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Probate · 7 min read · Published

Fixed fee vs hourly probate: how to compare solicitor quotes

Probate can be billed as a fixed fee, an hourly rate, or a percentage of the estate, and the difference can run to thousands of pounds. Here is how to compare quotes properly.

By Aaron Johnson, Consultant Solicitor and TEP, a solicitor in Bridlington who writes every guide himself.

Guides · Probate · No. 3 of 21Published · 7 minutes

If you are an executor gathering probate quotes, you will soon find that solicitors price the same job in very different ways. Some quote a fixed fee. Many charge an hourly rate. Some add a percentage of the estate's value on top. On the same estate, the gap between those models can run to thousands of pounds, and the cheapest-looking quote is not always the cheapest bill. This guide explains how each model works and what to ask before you instruct anyone.

How probate is priced: three models

How the pricing models compare

Hourly (sometimes plus a percentage)Fixed fee
Quoted as a rate per hour, plus VATOne figure, agreed in writing before any work begins
The quote is an estimate of hours; the bill grows if the work takes longerThe price does not change if the work takes longer than expected
Some firms add a "value element": a percentage of the estate on top of the hoursNever linked to the estate's value. A bigger house does not mean a bigger bill
Hard to compare quotes: two identical estates can produce very different billsEasy to compare and easy to budget for as an executor

Why hourly estimates drift

An hourly estimate is honest about its own uncertainty. Published estimates for full estate administration often span a range of thousands of pounds, because nobody knows at the start how many letters, calls and complications an estate will produce. With an hourly model, that uncertainty is carried by you and the estate. With a fixed fee, it is carried by the firm.

Seven questions to ask before instructing anyone

  • Is this a fixed fee or an estimate? If it is an estimate, ask what happens when the hours run over.
  • Is any part of the fee a percentage of the estate? Ask for the answer in writing.
  • Does the figure include VAT? A quote that is silent on VAT is 20 percent bigger than it looks.
  • Are disbursements included? The £526 probate application fee (estates over £5,000, from 13 July 2026), extra copies of the grant (£2 each ordered with the application, £16 each afterwards) and any notices are usually on top. Ask for the all-in total.
  • Who will actually do the work? A quoted senior rate sometimes buys supervised junior work. Ask who handles your file day to day.
  • Is the first meeting free? Some firms charge for the first probate consultation. Aaron does not.
  • What is your realistic timescale? Ask for their typical time to submit the application and to complete, and compare the answers between firms.

What Aaron does, and why

Aaron quotes a written fee before any work begins, for probate as much as for wills and LPAs, and the fee is never a percentage of the estate. Grant only probate, grant only with a full inheritance tax account (form IHT400), and full estate administration are each priced on their own. The full fee list, with VAT, is on the fees page. The first 15-minute call is free, and Aaron Johnson, a Consultant Solicitor and TEP (a Trust and Estate Practitioner qualified through STEP), handles every matter personally from first call to final distribution. The prices are published so that executors can compare them.

Local, straight-answer probate help

Aaron helps executors and families across Bridlington, Driffield, Filey, Hornsea, Beverley and the wider East Yorkshire area, by phone, by WhatsApp, or with a free home visit, evenings included. If you are weighing up quotes, bring them to the call. Aaron will explain what each one commits you to.

Written by Aaron Johnson, Consultant Solicitor and TEP · Law of England and Wales as at 19 July 2026 · Ends

Questions

Questions people ask about this.

General answers for England and Wales. What applies to you depends on your circumstances.

Is fixed fee probate better than hourly?

Neither model is dishonest, but they place the risk differently. With an hourly estimate, the final bill depends on how many hours the estate takes, so the uncertainty sits with the estate. With a genuine fixed fee, agreed in writing before work begins, the firm carries that risk instead. Executors are responsible for keeping costs reasonable, so a fixed fee is usually easier to justify, budget for and compare.

Do solicitors charge a percentage of the estate for probate?

Some do. A traditional charging convention adds a "value element", a percentage of the gross estate, on top of hourly charges. Not all firms do this, and firms that use fixed fees usually charge nothing linked to the estate's value. Ask the direct question and get the answer in writing.

What does probate typically cost in the Bridlington area?

It depends on the pricing model and the estate. Aaron's fees are published on the fees page, with VAT: grant only probate, grant only with a full inheritance tax account, and full estate administration at three starting fees (cash and investments with a valid will; a property or no will; a full inheritance tax account). On top of any legal fee sits the £526 probate application fee (estates over £5,000) and small disbursements. A written fixed quote is the only way to know your actual figure.

Can I switch solicitor if probate fees are growing?

Yes. Executors can change firms part-way through an estate. There may be some duplicated cost as the new firm picks up the file, and the outgoing firm may hold the papers until its proper fees are paid. If a bill is growing beyond the estimate, ask for a detailed breakdown first, and get any replacement quote as a written fixed fee.

Is the first probate meeting usually free?

It varies. Some firms charge for the first probate consultation. Others offer a free first meeting or call. Aaron offers a free 15-minute call with no obligation: enough time to understand the estate, tell you plainly whether you need probate at all, and give you a written fixed quote.

Next step

Ready when you are.

Get your priceStart onlineTalk to Aaron

Sixty seconds of questions that end on a named plan and a fixed fee, with VAT.

Or call 01262 310 850, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5.30pm.

Appointments are usually available within a few working days, including Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and home visits across East and North Yorkshire.

Important

This guide contain general information about the law of England and Wales as at July 2026. It is not legal advice and should not be relied on in place of advice on your own circumstances. Probate, inheritance tax and intestacy law change often; check any specific point before acting on it. Outcomes for any one person depend on their facts, the documents, and decisions taken by HMRC, the courts and others. Fees shown are fixed once agreed in writing, before any work starts. Safe Harbour Legal and Legal Studio Solicitors are trading names of MDLS Solicitors Limited (company number 08599445), authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, SRA 598793. The complaints procedure is at legalstudio.co.uk/sra-complaints (Legal Studio's website).