TLDR — What Your Executor Actually Has to Do

by johnireland | Legal Spotlight

Being named as an executor is not an honour — it is a legal job. You are personally responsible for securing assets, valuing everything, paying debts and taxes, applying for probate (now £526), and distributing the estate exactly as the Will directs. The process takes...

What Your Executor Actually Has to Do: The Legal Duties Most People Don’t Understand Until It’s Too Late

by johnireland | Articles

Most people who are named as an executor in someone’s Will have no idea what the role actually involves. They assume it means signing a few forms and distributing some money. In reality, being an executor is a legal position with personal liability, fiduciary...

TLDR — Probate in 2026: The Fee Increase, the Delays, and What You Can Do

by johnireland | Legal Spotlight

On 13 July 2026, probate fees in England and Wales rose from £300 to £526 — a 75 per cent increase. The fee is only part of the cost. Processing delays, HMRC requirements, and incomplete applications can stretch the timeline from weeks to months. Current average...

Probate in 2026 — What the 75% Fee Increase and Processing Delays Mean for Families Settling an Estate

by johnireland | Articles

A 75% Increase Overnight On 13 July 2026, the cost of applying for a grant of probate in England and Wales rose from £300 to £526 — a 75 per cent increase. For many families, the fee itself is manageable. But combined with processing delays, HMRC requirements, and the...

TLDR — Probate Fees Jump 75 Per Cent From 13 July 2026

by johnireland | Legal Spotlight

What Is Changing From 13 July 2026, the probate application fee in England and Wales rises from £300 to £526 — an increase of more than 75 per cent. The cost of additional copies of the grant falls from £16 to £2 each, but the headline increase is significant. Who Is...