From 13 July 2026, the Ministry of Justice introduced a series of increases to court and tribunal fees. The majority of the increases reflect the 2024 – 2025 inflation rate, with around 170 fees rising by 2.6%. A small number of fees have also been reduced where the underlying costs of the service fell.
The Ministry of Justice cited cost recovery, greater consistency across fees, and the need to maintain fair access to justice as the main reasons for the changes. The payments will help support the ongoing operation of HM Courts and Tribunals Service.
Help with Fees remains available for eligible applicants, offering reduced court fees or full exemptions for those who cannot afford to pay.
Around 280 fees have been changed in total. The full list can be found here: Court and tribunal fees: updates from July 2026 – GOV.UK. The key increases most relevant to family and private client practitioners and their clients such as probate fee increases are highlighted below.
Written by Aurora Chan, Legal Assistant
Family Fees
- The application fee for divorce or dissolution has increased from £612 to £628.
- The fee for a conditional order (decree nisi) or separation order where defended has increased from £61 to £63.
- Applications made without notice, including applications for financial consent orders, have increased from £60 to £62.
- For contentious financial remedy cases, the fee for a financial remedy order application through Form A has increased from £313 to £321.
- For children matters, most applications, including parental orders, child arrangements orders, specific issue orders and prohibited steps orders, have increased from £263 to £270.
Probate Fees
The most significant change is the increase in the probate application fee, which has risen from £300 to £526. This represents a 75.33% increase. The Ministry of Justice has stated that the increase is intended to support the improvement and modernisation of the probate service.
In February 2025, the Government announced that probate waiting times had halved compared with the previous year. The average overall waiting time had fallen to four weeks, compared with twelve weeks at the end of 2023 and eight weeks at the end of June 2024.
Digitisation and the availability of online applications have played a significant role in reducing waiting times. Digital applications reportedly take around two weeks on average to complete, and with approximately 80% of applications now made online, the shift has helped reduce delays considerably.
The Minister for Courts and Legal Services acknowledged that probate can be a difficult process for families and said that reducing delays helps ensure people receive support more quickly.
These changes form part of the Government’s Plan for Change, which includes recruiting additional staff trained to process applications more efficiently.
By contrast, the fee for additional official copies of a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration has reduced from £16 to £2. The fee had previously increased from £1.50 to £16 in November 2025, representing a 966.67% increase. The Ministry of Justice has stated that the new £2 fee better reflects the cost of providing the service.
The fee for applying to enter or extend a caveat, and for a standing search, has increased from £3 to £4. The fee for depositing wills or inspecting wills at the registry has increased from £23 to £24.
What Does This Mean for Me?
The fee increases mean that applicants will pay more for a range of court applications, particularly those applying for probate after the death of a loved one. However, many of the increases are in line with inflation and are intended to support the continued operation of the courts and tribunal system to ensure access to justice for everyone.
For probate applicants, the substantial increase in the application fee represents a notable additional cost. However, the Government has indicated that the increased revenue will be used to improve and modernise the probate service. If recent reductions in waiting times continue, applicants may benefit from a more efficient and effective service to justify the higher application fee.
When planning any family or probate matter, it is important to consider court fees alongside legal fees and any other third-party costs at an early stage. Understanding the likely overall costs from the outset can help avoid unexpected expenses later in the process.
We offer clear and upfront pricing, advising you of any possible third-party disbursements such as court fees from the outset, so that you can plan ahead confidently.
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