To apply for probate in England and Wales, first value the estate and settle any inheritance tax, then apply online at GOV.UK or by post using form PA1P (where there is a will) or PA1A (where there is not), pay the fee and send the original will and death certificate.
Probate is the legal authority to deal with the money, property and possessions of someone who has died. The document you apply for is called a grant of probate when there is a will, or letters of administration when there is not. This guide sets out each step in order, with the current fees and timescales. Figures are current as at August 2026 and are subject to change. For background on the grant itself, see what probate is and when it is required.
Do you actually need probate?
Not every estate needs a grant. Many banks and building societies release smaller balances without one, and assets owned as joint tenants, such as a shared home or a joint account, usually pass to the surviving owner automatically outside the estate (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change). Each institution sets its own threshold, so the practical first step is to write to every bank, pension provider and share registrar and ask whether they require a grant before they will release funds. Where the estate includes property held in the deceased's sole name, a grant is almost always needed to sell or transfer it.
Who can apply
Who can apply depends on whether there is a valid will (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change):
- With a will. The executors named in the will apply for a grant of probate. Up to four executors can be named on the application.
- Without a will. The closest living relative applies for letters of administration, following the order set by the intestacy rules, usually a spouse or civil partner first, then children.
If there is no will, having one in place avoids leaving this to the intestacy order. Our guide on how to write a will explains the options.
How to apply for probate, step by step
| Step | What it involves |
|---|---|
| 1. Register the death | Obtain the death certificate and order several certified copies for the institutions you will need to contact. |
| 2. Confirm probate is needed | Ask each asset holder whether a grant is required before they release funds or transfer property. |
| 3. Value the estate | Total the assets and debts at the date of death, including property, savings, investments, pensions and gifts made in the previous seven years. |
| 4. Report and pay inheritance tax | Report the value to HMRC and pay any tax due. This step comes before the probate application where a full account is required. |
| 5. Apply for the grant | Apply online or by post, send the original will and death certificate, and pay the application fee. |
| 6. Collect and distribute | Once the grant arrives, collect in the assets, settle debts, and distribute the estate under the will or intestacy rules. |
Process based on gov.uk/applying-for-probate, as at August 2026, subject to change.
Deal with inheritance tax first
Valuing the estate and settling inheritance tax comes before the application, because the probate service needs to see that any tax has been reported. Most estates pay no inheritance tax. The nil-rate band is £325,000, and a further residence nil-rate band of up to £175,000 can apply where a home passes to direct descendants (gov.uk/inheritance-tax, as at August 2026, subject to change). Anything above the available thresholds is generally taxed at 40%, reduced to 36% where at least 10% of the net estate passes to charity (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change).
Where a full account is needed, the estate is reported on form IHT400. HMRC asks executors to allow 20 working days from sending the IHT400 before applying for the grant, so that the tax record can be matched to the probate application (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change). From 6 April 2027, most unused pension funds and death benefits are also due to be brought within the estate for inheritance tax, an announced change to factor into future valuations (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change). For the wider picture, see our guide to inheritance tax.
Probate fees
| Item | Cost (August 2026) |
|---|---|
| Application, estate over £5,000 | £526 |
| Application, estate £5,000 or less | No fee |
| Extra copies of the grant (ordered with the application) | £2 each |
Source: gov.uk/applying-for-probate/fees, as at August 2026, subject to change. Fee reductions or exemptions may be available for those on a low income or certain benefits.
Ordering several extra copies of the grant with the application is common, because banks, registrars and the Land Registry often each want to see one, and copies bought later cost more.
How long probate takes
GOV.UK states that you will usually get probate within 12 weeks of submitting the application, and longer if further information is requested (gov.uk/applying-for-probate/apply-for-probate, as at August 2026, subject to change). That timescale covers the grant only. The whole administration, from death to distributing the estate, commonly runs to many months once tax, property sales and final accounts are added.
| Stage | Typical timing |
|---|---|
| Valuing the estate | Weeks to a few months, depending on assets |
| Wait after IHT400 | 20 working days before applying |
| Grant of probate issued | Usually within 12 weeks of applying |
Timings from gov.uk/applying-for-probate/apply-for-probate and gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change.
Applying online or by post
Most applications are now made online through the GOV.UK probate service, which guides the applicant through each question and is generally the quicker route. A postal application uses form PA1P where there is a will, or PA1A where there is not (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change). Either way, the original will and, where required, the death certificate are sent to the probate registry, and the application fee is paid.
| Situation | Grant applied for | Postal form |
|---|---|---|
| There is a valid will | Grant of probate | PA1P |
| There is no will | Letters of administration | PA1A |
Source: gov.uk/applying-for-probate, as at August 2026, subject to change.
- Application fee: £526 where the estate is over £5,000, no fee at £5,000 or less (gov.uk).
- Extra copies of the grant: £2 each when ordered with the application (gov.uk).
- Grant usually issued within 12 weeks of applying (gov.uk).
- Allow 20 working days after sending IHT400 before applying (gov.uk).
- Forms: PA1P with a will, PA1A without (gov.uk).
Scotland and Northern Ireland
This guide describes England and Wales. Scotland uses a different process called confirmation, applied for through the sheriff court, and its succession law differs. Northern Ireland has a separate probate system run by its own courts, broadly similar in outline but with its own forms and offices. Where an estate has assets in more than one part of the UK, more than one application may be needed.
Frequently asked questions
How do I apply for probate?
Value the estate, report and pay any inheritance tax, then apply online at GOV.UK or by post using form PA1P where there is a will or PA1A where there is not, sending the original will and death certificate and paying the fee. The application fee is £526 where the estate is over £5,000, with no fee at £5,000 or less (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change).
How long does probate take?
GOV.UK states that you will usually get probate within 12 weeks of submitting the application, and it can take longer if the registry asks for more information (gov.uk/applying-for-probate/apply-for-probate, as at August 2026, subject to change). Administering the whole estate, including tax and any property sale, commonly takes several months more.
How much does it cost to apply for probate?
The application fee is £526 where the estate is valued at more than £5,000, and there is no fee where the estate is £5,000 or less. Extra copies of the grant cost £2 each when ordered with the application (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change). Fee reductions may be available on a low income.
Can I apply for probate without a solicitor?
Yes. Executors and administrators can apply themselves, online or by post, and many straightforward estates are handled this way. Estates involving trusts, business assets, disputes or a full inheritance tax account are more involved, and many people take professional help for those. The GOV.UK probate service sets out the steps (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change).
Do I need to pay inheritance tax before applying for probate?
Where a full account is required, the estate is reported to HMRC and any tax is dealt with before the grant is issued, and HMRC asks executors to allow 20 working days after sending form IHT400 before applying (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change). Most estates fall within the £325,000 nil-rate band and pay no tax (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change).
What if there is no will?
Where there is no valid will, the closest living relative applies for letters of administration rather than a grant of probate, and the estate is shared under the intestacy rules (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change). The postal form is PA1A rather than PA1P.