An indefensible increase in probate fees

sir – The increase in probate fees (report, February 8) is completely indefensible.

Obtaining probate does not involve attendance at court with an entourage of solicitors and barristers: it is a paper application. For probate, an oath is not even required now – just a “statement of truth”, for what that is worth.

Applications to the Court of Protection are dealt with in much the same way, as are applications for registration of lasting powers of attorney. Fees for these have recently been reduced, as a surplus had built up.

I cannot believe, having dealt with probate matters for many of my 50 years as a solicitor, that the Probate Registries cost more to run. They are quite the most efficient, businesslike and helpful part of the judicial system.

Ralph J Cross

Hereford

Long known as Reading the Will, Edward Prentis’s painting in fact shows a bill arriving