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John Berry and Anon 14.48. While some Solicitors do charge flat % fees, this is rare in my experience. And even rarer to be towards 5%. I suggest you do more research.

I've over 20 years in this field, starting at HSBC, who charged a 4% flat fee on Excepted Estates, 5% on non-excepted. I was there during the media uproar at bank Probate charges compared to the 'far more reasonable solicitor fees'. So your assertions are questionable.

Since 2002 I've worked at Solicitor firms, none of which charged % fees. The firm I'm at now charges on time and will offer a fixed fee in relation to the anticipated time but with a mark up for contingencies. Clients get details of both and they decide. Not sure how more transparent we could be.

This is what we'll be publishing from 6th December. I should know, I drafted the details up for our firm last week.

Now, having given you some facts, let's put Solicitor fees aside. The Probate Court Fee is a tax, to suggest otherwise is simply ridiculous. The idea they are removing the fee for estates less than £50K is meaningless as most estates under £5ok don't require Probate. The idea that £1 can drastically increase the Court Fee is an indefensible disgrace. Can't think how lay Exors will try and avoid this? Surely they won't lie...no...Surely not!

Back to fees, as most Wills appoint Lay Exors, putting aside that most think administering an estate is closing down accounts and dishing money out, they can decide whether to instruct a solicitor, or other providers for that matter.....but no one will have a choice regarding these proposed fees. Yet bizarrely, John in particular, you seem to think it's acceptable that such a fee a can be imposed, then grumble about fees, on which you are so clearly mistaken, and which are, in most cases, a choice to be made by Exors.