What if the estate is small?

Banks and building societies have varying rules that allow access to the deceased’s funds without a grant of probate if the estate is very small, approximately $10,000 to $15,000. Enquiry should be made of the body concerned to ascertain at what level it will insist on a grant of probate before the executor can deal with the funds.

Where the estate is small, that is less than $15,000, no court fees are payable if an application for probate is necessary.