Silver in an estate needs a date-of-death value for Inheritance Tax, and then a decision about realising it. For most estate silver the open market value is its metal value, which is weight times purity times the silver price. We provide a written record of tested weight, purity and the price paid, which supports the estate accounts. Formal date-of-death valuations for HMRC should come from a qualified valuer.
Silver is in more estates than you would think
Cutlery canteens, tea services, trays, christening gifts, photograph frames and jewellery turn up in a large share of UK estates, usually from a generation that received silver as wedding presents and then used it twice a year. Executors are frequently left with several kilos of it and no idea what it is worth.
The useful thing to know early: metal value is calculable in minutes and is usually the realistic figure. Sterling holds £— of silver per gram at today's price. A typical canteen and tea service together might run to three or four kilos, which puts a meaningful number into the estate accounts.
Valuations for probate
For Inheritance Tax, assets are valued at open market value at the date of death, not at the date you get round to selling. That distinction matters for silver, because the spot price moves and the two dates can be months apart.
To be clear about what we can and cannot provide. A formal probate valuation for HMRC purposes should come from a suitably qualified valuer, particularly where an estate is large, contested, or contains items that may be worth more than their metal. What we provide is a written record of what was tested and paid: itemised weights, XRF-confirmed purities, the spot price used, the rate applied and the sum transferred. For ordinary scrap silver realised close to the valuation date, that record is normally what an executor needs to evidence the figure in the estate accounts. If in doubt, ask the estate's solicitor which they require before selling.
| Estate silver | Sterling weight | Metal value | We pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jewellery and small pieces | 400g | £— | £— |
| Canteen of flatware | 1,400g | £— | £— |
| Canteen, service and tray | 3,500g | £— | £— |
| Full house clearance lot | 6,000g | £— | £— |
Live figures at today's spot price, for illustration. Actual figures depend on tested weight and purity.
Check for the exceptions before selling
Executors have a duty to realise reasonable value, which makes this step more than a nicety. Set aside anything that is Georgian or earlier, carries a recognised maker's mark, shows Arts and Crafts or notable Art Deco design, bears armorials or documented provenance, is a complete cased service, or carries a mark from a closed assay office such as York, Exeter, Newcastle, Chester or Glasgow. Any of those can be worth a multiple of metal value and warrants a specialist opinion.
We will flag anything that looks like it falls into that group when we test it, and return it free rather than buying it. We would rather lose a sale than have an executor discover afterwards that something was worth more.
How estate submissions work
The mechanics are the same as any other submission: weigh, quote, accept to lock the rate for 48 hours, free tracked QR label, XRF test and weigh on arrival, payment within 48 hours of receipt. What differs is the paperwork and the scale.
- Authority to sell. We ask for evidence of the executor's authority, normally the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration, before releasing payment.
- Payment destination. Payment is made to an account in the name of the estate or the executor as named on that grant, which is also our basic identity anchor.
- Itemised records. You receive a written breakdown of each item's tested weight and purity, the spot price used and the rate applied, suitable for the estate file.
- Larger estates. For substantial or complex lots, email us first and we will advise on batching, multiple labels and timing so nothing is posted in one unwieldy parcel.
On identity checks generally: we verify identity at the payment stage rather than at submission, and pay only to a bank account in the seller's or estate's name. That keeps the quote and label friction-free while ensuring money goes where it should.
For solicitors and clearance firms
Firms handling estate silver regularly can work with us on a trade basis: a named contact, batched submissions, consolidated documentation for your files, and settlement by Faster Payments on acceptance. The rate is the same flat 80% of live spot that everyone gets. We do not operate volume tiers, so there is no negotiation to have and no better rate held back for larger accounts. Details are on our probate solicitors page.
Realistic expectations
For the majority of estate silver, mixed canteens, worn hollowware, common patterns and incomplete sets, metal value meets or exceeds what the same items realise at auction once commission of typically 15 to 20% plus lotting and photography fees are taken off, and it does so in days rather than months. That certainty and speed matter when an estate is being wound up.
For the exceptional pieces, auction is the right route and we will say so. Those two statements are not in tension: they are just different categories of object, and the ten minutes it takes to sort one from the other is time well spent.
Frequently asked questions
How is silver valued for probate?
At open market value on the date of death. For ordinary silverware that is normally its metal value: weight times purity times the silver price on that date. Exceptional pieces with antique or maker value are valued separately and usually need a qualified valuer.
Can InstaSilver provide a probate valuation?
We provide a written record of itemised tested weights, XRF-confirmed purities, the spot price used and the sum paid, which supports the estate accounts for silver realised as metal. A formal date-of-death valuation for HMRC should come from a suitably qualified valuer, particularly for larger estates or items that may exceed metal value. Ask the estate's solicitor which is needed.
What documents do executors need to sell estate silver?
Evidence of authority to sell, normally the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration, plus a bank account in the name of the estate or the named executor. We confirm these at the payment stage rather than at submission.
Do you check identity for probate sales?
Yes, at the payment stage. We pay only to a bank account in the seller's or estate's name matched to the submission, and step up to a document check for higher value lots. It is how we make sure money reaches the right person.
Is estate silver better sold at auction?
Only the exceptional pieces. Georgian silver, recognised makers, provenance and complete cased services can beat metal value substantially. Mixed, worn or incomplete silverware usually returns less at auction after 15 to 20% commission plus fees, and takes months rather than days.
Do solicitors get a better rate?
No, and we think that is the fairer answer. The rate is a flat 80% of live spot for everyone, with no volume tiers and nothing held back for larger accounts. What trade partners get is a named contact, batched submissions and consolidated documentation.
How long does an estate sale take?
Typically three to five days from posting to payment. Payment is made within 48 hours of the parcel reaching us, once authority to sell has been evidenced.