Grant of probate UK: what it is, when you need one, and how to apply

When someone dies, their assets are frozen until the person dealing with the estate can prove they have the legal authority to do so. That proof is the grant of probate.

It is the single most important document in estate administration. Banks will not release funds without it. Investment platforms will not transfer holdings. The Land Registry will not change property ownership. Pension providers, in most cases, require a copy before they will pay out.

This guide covers what a grant of probate is, when you need one, who applies, how the application works in England and Wales, and what it costs in 2026.

What a grant of probate is

A grant of probate is a document issued by the Probate Registry, part of HM Courts and Tribunals Service. It confirms two things: that the will is valid, and that the named executor has the legal right to administer the estate.

Once issued, the executor uses it to collect the assets, pay debts and inheritance tax, and distribute what remains according to the will.

A grant of probate only applies when the deceased left a valid will and named an executor who is willing and able to act. If there is no will, no named executor, or if the executor has died or refused to act, the equivalent document is called letters of administration. The practical authority is the same. The route differs. See our guide on letters of administration UK.

When you need a grant of probate

Not every estate needs one. The answer depends on what was owned and how it was held.

You typically need a grant of probate if the estate includes:

• A bank or building society account holding more than the institution's small-estate limit, usually £15,000 to £50,000 depending on the bank

• Stocks, shares, or investment accounts

• Property held in the sole name of the deceased, or as tenants in common

• Insurance policies without a named beneficiary

• Premium bonds and other NS&I products above a certain value

You do not need one if:

• All assets were jointly held and pass automatically to the surviving owner

• The total estate is below every institution's individual threshold

• All assets had named beneficiaries, such as pension funds and life insurance with nominations in place

For more on what falls outside the estate entirely, see our guide on what is probate.

If you are unsure, contact each institution and ask whether they will release funds without a grant. Most banks publish their thresholds on their bereavement pages. The thresholds vary widely and there is no central rule.

Who can apply

The named executor in the will applies. If more than one executor is named, they can apply jointly, or one can take the lead while the others either consent or formally renounce their role.

If the executor has died, lost capacity, or chooses not to act, the right passes to the next person named in the will. If no executor is available at all, the application route changes to letters of administration.

You do not have to apply yourself. Many people instruct a probate solicitor or specialist. It is also possible to apply directly via the gov.uk portal, which has been substantially simplified over the last few years.

How to apply

The process has three main stages.

Stage one: value the estate. Add up everything the deceased owned at the date of death, including property, savings, investments, valuables, and any jointly held assets at their share of the value. Then subtract everything they owed: mortgages, loans, unpaid bills, funeral costs. The net figure determines whether inheritance tax is due and which forms you need.

Stage two: complete the inheritance tax forms. Most estates that may have inheritance tax to pay need form IHT400 and supporting schedules. For deaths on or after 1 January 2022, simpler estates no longer need form IHT205. The information is now reported as part of the probate application itself. If inheritance tax is due, it must be paid (or arrangements made to pay in instalments) before the grant will be issued.

Stage three: apply for the grant. This is done online at gov.uk/applying-for-probate, or on paper using form PA1P if there is a will. You need the original will, the death certificate, and the completed inheritance tax reference.

The Probate Registry currently aims to issue grants within 16 weeks of receiving a complete application. The reality is often longer. For a fuller breakdown of timings, see our guide on how long does probate take in the UK.

What it costs

The application fee in England and Wales is £300 for estates valued at more than £5,000, as of May 2024. Estates valued at £5,000 or less are free to apply for.

Additional sealed copies of the grant cost £1.50 each. Most executors order between five and ten copies at the start, because each financial institution, pension provider, and investment platform will want to see one and most retain the copy you send them.

Solicitor or probate specialist fees are separate. Fixed-fee services start at around £1,000 for straightforward estates. Solicitors charging a percentage of the estate value typically take 1% to 5% plus VAT, which can run into tens of thousands of pounds on larger estates.

After the grant arrives

Once you have the grant, the executor can:

• Send sealed copies to each financial institution to release funds

• Sell or transfer property

• Collect investment proceeds

• Pay outstanding debts and the inheritance tax balance

• Distribute the remaining estate to the beneficiaries

The grant gives you the authority. It does not do the work for you.

Each financial institution has its own bereavement process. None of them are connected. Each requires similar documents in slightly different formats and most retain the copies you send. This is the part of estate administration that most executors underestimate. For an idea of what it looks like in practice, see our individual bank notification guides.

Scotland and Northern Ireland

The term grant of probate applies in England and Wales. In Scotland, the equivalent is called confirmation and is applied for through the local Sheriff Court. In Northern Ireland, it is also called a grant of probate but is administered through the Probate Office in Belfast. The principles match. The forms and fees differ.

When solicitor help is worth the cost

Most straightforward estates can be administered without a solicitor. The online forms work. HMRC publishes detailed guidance. The Probate Registry's online portal is functional.

Solicitor support is usually worth the cost when there is a contested will, overseas assets, property held under complex arrangements, business interests, or substantial inheritance tax to manage.

What sits outside the grant of probate process, but is often equally time-consuming, is identifying and closing every account the deceased held. Banks, building societies, pension providers, investment platforms, utility companies, subscription services, and digital accounts each need separate contact. Most estates have at least one account the family did not know about.

Legacy Trail handles the account identification and closure side of estate administration. We work alongside the executor or solicitor to find every financial and digital account the deceased held and notify each provider centrally. It removes one of the longest parts of settling an estate.

If you are working through probate now, find out how Legacy Trail works.