The Estate Registry (TER) has stated that the upcoming increase to Probate application costs will make matters more difficult for bereaved families.
Probate application fees are due to rise again this month, with the latest increase being a sizeable one. It will take the fee to £526, from £300 – which means this particular charge has gone up by over 75% in the past two years. Now TER, which is one of the primary end-of-life administration providers in the UK, has said it will exacerbate an already hard situation for people who have lost a loved one.
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has claimed the planned increases to a range of court charges are about bringing the Probate system into the modern world and making it more efficient. Many bereaved people may look at them and only see the fact they will have to pay more for Probate solicitors in North Wales to administer an estate, however.
Howard Enders is TER’s Chief Operating Officer. He told Today’s Wills and Probate that enhancing Probate processes was a positive change, but that the level of the fee increases would be hard for people to absorb.
He then added:
“The increase to £526 may appear modest in isolation, but when combined with legal fees, valuation costs, inheritance tax considerations and other administrative expenses, the overall financial impact can be significant.”
Here at Bennett Smith Solicitors, we have an expert team of Wills and Probate solicitors in North Wales. Get in touch right away if you need estate management help.
