An expert in wills and probates has said that controversial
Government changes to probate fees 'could be seen' as a tax
aimed at the wealthy.
The new fees represent a dramatic increase on the current costs
to secure the necessary probate documentation after a family
member's death, rising from a maximum of £215 to
£6,000 for an estate of more than £2 million.
A sliding scale system is applied as estates get smaller but the
decision has been met with disapproval across the board, including
from leading lawyer Lorna Payne, a private wealth specialist at
Leamington Spa firm Wright Hassall.
On introducing the changes, Parliamentary Under Secretary of
State for Justice, Lucy Frazer QC MP, said the extra cash would go
towards helping to fund the court system, which is currently the
subject of a £1 billion modernisation investment.
