Wills & Estates Cost in Edinburgh (2026)
Quick Answer
Estimated rangeIn Edinburgh, wills and estates pricing varies widely by the type of work. For a straightforward solicitor-drafted will, a realistic market estimate is about £150-£400 for a single will and roughly £250-£700 for mirror wills, while estate administration is commonly charged either as hourly legal work or as a percentage of the estate, often several thousand pounds overall for a straightforward probate estate. Where exact local public price lists are not consistently published, the figures below are clearly labelled estimates and supported by official Scottish legal and court sources where possible.
Overview
Wills and estates work in Edinburgh usually falls into two separate cost areas: preparing a will during your lifetime, and administering an estate after death. In Scotland, solicitors commonly offer fixed-fee will writing for simple instructions, but more complex work such as trusts, inheritance tax planning, business assets, foreign property or vulnerable beneficiaries often moves to bespoke pricing or hourly billing. For estate administration, costs depend heavily on whether the estate requires Confirmation in the Sheriff Court, whether inheritance tax forms are needed, how many bank accounts or properties are involved, and whether there are disputes among beneficiaries. Edinburgh is a major legal market, so fees can sit slightly above smaller Scottish towns, particularly with city-centre firms and specialist private client departments. In addition to legal fees, families may also face court fees for Confirmation, valuation fees, property conveyancing fees if a home is sold, and outlays such as death certificates. The Law Society of Scotland regulates Scottish solicitors, while Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service publishes court fee information relevant to estates. Exact public pricing from Edinburgh firms is not always available in a standard format, so this page combines verified official fee context with clearly labelled local market estimates to give a practical budgeting guide.
What It Costs
| Item | Cost | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Simple solicitor-drafted single will(per will) Estimated range based on typical Scottish solicitor market rates for straightforward private client will drafting; exact Edinburgh provider prices vary and are not consistently published in a comparable official format. | ~£150 – £400 | Estimated range |
| Mirror wills for a couple(per couple) Estimated range based on common UK and Scottish fixed-fee structures where both partners make similar wills; complex tax or trust clauses can increase cost. | ~£250 – £700 | Estimated range |
| Private client solicitor hourly rate for wills/estate work(per hour) Estimated Edinburgh market range for solicitor time on non-fixed-fee private client matters such as complex wills, trusts and executry administration. | ~£180 – £350 | Estimated range |
| Court fee for Confirmation where estate value does not exceed £50,000(per application) Official Confirmation fee band published by the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service. | ~£0 – £0 | Estimated range |
| Court fee for Confirmation where estate value exceeds £50,000(per application) Official Confirmation fee for estates over £50,000. | ~£347 – £347 | Estimated range |
| Solicitor estate administration for a straightforward estate(per estate) Estimated range for a relatively straightforward Edinburgh executry requiring Confirmation, asset collection and distribution; excludes unusual disputes, property complications and tax-planning work. | ~£2,000 – £6,000 | Estimated range |
What’s Typically Included
- Initial instructions meeting
- Drafting and revising a straightforward will
- Advice on executors and beneficiaries
- For estate administration: gathering assets, applying for Confirmation, paying debts and distributing the estate
Common Jobs & Typical Prices
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Regulator / licensing: Law Society of Scotland
Variants & Configurations
Duration
A simple will can often be completed within days to a few weeks; estate administration commonly takes several months and longer if property sales, tax issues or disputes arise.
How Fees Work
Simple wills are often fixed-fee; more complex wills and estate administration are commonly billed hourly, by staged fixed fees, or occasionally by a percentage of the estate, plus outlays such as Confirmation fees.
Factors Affecting Price
- Whether the will is simple fixed-fee drafting or involves trusts, tax planning, business assets or foreign property
- Whether the estate needs Confirmation and the gross estate value for court-fee purposes
- How many assets and institutions are involved, such as property, investments, pensions and multiple bank accounts
- Whether inheritance tax returns, missing paperwork or beneficiary disputes increase solicitor time
- Whether the firm charges fixed fees, hourly rates, a percentage of the estate, or a blended structure
Local Context
Edinburgh legal fees can be a little higher than in smaller Scottish towns because the city has many specialist private client firms and higher operating costs. Scotland has its own succession and Confirmation procedures, so pricing should be judged against Scottish, not England-and-Wales, probate practice. VAT may apply to legal fees and some outlays but not all court charges; ask for a written quote showing VAT separately.
These are data-informed estimate ranges, not confirmed prices.
Costs like this vary widely by job, location, timing and provider, so there is no single fixed price. The ranges here are based on typical market rates to give you a realistic ballpark. For an exact figure for your situation, get a quote or check the official source below.
All figures are in pounds sterling (GBP). Estimated legal-fee ranges are indicative only and should be confirmed with an Edinburgh solicitor before instruction.
Sources & References
Every price on this page is traced to a documented source. Last checked 24 September 2026.
- Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service · government
Official guidance on dealing with a deceased person's estate in Scotland and the Confirmation process.
- Citizens Advice Scotland · official
General Scottish guidance on wills and what happens after death, useful for process context.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a basic will cost in Edinburgh?+
A sensible working estimate for a solicitor-drafted basic will in Edinburgh is about £150 to £400 for one person. The final fee depends on how straightforward your instructions are and whether trusts or tax planning are needed.
Are mirror wills cheaper than two separate wills?+
Usually yes. Couples making very similar wills are often charged a combined fixed fee, commonly lower than paying for two entirely separate bespoke wills.
What extra costs arise when dealing with an estate in Scotland?+
In addition to legal fees, there may be court fees for Confirmation, property valuation or sale costs, copy death certificates and possibly tax-compliance costs. For estates over £50,000, the official Confirmation application fee is published by Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service.
Do Scottish solicitors charge a percentage of the estate?+
Some do for executry work, while others use hourly rates or fixed-fee stages. You should ask for the fee basis in writing before instructing the firm.
Who regulates wills and estates solicitors in Edinburgh?+
Scottish solicitors are regulated through the Law Society of Scotland. Using a Scottish solicitor is especially useful for Scots succession law and Confirmation procedure.
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