What makes a good probate solicitor?
Last checked September 2026 by Naomi Jackson
Short answer
A good probate solicitor gives a written, itemised quote before starting, names the person who will handle your file day to day, commits to how often they will update you, separates their fees from disbursements, and is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority or its Scottish or Northern Irish equivalent.
- Check regulation
- SRA, Law Society of Scotland, or Law Society of NI
- Best fee structure
- Fixed fee, or capped hourly with a written estimate
- Worst fee structure
- Uncapped percentage of the estate
- Ask for
- A written scope and quote before you instruct
- Complaints route
- The firm first, then the Legal Ombudsman
Most complaints about probate firms are not about legal errors. They are about cost creep and silence. Both are avoidable at the point you instruct.
The eight questions to ask every firm
Ask all of them, of at least two firms, and compare the answers rather than the prices alone.
- What is your total fee, in writing, and what exactly does it cover?
- What is not covered, and what would make the price go up?
- Which disbursements are on top: the court fee, official copies, statutory notices, Land Registry, bankruptcy searches?
- Who will actually run my file, and what is their qualification?
- How often will you update me, and who do I contact if I hear nothing?
- How long do you expect this to take, and what could delay it?
- How many estates like this one do you handle a year?
- What happens if I want to take over part of the work myself?
How to check they are properly regulated
Regulation gives you compulsory insurance, client account rules, and a free complaints route. Check before you send anyone money.
- England and Wales: search the firm on the Solicitors Regulation Authority register at sra.org.uk
- Scotland: check the Law Society of Scotland's find a solicitor directory
- Northern Ireland: check the Law Society of Northern Ireland directory
- STEP membership (the letters TEP after a name) means specific inheritance and estates qualification, which is a good sign but not a substitute for regulation
Fee structures, ranked
The structure matters more than the number, because it decides who carries the risk of the work taking longer than expected.
- Fixed fee for a defined scope: best. You know the cost on day one
- Hourly with a written estimate and a cap: acceptable, if the cap is real and they must ask before exceeding it
- Hourly with no cap: risky. Ask for monthly bills so you see the run rate
- Percentage of the estate: worst value on larger estates. A 2 per cent charge on a £700,000 estate is £14,000 for work that is no harder than on a £300,000 one
Red flags
Any one of these is a reason to get a second quote.
- Reluctance to put the fee in writing before you commit
- A percentage charge presented as the only option
- No named contact, or a different person each time you call
- Pressure to decide quickly, or to sign at the funeral director's office
- A fee that includes 'estate administration' without listing what that means
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay a solicitor for probate?
Typical UK ranges are £400 to £1,500 plus VAT for a grant-only fixed fee, £150 to £350 an hour for full administration, or 1 to 5 per cent of the estate where a firm charges a percentage. Get at least two written quotes; the spread between firms for identical work is often several thousand pounds.
Can I change probate solicitors part-way through?
Yes. You can instruct a new firm at any time. You will owe the first firm for work already done, and they must hand over the file, though they may hold the papers until their bill is paid.
What if I'm unhappy with the service?
Complain to the firm in writing first; they must have a procedure and respond within eight weeks. If that does not resolve it, the Legal Ombudsman handles service complaints free of charge, and the SRA handles misconduct.
Does using a local firm matter?
Less than it used to. Almost all of probate is done by post, email and the online portal. A local firm is useful if a property needs visiting or if you would rather sit in a room with someone.
Read the probate guide
Read the probate guideMore guides in this series
Do I need a probate solicitor?
Most straightforward estates don't need one. Here's when a solicitor is worth the cost, when it isn't, and what it should cost either way.
What a probate solicitor actually does
Task by task, what you're paying a probate solicitor for, and which parts you could realistically do yourself.
Related guides
What is probate?
What it means, when you need it, what it costs and how to apply yourself.
What to do when someone dies
The full UK checklist, from the first 24 hours through probate.
Death admin checklist
A week-by-week task list. Printable PDF available.
Tell Us Once explained
How the free government service notifies HMRC, DWP and your council in one go.
Closing accounts after death
Step-by-step for banks, utilities, pensions and subscriptions.
Bereavement financial help
Benefits and grants you may be entitled to claim.
Probate explained
When you need it, what it costs, and whether you need a solicitor.
Arranging a funeral
Every option and what it costs, and how to choose a funeral director.
Prepare your probate application
Gather the estate details, check what you need and build a pack before you apply yourself.
Funeral cost calculator
Estimate a funeral for your area and the choices you are making.
