New fee updates include probate changes, inflation increases and Jade’s Law exemption
The Ministry of Justice has announced a series of changes to court and tribunal fees due to take effect on 13 July 2026, subject to parliamentary approval.
According to the government, the measures are intended to strengthen cost recovery, improve consistency in the way court and tribunal fees are charged, and maintain fair access to justice. The Help with Fees remissions scheme will continue to support people on lower incomes who cannot afford court or tribunal fees.
Among the changes is the introduction of an exemption from court fees for local authorities making applications to the family court under Section 18 of the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024, commonly referred to as Jade’s Law. The exemption will come into force from the date the relevant provisions of the Act are commenced.
The Ministry of Justice is also increasing a range of fees across HM Courts and Tribunals Service to reflect inflation. In total, 170 fees will rise by 2.6%, in line with inflation for 2024/25, while 27 fees will increase by an average of 34%, equivalent to £6.19, to account for accumulated inflation. Four fees will be reduced to reflect lower underlying costs.
A further change affects probate services. The probate application fee will increase to £526, with the government stating that the revised amount reflects the cost of providing the service, rising inflation and continued investment in delivering a more efficient and modern probate system.
At the same time, applicants requesting copies of probate documents alongside their probate application will benefit from a new reduced fee. Instead of paying £16, they will pay £2, a change the government says better reflects the cost of providing that service.
The reforms also introduce higher fees across the Residential Property Division of the Property Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal. Eighty fees will increase as part of the second phase of a wider programme to establish a new fee framework covering leasehold disputes, most residential property cases, and park and mobile home cases.
Under the new framework, fees are grouped into one of five tiers based on case type and access to justice considerations. Most cases will attract an application fee of £200 and a hearing fee of £300, while others will carry an application fee of £114 and a hearing fee of £227.
Some categories will continue to benefit from reduced or waived fees. Appeals against rent increases will cost £47 with no hearing fee, applications to determine a pitch fee will cost £23 with no hearing fee, and matters concerning urgent building safety will remain free of charge.
The government confirmed that the July reforms apply the new framework to most Property Chamber cases. Fees for Electronic Communications Code cases and building safety cases will remain free until early 2027, while the framework was extended to cases affected by the Renters’ Rights Act on 1 May 2026.