Can probate fees be paid from the estate?

When dealing with the death of a loved one, many Executors find themselves worrying about the costs of administering the estate and how fees can be paid. Acting as an Executor or Administrator is not a paid role, and it’s common to feel concerned that it may leave you out of pocket. In this blog, we’ll cover what probate is and whether probate (and other fees) can be paid out of the estate.

What is probate?

Probate, known as the Grant of Probate or Grant of Representation in England and Wales or Confirmation in Scotland, is obtained by the Executor to give them the legal right to administer the deceased’s estate. When someone dies without a Will, known as dying intestate, this role is referred to as the Administrator, and probate is called Letters of Administration.

Whether the individual died with or without a Will, the Executor or Administrator (Personal Representative) will need to work out whether probate is required. Generally, probate is required if the deceased solely owned property and/or has a certain amount of money in the bank. This amount is individual to each UK financial institution, as they set their own probate thresholds.

What is the difference between probate and estate administration?

Although probate is not required for every estate, the Executor or Administrator must always administer the estate. This process is referred to as estate administration; probate is just one part of the wider estate administration process. When administering an estate, the Personal Representative’s tasks may include notifying utility companies, preparing tax forms, selling assets and property, producing estate accounts, and more. Learn more about the difference between probate and estate administration.

How much does probate cost?

The fee for obtaining a Grant of Probate is £300 for all applications, except those where the estate is £5,000 or less – in this case, there is no fee to pay. Many Personal Representatives choose to instruct someone to apply on their behalf to take away the stress of the complicated paperwork; this will incur an additional fee. Whilst some providers will operate under a fixed fee, others might work on time and expense prices, and others may charge a percentage of the estate. There are different levels of professional services available to you, from simply obtaining the Grant of Probate to support with the full estate administration process. Learn more Kings Court Trust's transparent and fixed pricing.

Can probate fees be paid from the estate?

So, how are probate fees paid? The probate application fee can be paid online or via cheque (if applying by post) and then reimbursed from the estate later. Similarly, if a professional is undertaking the work on behalf of the Executor or Administrator, the cost of this service can be claimed back from the estate.

Alternatively, an Executor bank account can be set up using the estate’s funds so that they do not have to pay any upfront fees themselves. However, this can depend on the amount of money in the estate and which financial institution the deceased banked with, and you may need the Grant of Probate before paying out any estate expenses from the deceased’s funds.

Can money be distributed to beneficiaries before probate is granted?

Although there are some exceptions, the estate should usually never be paid out until the Executor has a Grant of Probate. Even if probate is not required, paying beneficiaries should still be one of the last tasks the Personal Representative undertakes. This is to ensure all debts and liabilities are paid from the estate first. It is usually possible to pay the funeral bill from the estate before probate is granted.

Additionally, it is advisable that the Executor places a statutory advertisement in a local paper so that any unknown creditors or beneficiaries have the chance to come forward. The recommended period for this advertisement is a minimum of two months, after which the estate can be distributed as planned. This has the added benefit of providing protection against disputes from unknown beneficiaries.

What can Executors do before probate?

Before probate, there are certain tasks that an Executor should complete. This includes but is not limited to:

• Locating important documents, including the Will, birth, marriage, and death certificates, pension details, insurance policies, and more
• Registering the death
• Arranging the funeral
• Detailing the estate's assets and liabilities so that the value can be calculated
• Valuing any property
• Completing the relevant Inheritance Tax form (if applicable)

As probate is not needed for these tasks, the Executor is not the only person who can complete them; however, it is common for them to take responsibility. Find out more about the initial steps to take when someone dies.

What other expenses can be deducted from the estate?

When acting as Executor or Administrator, you must keep a record of every expense you’ve had to pay so that estate accounts can be prepared, and reasonable expenses can be claimed back from the estate. Reasonable expenses are those paid by the Executor during estate administration that are unavoidable and are necessary to the estate/its beneficiaries. Other than probate fees, these may include:

• Valuation services
• The cost of clearing the property
• Legal fees for property sale
• Travel expenses
• Inheritance Tax fees
• Other legal fees

Claiming expenses which are not reasonable could lead to delays in the estate administration process, as the beneficiaries are entitled to request records of everything that the Personal Representative is spending so that they receive their maximum inheritance.

When can the Executor pay beneficiaries?

Once all debts have been settled and assets accounted for, the Executor can then begin the process of paying out the estate to the beneficiaries. It is at this stage that the Personal Representative(s) can also be reimbursed for any expenses.

The Executor or Administrator should also produce estate accounts for the beneficiaries so that they can review the details of the estate’s make-up and how the share due to them has been calculated. This should include the estate’s complete assets, liabilities, fees, and expenses during administration. Essentially, estate accounts show all money coming in and out of the estate.

What help is available to Executors?

There are certain estate funding products that are available to help Executors cover the costs involved with probate and estate administration. Additionally, there are solutions available to keep the beneficiaries happy and avoid disputes. For example, Inheritance Tax loans, inheritance advances, and funding for estate expenses.

Instructing a professional that can provide a fixed, upfront cost not only assures Personal Representatives that they will not be charged any unexpected fees, but it also means that they can hand over the difficult and time-consuming work to an expert.

Here at Kings Court Trust, we can obtain a Grant of Probate for £995 (excluding VAT and the probate fee), taking all of the complicated paperwork on for you. We will then send your copies of the Grant to you, allowing you to begin the estate administration process. Additionally, we provide a full range of specialist estate solutions, such as completing the full estate administration on your behalf so that you have peace of mind that everything is taken care of.

If you would like to know more about probate, estate administration, or how Kings Court Trust can help, call our Client Services Team on 0300 303 9000 or fill in the form below.