We reported late last year that probate fees would be rising as the fee structure for obtaining a grant was due to be changed from a fixed fee to a tiered structure based on the value of the estate. This would have resulted in probate fees rising up to £6000 for the highest value estates. This has led to critics of the proposed structure referring to the price raise as a ‘stealth tax’.
This new fee structure was originally due to be implemented on 1 April 2019, but this now appears to have been delayed. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson has confirmed that the increase will not happen as planned next week as the Government are currently preoccupied with Brexit. The Statutory Instrument introducing the probate fee increase has therefore missed its deadline to be laid before Parliament and become law by 1 April.
As of yet no new date has been set for it to be laid before Parliament, but the delay will be a minimum of 21 days.
