Tax on the bereaved

sir – I too am at a loss to find any justification for the indecent increase in probate fees (Letters, April 10).

An increase from £100 or so to tens of thousands is disgraceful. How is the average person able to afford this when a deceased person’s assets are frozen on death?

This presumably means obtaining a bank loan and going through a lot of red tape, causing even more distress at a very difficult time. David Jingle London SW10