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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: LizzieW on Tuesday 04 November 25 12:46 GMT (UK)

Title: Government Find a Will Service
Post by: LizzieW on Tuesday 04 November 25 12:46 GMT (UK)
I don't know if this has already been posted on here, but I couldn't see it.

I've just heard that effective from 17 November 2025, the fee charged by the Government Find a Will Service will increase from £1.50 to £16 per document.  https://www.gov.uk/search-will-probate

I presume that is to order a will.  Often I've just searched on line (free so far) and made a note of date of probate and how much money was left. I rarely buy wills, unless they're old and I need to find more information that I can find on line.
Title: Re: Government Find a Will Service
Post by: JenB on Tuesday 04 November 25 13:04 GMT (UK)
The increase is explained here
https://todayswillsandprobate.co.uk/copy-probate-fees-to-rise-from-1-50-to-16/
Title: Re: Government Find a Will Service
Post by: jonwarrn on Tuesday 04 November 25 13:22 GMT (UK)
Thanks for letting us know.
We were warned something like this was coming when they withdrew their plans to digitise and then destroy the original wills and administrations back to 1858.
Even so, the steepness of the hike in price is insane.
Title: Re: Government Find a Will Service
Post by: GrahamSimons on Tuesday 04 November 25 14:28 GMT (UK)
The increase is explained here
https://todayswillsandprobate.co.uk/copy-probate-fees-to-rise-from-1-50-to-16/
....and it seems reasonable in the light of the explanation there.
Certainly there's no possible justification for taxpayers' funds being used to subsidise copying of Wills and probate to family historians; however there might be a weak case for people currently acting as executors or administrators.
Title: Re: Government Find a Will Service
Post by: LizzieW on Tuesday 04 November 25 16:40 GMT (UK)
Quote
however there might be a weak case for people currently acting as executors or administrators.

I think the price for executors is also going up to a much more unaffordable figure for probate.
Title: Re: Government Find a Will Service
Post by: brigidmac on Wednesday 05 November 25 02:19 GMT (UK)
I've just sent off for probate details
I thought the will was included

Let's see how much detail I get for the bargain price of £1,50
& how long it takes