate for comparison. What would have cost £4.50 for three documents will now cost £48.
For someone already facing financial hardship – perhaps the very reason they’re considering a claim, for example under the Inheritance Act 1975 – this upfront cost could prove a genuine barrier to pursuing legitimate legal remedies. This is especially troubling in cases where individuals may have been wrongfully excluded from an estate or where there are concerns about undue influence or lack of mental capacity.
A Distinction Without a Difference?
The legislation creates a two-tier pricing structure – £16 for “named individual requests” and £1.50 for “unnamed bulk electronic requests”. However, in practice, the GOV.UK probate search system (https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/) requires users to search for specific named individuals. There appears to be no mechanism for making these theoretical “unnamed” requests, rendering the lower fee option essentially meaningless for practical purposes.
Looking for the Silver Lining
While this fee increase is undoubtedly challenging, we remain optimistic that HMCTS will use these additional funds to address the significant delays that have plagued the probate system in recent years. Processing times for grants of probate have stretched from weeks to months, causing considerable distress to bereaved families and delaying the administration of estates.
If these increased fees translate into improved staffing, modernised systems, and faster processing times, there could be long-term benefits for all users of the probate service. A more efficient system would reduce the emotional and financial burden on families during an already difficult time.
How We’re Adapting
At Fifty Six Law, we’re committed to maintaining access to justice despite these changes. We’re reviewing our processes to ensure we can continue to support clients effectively while managing these increased costs. We’re also empowering individuals with the knowledge to obtain documents directly when appropriate, helping them navigate the system independently where possible.
Moving Forward
While we hope this fee increase will lead to tangible improvements in the probate service, we’ll be monitoring the situation closely. Access to justice must remain a priority, and we’ll continue to advocate for fair and proportionate fees that don’t create unnecessary barriers for those seeking to resolve inheritance disputes.
