How to apply for probate in the UK: a step-by-step guide
This guide covers how to apply for probate in England and Wales: what you need to have in place first, how to apply online or by post, what it costs, how long it takes, and what to do with the grant once it arrives. It is written for the person handling the estate, usually an executor named in the will or the next of kin where there is no will.
This guide covers how to apply for probate in England and Wales: what you need to have in place first, how to apply online or by post, what it costs, how long it takes, and what to do with the grant once it arrives. It is written for the person handling the estate, usually an executor named in the will or the next of kin where there is no will.
Probate is the step that unlocks most of the practical work. Until the grant is issued, banks, pension providers, and other institutions will often refuse to release funds or close accounts. Applying is more straightforward than most people expect, but the order of the tasks matters, and a small error on the form is the most common cause of delay.
Before you apply
There are four things to have in place before you start the application.
First, the death must be registered and you need certified copies of the death certificate. Most institutions will not accept a photocopy. For how many to order and what they cost, see our guide on death certificates UK: how many you need and where to use them.
Second, if there is a will, you need the original document, not a copy. The probate registry keeps the original once the grant is issued.
Third, you need to know whether probate is actually required. Not every estate needs it. If everything was held jointly, or the only accounts fall below each provider's threshold, you may be able to deal with the estate without a grant. Our guide on do you need probate? explains when a grant is required and what the bank thresholds are.
Fourth, you need to value the estate and deal with any Inheritance Tax. You cannot apply for probate until the tax position is settled or reported to HMRC. For the current allowances and what counts, see our guide on the Inheritance Tax threshold.
Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration
The document you apply for depends on whether there is a will.
If there is a valid will naming you as executor, you apply for a Grant of Probate. If there is no will, the nearest entitled relative applies for Letters of Administration instead. The process and the fee are the same; only the form differs. Our guide on Letters of Administration covers the no-will route in detail, and our guide on intestacy rules explains who is entitled to apply when there is no will.
How to apply
You can apply online or by post.
Online is the faster route for most estates. You apply through the probate service on gov.uk, complete the details, and send the original will and any supporting documents to the address the service gives you. You will need the estate value, the death certificate details, and the Inheritance Tax reference if one applies.
By post, you complete form PA1P if there is a will, or form PA1A if there is no will, and send it with the original will, the death certificate, and the relevant Inheritance Tax form.
Whichever route you use, you sign a legal statement confirming the information is true. Take care over the figures and the names: the single biggest cause of rejected applications is small inconsistencies, such as a name on the will that does not exactly match the name on the death certificate.
What it costs
The probate application fee in England and Wales is £300 for estates worth more than £5,000. There is no fee for estates of £5,000 or less. This is a flat fee; it does not rise with the size of the estate.
An important change is due. From 13 July 2026, subject to parliamentary approval, the application fee for estates above £5,000 rises to £526. The fee that applies is the one in force on the date the probate service receives your application, not the date you start preparing it. If your application falls near the change date, check the current figure on gov.uk before you submit. The change was announced in the court and tribunal fee update for July 2026.
You will also want extra sealed copies of the grant, because each bank, pension provider, and registrar usually requires its own original. Copies cost £16 each at present. From 13 July 2026, a reduced fee of £2 per copy applies when copies are ordered at the same time as the application, so it is worth ordering enough upfront rather than coming back for more later.
If you are on a low income or receive certain benefits, you may be able to reduce or remove the fee through the Help with Fees scheme (form EX160).
How long it takes
Once the application is submitted and any documents received, a straightforward online application is currently issued in around six to eight weeks. Paper applications and more complex estates take longer. Errors, missing Inheritance Tax forms, and coroner involvement are the common causes of delay. Our guide on how long does probate take in the UK sets out each stage and what realistically affects the timeline.
What to do once the grant arrives
The grant is your legal authority to deal with the estate. With the sealed copies, you can close accounts, collect in money owed, settle debts, and then distribute what remains according to the will or the intestacy rules.
This is the point where the volume of work becomes clear. Every organisation the person held an account with needs to be contacted, one at a time, and each has its own process. Tell Us Once notifies government bodies from a single submission, but it does not cover a single bank, insurer, pension provider, or utility. Those all need to be notified separately. Our guide on who to notify when someone dies sets out the full list.
Legacy Trail finds the private-sector accounts the person held and notifies each provider on your behalf, so you are not working from memory or repeating the same conversation with one organisation after another. It is one less thing to deal with while you handle the rest of the estate. You can see how it works or arrange a no-obligation consultation when you are ready.
Scotland and Northern Ireland
The process described here applies to England and Wales. In Scotland, the equivalent process is called Confirmation, applied for through the Sheriff Court, with a different fee structure (no fee for estates under £36,000, then a sliding scale above that). Northern Ireland operates its own probate system. The principles are similar, but the forms, fees, and offices differ.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for probate myself? Yes. For a straightforward estate with no Inheritance Tax to pay and no disputes, many executors apply themselves and pay only the application fee. A solicitor or probate specialist is worth considering where there is property to sell, tax to calculate, business assets, or any disagreement among beneficiaries.
Do I need probate before I can arrange the funeral? No. The funeral can go ahead before probate. Most banks will release money directly to the funeral director to cover the invoice, even while the accounts are otherwise frozen.
Who pays the application fee? The fee is paid from the estate. In practice an executor may need to cover it upfront if the accounts are frozen, then reimburse themselves once funds are released.
What if I cannot find the original will? Speak to the probate registry. A copy may be accepted in limited circumstances, but this adds steps and time. Check with the deceased's solicitor, bank, or any will-storage service they may have used.
Official sources
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Individual circumstances vary. If you are dealing with an estate, consider taking advice from a solicitor who specialises in probate. For other guidance specific to your circumstances, speak to a funeral director, Citizens Advice, or a regulated financial adviser.