Letters of Administration (UK)
Understand what Letters of Administration are, who can apply in England and Wales, and the steps involved when somebody dies without a Will.
What are Letters of Administration?
They are the court-issued legal authority that allows the right person to administer an estate where the deceased did not leave a valid Will.
Requirements vary according to the assets, their ownership and each institution’s release limit, so smaller estates do not always need a Grant.
Assets that often require the Grant
The precise requirement varies, but Letters of Administration are commonly needed to deal with:
Identify the person legally entitled to administer the estate
Where there is no Will, the intestacy rules set a strict order of priority. Applying in the wrong capacity can delay or invalidate the application.
- Spouse or civil partner
- Children
- Grandchildren
- Parents
- Brothers and sisters
- Nieces and nephews
- Half-siblings
- Grandparents
- Uncles and aunts
Value the estate
Identify and value the assets and debts as at the date of death, including sole and jointly owned property.
Deal with inheritance tax
Report the required figures to HMRC and complete the relevant inheritance tax formalities.
Apply using PA1A
Submit the Letters of Administration application and required documents to the Probate Registry.
If you are the person legally entitled to administer the estate, you do not automatically need to instruct a solicitor.
Clear guidance helps you complete the stages in the right order and recognise when an estate is complicated enough to need professional advice.
What the Essential Checklist helps you do
Gather the figures and supporting information required for HMRC.
Work through the process in the correct order.
Save time preparing routine documents yourself.
Identify the people and institutions that need to know.
Use the flowchart to identify how the estate should be distributed.
Know what to do after Letters of Administration are issued.
Get the Letters of Administration Checklist
Enter your details and we’ll email the checklist straight to you. There is no payment and no obligation.
- Six application stages
- Estate valuation guidance
- Intestacy rules flowchart
- Post-Grant tasks explained
Helpful advice from a caring team
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