The UK government’s plans to increase probate fees to as much as £6,000 have been approved narrowly following a committee hearing last week (7 February 2019).

The Fourteenth Delegated Legislation Committee voted by nine votes to eight to approve a statutory instrument (SI) applying a scale of charges based on the value of estates rather than the current £215 (or £155 for those using a solicitor) flat fee.

This will now go before the House of Commons where it will be passed unless there’s a majority of objections. The changes would come into force in April this year.

This “death tax” has already been slammed by industry experts....