What forms do I need to apply for Probate in the UK?

Applying for probate can feel overwhelming, particularly when you are already dealing with the loss of someone close to you. The good news is that many people can apply for probate themselves without instructing a solicitor to handle the entire estate.

This guide explains the current process, the forms you may need and the steps to take before making a probate application.

Important: This article covers applications in England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have different probate rules and procedures.

What is probate?

Probate is the legal authority to deal with the property, money and possessions of someone who has died. The document you receive depends on whether there is a valid will:

• If there is a will and an executor named in it is applying, the document is usually called a Grant of Probate.
• If there is no will, the person entitled to deal with the estate applies for Letters of Administration.
• If there is a will but no executor is able or willing to act, a different type of grant may be required, often called Letters of Administration with Will Annexed.

Can you apply for probate without a solicitor?

Yes. You can apply for probate yourself online or by post. For many straightforward estates this can be considerably cheaper than paying a solicitor or probate practitioner to make the application for you.

You do not have to work everything out alone, either. If you are comfortable administering the estate but want help checking the position, completing the paperwork or avoiding common mistakes, an assisted probate service can give you support without the cost of handing the whole estate to a solicitor.

Before you apply for probate

There are several important steps to complete before submitting the application.

1. Check whether probate is needed

A grant is not required for every estate. Contact each bank, building society, investment provider and other organisation holding the deceased person’s assets. Each organisation has its own rules and financial limits for releasing money without probate.

Probate may not be needed where assets were jointly owned and pass automatically to the surviving owner, or where the estate consists only of a relatively small amount of money. Property held in the deceased person’s sole name will normally mean that a grant is required before it can be sold or transferred.

2. Check who is entitled to apply

If there is a valid will, the executors named in the will or in a later codicil are normally entitled to apply. Up to four executors can be named on an application.

If there is no will, the closest entitled relative usually applies to become the administrator. The order of entitlement is set by law. An unmarried partner who was not the deceased person’s spouse or civil partner is not automatically entitled to apply.

3. Find the original will

If there is a will, you will normally need to send the original document to the Probate Registry. A photocopy is not sufficient. The original will is retained by the Probate Registry and becomes a public document after probate is granted.

If the original will is missing, damaged or has been altered, get advice before submitting the application because additional evidence or a separate application may be required.

4. Value the estate

Before applying for probate, you must estimate the value of the deceased person’s estate. This means identifying their assets, establishing their value at the date of death and deducting allowable debts and liabilities.

You will need the estate values for the probate application even when there is no Inheritance Tax to pay.

5. Check the Inheritance Tax reporting position

You must establish whether the estate is an excepted estate or whether full details must be reported to HM Revenue & Customs.

For deaths on or after 1 January 2022, personal representatives dealing with many excepted estates no longer complete and send form IHT205 to HMRC. Instead, the relevant estate values are provided as part of the probate application.

If the estate is not excepted, you must complete and send form IHT400, together with any necessary supplementary schedules, before applying for probate. If Inheritance Tax is due, you will normally need to start paying it and wait for HMRC to provide the code needed for the probate application.

Full estate details can sometimes be required even where no Inheritance Tax is ultimately payable, so it is important not to assume that “no tax” automatically means “no IHT400”.

Which probate application form do you need?

If you apply online, the online probate service takes you through the relevant questions and you do not also submit a paper probate application.

If you apply by post, the form depends on whether there is a will:

• Form PA1P is used by personal applicants applying by post where the person who died left a will.
• Form PA1A is used by personal applicants applying by post where the person who died did not leave a will.

These forms replaced the old single “PA1” approach. Other specialist probate forms may be needed where, for example, an executor is renouncing, someone is applying under a power of attorney or the original will cannot be found.

What information will you need?

The exact information depends on the estate and the type of application, but you should be ready with:

• Details about the person who died and the date of death.
• The original will and any codicils, if there are any.
• Details of every person applying for the grant.
• The required gross and net estate values.
• The HMRC code if the full estate has been reported using IHT400.
• Details of any executors who are not applying and whether they are holding power reserved or have renounced.
• The application fee and the number of additional grant copies required.

How much does it cost to apply for probate?

At the time this guide was reviewed in September 2026, the probate application fee is £526 where the estate is valued at more than £5,000. There is no application fee where the estate is £5,000 or less.

Additional copies ordered with the application currently cost £2 each. Ordering enough copies at the outset can make it easier to deal with several banks and organisations at the same time. Always check the current fee before applying because court fees can change.

How long does a grant of probate application take?

HM Courts & Tribunals Service says that probate is usually issued within 12 weeks of submitting the application. It can take longer if further information is required, the Probate Registry raises questions, the estate is complex or the application contains an error.

Paper applications generally take longer to process than online applications.

Common reasons probate applications are delayed

• Submitting the wrong application or using an outdated form.
• Starting the application before the estate has been properly valued.
• Incorrect or inconsistent names, dates or estate figures.
• Failing to deal correctly with executors who are not applying.
• Sending a copy of the will instead of the original.
• Applying before completing the necessary Inheritance Tax reporting.
• Failing to wait for the required HMRC code after submitting IHT400.

When should you get specialist help?

Applying for probate yourself can work well for a straightforward estate, but extra help may be sensible where there are overseas assets, trusts, business or farming interests, significant lifetime gifts, uncertainty about the will, disagreements between family members or a possible Inheritance Tax liability.

You may also simply want reassurance that you are using the correct process and that the application has been completed properly.

Last reviewed: September 2026. This article provides general information about probate in England and Wales. It is not a substitute for legal or tax advice about a particular estate.