Dawn Joughin: What could the probate fee hike mean for your clients?

Due to take effect in May

clock • 4 min read

If the proposed probate fee increase becomes permanent, the possibility of future hikes cannot be ruled out, says Dawn Joughin, and so professional advisers need to inform their clients of the implications

Alongside the proposed changes to National Insurance Contribution (NIC) levels, the increase in probate fees was a prominent feature of the recent Budget. And, much like the negative reaction that forced an immediate U-turn by Chancellor Philip Hammond over NICs, the new probate fee schedule is running into trouble. It has been thrown into disarray by a report from the influential parliamentary joint committee on statutory instruments, which concluded the new fees bore the "hallmarks of taxes rather than fees." The Lord Chancellor, it added, "is not permitted to impose a tax". In resp...

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