Last Updated on 18th March 2025
Elsewhere on this website we have explained what a caveat is, how one can be entered, but one question that reoccurs time and again is, ‘How much does it cost to remove a caveat?’
For expert guidance on inheritance and will disputes contact our specialist solicitors for a free consultation. Call us on 0333 888 0407 or send an email to [email protected].
What are caveats?
Before we deal with the cost of removing a caveat, let’s just start with a quick overview of what a caveat actually is.
A caveat is a legal device that is used to prevent a grant of probate being issued where there are questions about the validity of a will or a dispute concerning the administration of an estate.
By lodging a caveat the authorities are placed on notice of the dispute and will not issue a grant of probate while it is in force. This will prevent the the estate being administered, and stop the assets from being distributed
How are caveats entered?
A caveat can be entered either by completing form PA8A or by visiting the Probate Registry and applying in person.
Details of the person who has passed away need to be given. If there are any discrepancies between the information provided, and the information on the death certificate, the caveat is likely to be ineffective. It is therefore important to ensure that the details provided are accurate.
How long is the caveat effective for?
Once entered, a caveat will stay in force for six months, but it can be extended.
If someone wants to have the caveat removed then a Warning needs to be issued. The person who entered the caveat can then respond, if they wish to do so, by entering an Appearance. Once an Appearance is entered the caveat will be ‘sealed’ by the court, which means that it will remain in force indefinitely until the inheritance dispute is resolved. It can then only be removed either:
- by consent between the parties to the dispute, subject to approval of the court, or
- by order of the Court.
How much does it cost to remove a caveat?
Our charges for removing a caveat start at £350 plus VAT and a £10 court fee, where the caveat has not been sealed.
Included in that fee is a review the case and advice from a specialist contentious probate lawyer on the options for you going forward.
If the caveat has been sealed, then there will be more work involved in having it removed, and this will depend on the specific facts of the dispute. In those cases we will be happy to assess the case and let you know what the cost is likely to be.
Free consultation
Our Legal 500 recommended solicitors offer a free consultation service, and will be happy to provide you with details of what the likely costs will be in your specific case.
Call us on 0333 888 0404 or send an email with details of your case to [email protected].