UK Wills, Probate & Trusts Market Report 2026
This is the 13th edition of the report published in October 2026 (45 page PDF report).
Table of Contents
Will writing is unregulated although some areas of probate are. 10
Fragmented market but some leading volume players growing market share. 11
MARKET TRENDS & developments. 15
Population of 55s and over grew six times faster than population as a whole. 15
Deaths increase in England and Wales in 2025. 16
Decreases in deaths in both Scotland and Northern Ireland. 17
Recent surveys show that majority of adults still do not have a will 18
Probate fees increase by 75% in 2026. 19
Justice Committee calls for review of thresholds below which no fees paid. 19
Probate claims issued in the High Court increase by almost 13% in 2025. 20
Latest evaluation of the MOJ’s probate reform programme. 21
Probate cases in the system increase in last 12 months. 22
New Digital Assets Act offers some clarification on adding these to a will 22
Over a third of wills include one or more trusts. 23
Legacy income falls in 2025 after an exceptional peak year in 2024. 23
Co-operative Legal Services Ltd. 26
Dignity Legal Services/Farewill 26
Premier Solicitors (Bedford) Ltd 30
Market still growing but slower than previous year. 33
Grants of representation issued decreased in 2025 for first time in three years. 34
Over 8 out of 10 grants of representation issued were digital in 2025. 36
Number of POAs applied for fell in 2025 but growing again in 2026. 36
Number of trusts increases for first time in five years. 38
Deaths projected to increase up to 2029/30. 40
