Silver probate
valuations from £49
HMRC-compliant valuation of silver, delivered in 2-3 days
No visit required in most cases.
Send us your photos. Our experts do the rest.
Rated ‘Excellent’ on Google and Trustpilot
Online or in person valuation? Both Available
Swift Values provides probate valuations for silver, silver plate and estate silver collections, either online or in person. In most cases, clear photographs are enough for our specialists to assess the items, with site visits available for larger or more complex collections.
Online Valuation
£49 up to 5 items – £99 for 6 or more
Suitable for around 95% of silver probate valuations, including ordinary silver, silver plate, flatware, tea sets, trays, trophies, candlesticks and general estate silver.
Most silver found in estates is straightforward to value accurately from clear photographs, making an online report the fastest and most cost-effective option.
In-Person Valuation – from £298
Recommended for larger silver collections, time-consuming inventories, or higher-value pieces where a physical inspection may add value.
This may include important makers such as Paul Storr, substantial canteens, academic spoon collections, early silver, rare provincial pieces, or collections where marks, condition, scale or attribution need closer assessment.
What we can value
We provide specialist probate valuations for antiques, collectables and older household items. Whether the estate includes a few inherited pieces or a more substantial collection, our valuers can assess them for HMRC.
ITEMS WE CAN VALUE FOR PROBATE
Flatware & Cutlery
Old English, Fiddle, Hanoverian, Bead and Kings pattern spoons, forks, ladles, serving pieces, part canteens and full silver services.
Tea & Coffee Services
Silver teapots, coffee pots, hot water jugs, cream jugs, sugar bowls and salvers by makers such as Elkington, Mappin & Webb and Walker & Hall.
Candlesticks & Table Silver
Silver candlesticks, entrée dishes, sauce boats, cruets, toast racks, bottle coasters, waiters, trays and dining table pieces.
Boxes, Vinaigrettes & Small Silver
Snuff boxes, card cases, vinaigrettes, cigarette cases, sovereign cases, match safes, christening mugs and other small collectable silver.
Georgian & Victorian Silver
Earlier silver including provincial pieces, bright-cut decoration, repoussé work, armorial engraving and notable makers such as Paul Storr and Hester Bateman.
Silver Plate & Electroplate
EPNS, Sheffield plate, plated tea sets, trays, flatware, candlesticks and decorative metalwares with limited but sometimes useful estate value.
Specialist Collections
Academic spoon collections, early hallmarked silver, presentation pieces, trophies, Arts & Crafts silver, Liberty pieces and higher-value maker-led collections.
“Valuations are the biggest single area of risk, accounting for a large part of our compliance checks. You are strongly advised to instruct a qualified independent valuer.”
Source: Inheritance Tax Toolkit, HMRC, Published July 2018
Your silver probate valuation in 3 easy steps
Swift Values provides a simple, cost-effective way to meet your probate valuation obligations. Here’s how it works:
Take photos
Photograph each piece with your phone. Watch our short guide showing exactly how. No need to list or itemise each piece.
We value the items
Our expert valuers assess everything, drawing on decades of experience and will ask questions if more detail is needed.
Receive your HMRC compliant report
Typically delivered within 2-3 working days and prepared under Section 160 IHTA 1984 – ready to submit with confidence.
How to photograph your silver
for a probate valuation
Clear photographs are usually enough for us to value silver accurately, including hallmarks, makers’ marks, condition and pattern.
You do not need professional photography or a home visit. In this short video, Mark explains exactly what to photograph so we can prepare your probate report quickly and accurately. Mark has over 20 years’ experience and is a member of The Silver Society.
See exactly what you’ll receive
Every Swift Values report is a professionally formatted PDF, ready to submit with your probate application. It includes:
Fully illustrated PDF reportHigh-value item breakdown for IHT 407Valuer notes to detail specificsSection 160 compliance statementSigned declaration for IHT400Valuer bio
Trusted by
Why executors choose
Swift Values for silver
Silver is one of the easiest estate items to overvalue or undervalue. Executors may assume family silver is worth very little, or rely on old insurance figures that are far higher than its probate value.
Trusted by thousands of executors
Rated ‘Excellent’ on Google. Over 1,000 valuations completed UK-wide.
What’s included in your probate valuation?
Our online silver valuations start at just £49 for a few items (up to 5) and £99 for a larger collection (6 or more), which suits the vast majority of estates.
If anything requires specialist input, we’ll tell you early and confirm any additional costs before proceeding. No surprises.
Service
A few items (up to 5)
A larger collection (6 or more)
Price
£49
£99
Fair use policy
Is there a limit to what’s covered in our fee?
No. Whether you choose our £49 option for a few items or £99 for a larger collection, you’ll always receive a valuation and a report for everything you submit. Last year, 99% of our valuations were completed at the headline price and needed no further research.
In the 1% of cases that need more work, the only thing that changes is how precise the figure is. Most silver can be valued quickly from its hallmarks and weight. If a piece carries an important maker’s mark, or a large collection adds up to a significant sum, we’ll still value it within your fee, but the initial valuation may need to be expressed as a wider range, for example, £15,000 to £35,000. That gives you a reliable indication of where the silver sits in the market, but narrowing it further may require more detailed research into makers, dates and hallmarks, comparable auction results or an inspection in person.
If the estate is comfortably below the inheritance tax threshold, a wider range usually makes no practical difference. You can use the top figure and move on. If inheritance tax is due, a narrower figure can make a big difference. For example, further research might narrow a range of £15,000 to £35,000 down to £24,000. Using £24,000 rather than the £35,000 top figure takes £11,000 off the value of the estate, and at 40% inheritance tax that means £4,400 less tax to pay. Our valuer will explain what would be needed to narrow the figure down and what that would cost. You can then decide whether to go ahead. Nothing extra happens without your agreement.
Ready to start your probate valuation?
From just £49. Delivered in 2-3 working days.
HMRC-compliant – guaranteed, or your money back.
Questions? Call the office on 0330 088 4099
Silver is often one part of a wider estate. See everything we can value for probate, from house contents and jewellery to cars and number plates.