Government Find a Will Service

[LizzieW]

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.

[JenB]

The increase is explained here
https://todayswillsandprobate.co.uk/copy-probate-fees-to-rise-from-1-50-to-16/

[jonwarrn]

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.

[GrahamSimons]

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.

[LizzieW]

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.

[brigidmac]

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

[brigidmac]

Im. Going to see which other probate/wills i can order before the 17th.

[brigidmac]

It has arrived ..
Big difference of seeing the executor and main testator on cover page
&.seeing the actual will
Which in this mans case confirmed his sisters married surnames showed that although estranged from.his wife he took care of his daughter & left property abroard to his long term.partner mother of at least 1 other child

[PrawnCocktail]

I can quite see why they've put it up - but I suspect they will have priced many of us out of the market.

Also just off to order a bunch of wills before the 17th!