In a close vote, the House of Lords has approved UK Government plans to amend the probate fee system to increase probate fees on estates worth £2 million or more.

Under these controversial plans, which have already been criticised by the private client industry as a “death tax”, these estates will pay £6,000 in fees, rather than the current flat fee of £155. Estates with a value between £1 million and £1.6 million will have to pay £4,000. 

 However, an amendement was added to the Order, proposed by Lord Beecham (Labour) wh...