DIY Probate vs Using a Solicitor

When you are named as executor, one of the first decisions you face is whether to manage probate yourself or instruct a solicitor. Neither is automatically the right call. It depends on the complexity of the estate, your available time, and how comfortable you are with an unfamiliar administrative process.

Below is a balanced view of both routes - costs, what each involves in practice, and when a hybrid approach makes the most sense.

The Short Answer

For a straightforward estate - clear will, no disputes, no overseas assets, estate below the inheritance tax threshold, simple mix of property and bank accounts - DIY probate is entirely feasible. Many thousands of executors handle this themselves every year without a solicitor.

For a complex estate - overseas assets, disputed will, trusts, significant IHT, or an executor with very limited time - a solicitor's involvement is likely to be worth the cost.

It is not all-or-nothing either. You can do most of the work yourself and use a solicitor for specific parts where you need expertise.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Understanding the Costs

DIY probate costs

If you handle probate yourself, the fixed costs are:

• £300 - the Probate Registry court fee (for estates over £5,000)
• £16 per sealed copy of the grant - order at least one per institution, typically 5–10 for most estates
• Valuation costs - a RICS probate valuation for property may cost £200–£400 depending on location and property type
• Any specialist fees for specific tasks (e.g. conveyancer for property transfer, accountant for IHT)

Your time is not free. For a typical estate, expect 30–60 hours spread over several months - gathering documents, writing to institutions, preparing accounts, managing the distribution. See our guide to probate costs for a full breakdown.

Solicitor costs

Solicitor fees vary widely. Common structures are:

• Fixed fee - many firms offer fixed fees, typically £1,500 to £3,500 for a simple estate, more for complex ones
• Percentage of estate - some firms charge 1–4% of the gross estate value, which on a £400,000 estate could mean £4,000–£16,000
• Hourly rate - for some firms or for ad hoc advice, rates typically run at £200–£350 per hour

All solicitor fees are charged in addition to the £300 court fee. The firm does not absorb that cost.

When comparing quotes, ask whether the fee is fixed or estimated, what it includes, and what would trigger extras. A percentage-based fee on a large estate can be dramatically higher than a fixed-fee quote for exactly the same work.

The Hybrid Approach

DIY versus solicitor is not a binary choice. Many executors handle most of the administration themselves and bring in professionals for specific tasks - often the best balance of cost and assurance.

Common examples include:

• DIY probate application + conveyancer for property. You manage the grant application, notify banks, and handle distribution - but instruct a conveyancer to deal with the legal side of selling or transferring property.
• DIY administration + accountant for IHT. If the estate is close to the IHT threshold or involves complex reliefs, an accountant specialising in estates can prepare the IHT400 while you handle everything else.
• One-off legal advice. Some solicitors offer a fixed-fee consultation to answer specific questions - useful if you hit an issue mid-administration without wanting to hand over the whole case.

Unbundling like this is more common than people realise, and most solicitors are happy to accommodate it. You keep control of costs and still get professional input where it actually matters.

What Settle Is (and Isn't)

Settle is a structured DIY route for executors managing a straightforward estate. It is not a legal advice service, and it does not replace a solicitor where professional advice is genuinely needed.

What Settle provides:

• A task tracker covering every phase of administration, from gathering documents to final distribution
• An institution log to track which banks and organisations you have contacted and where each is up to
• A document checklist based on your specific estate
• Clear, plain-English guidance on each step written for executors, not lawyers

The Settle workspace is coming soon. The assessment and all guides are free now. The full workspace will be available as a simple one-off upgrade -- join the waitlist to be notified when it launches.

If you are weighing up whether to use Settle, a solicitor, or go it entirely alone, our guide to probate without a solicitor covers the DIY route in more detail, and what is probate gives background on the process itself.

When to Instruct a Solicitor

There are situations where a solicitor is clearly the right call, regardless of cost:

• Overseas assets - property or accounts abroad require expertise in foreign legal systems and often need a local lawyer in the relevant jurisdiction
• Disputes or contested will - if anyone is challenging the will or making a claim against the estate, you need legal representation
• Trusts - if the will creates a trust, the ongoing responsibilities as trustee are more complex and ongoing
• Complex inheritance tax - large estates, business property relief, agricultural relief, or other specialist reliefs benefit from professional tax advice
• No capacity - if you genuinely do not have the time or ability to manage the process, outsourcing is a rational choice, not a sign of failure

Be honest about the estate's complexity - and your own situation. If you are unsure, a first consultation with a solicitor costs very little and can make the picture much clearer.

For a full cost breakdown across the different options, see our guide to probate costs. For a step-by-step view of the full process, see our how to apply for probate guide.