Probate Search: Finding a Will and Probate Records

What is a probate search?

A probate search is a look-up of the probate register for England and Wales to find out whether a grant of representation, such as a grant of probate or letters of administration, has been issued for a named person. Once found, you can order a copy of the grant and any will that was proved with it. The register covers deaths in or after 1858 (gov.uk, as at July 2026, subject to change).

How to search for a will or probate record

There are two main routes for a recent or historical search: online through the official service, or by post using form PA1S. A copy of a probate record costs £16 whichever route you take, and a new grant usually appears on the register around 14 days after it has been issued (gov.uk, search probate records, as at July 2026, subject to change). Not every record includes a will, since some estates are dealt with under letters of administration.

Search type	What it covers	Cost (July 2026)
Copy of a probate record	A will and grant already issued, online or by post	£16
Postal search (form PA1S)	A search and copy requested by post	£16
Standing search	A watch for a grant issued in the next six months	£3

Search type

What it covers

Cost (July 2026)

Copy of a probate record

A will and grant already issued, online or by post

£16

Postal search (form PA1S)

A search and copy requested by post

£16

Standing search

A watch for a grant issued in the next six months

£3

Source: gov.uk, search probate records, as at July 2026 and subject to change. A standing search checks for a grant issued during the six months after you apply, and can be renewed.

What a probate record shows

Once probate is granted, the grant and any proved will become public documents that anyone can order. A copy of the record typically shows the name of the person who died, the date of death, the value at which the estate was assessed for the grant, and the names of the executors or administrators. Where a will was proved, the will itself forms part of the record you can order (gov.uk, search probate records, as at July 2026, subject to change).

Not all records contain a will. Where someone died without a valid will, the estate is usually administered under letters of administration rather than a grant of probate, so there is a grant to find but no will attached (gov.uk, as at July 2026, subject to change). Checking the type of grant is part of a careful search.

For how a grant is obtained in the first place, see our guide to the grant of probate.

What if no grant has been issued?

A search can come back empty, and that on its own does not mean anything has gone wrong. Not every estate needs a grant. Small estates, or those held jointly and passing by survivorship, can sometimes be dealt with without one. A grant may also simply not have been applied for yet, since there is no fixed deadline to start probate. If you are waiting for a grant on a recent death, a standing search watches the register for six months (gov.uk, search probate records, as at July 2026, subject to change).

How to run a probate search, step by step

The official service is designed to be used without a solicitor, though executors often ask a professional to handle it as part of administering an estate. The core steps below apply to a search of the England and Wales register.

Gather details. Have the full name of the person who died, and ideally their date of death and last address, to narrow the search.

Choose your route. Search online through the official service, or complete form PA1S for a postal search (gov.uk, as at July 2026, subject to change).

Pay the fee. A copy of a probate record costs £16, online or by post (gov.uk, as at July 2026, subject to change).

Receive the record. A postal search generally aims for a response within about four weeks, either with the copies or a letter confirming no grant was found (gov.uk, as at July 2026, subject to change).

Consider a standing search. If a grant has not yet issued, a standing search at £3 watches the register for six months and can be renewed (gov.uk, as at July 2026, subject to change).

A worked example (illustration only). Someone wants to trace a late aunt's estate and read her will. They start with an online probate search of the England and Wales register using her name and date of death. A grant appears, so they order a copy of the record for £16 and receive the grant and the proved will (gov.uk, search probate records, as at July 2026, subject to change). Had no grant shown, they could have set up a standing search for £3 to watch the register for the next six months (gov.uk, as at July 2026, subject to change). Every situation differs, and the fees and process can change, so this is general information rather than guidance for any particular estate.

Probate searches in Scotland and Northern Ireland

The official probate search service covers England and Wales, and there is a different process in Scotland and Northern Ireland (gov.uk, search probate records, as at July 2026, subject to change). Scotland uses confirmation rather than a grant of probate, and older records are searched through the ScotlandsPeople service. Northern Ireland has its own arrangements, with historical records held through the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland. Where an estate touches more than one UK nation, it can be worth taking advice in each. For the wider picture, see our What Is Probate? guide.

Frequently asked questions

How do I do a probate search in England and Wales?

You can search the official probate register online, or by post using form PA1S, for a death in or after 1858. A copy of a probate record costs £16 whichever route you use, and a new grant generally appears around 14 days after it is issued (gov.uk, as at July 2026, subject to change). Having the person's full name and date of death helps.

How much does a probate search cost?

Ordering a copy of a probate record costs £16, whether you search online or by post using form PA1S. A standing search, which watches the register for a grant issued in the following six months, costs £3 (gov.uk, search probate records, as at July 2026, subject to change). These fees apply to the England and Wales service and can change.

Can anyone see a will after probate?

Generally yes. Once probate has been granted, the grant and any will proved with it become public records that anyone can order a copy of for £16 through the official service (gov.uk, as at July 2026, subject to change). Before probate is granted, a will is usually private, and a search may show that no grant has yet been issued.

How long after death does a probate record appear?

A record appears once a grant has been issued, not simply on death. A new probate record generally shows on the England and Wales register around 14 days after the grant is issued (gov.uk, as at July 2026, subject to change). There is no fixed deadline for applying for a grant, so timing varies from one estate to the next.

What if my probate search finds no grant?

An empty result does not always mean a problem. Some small or jointly held estates are dealt with without a grant, and others simply have not applied yet. Where you are waiting for a grant on a recent death, a standing search at £3 watches the register for six months and can be renewed (gov.uk, as at July 2026, subject to change). Many people ask a professional if they are unsure.

Is a probate search different in Scotland?

Yes. The main online service covers England and Wales, and there is a different process in Scotland and Northern Ireland (gov.uk, as at July 2026, subject to change). Scotland uses confirmation rather than a grant of probate, and older records are searched through ScotlandsPeople. Where an estate spans more than one UK nation, it can be worth taking advice in each.

About Fairchild Oldfield

The Fairchild Oldfield team brings together estate planning, tax, independent financial advice and client care, working with families across England and Wales.

Fairchild Oldfield are estate planning specialists and will writers, not a firm of solicitors. This article is general information based on practical experience, not legal, tax or financial advice.

Important: This article is general information only and is not legal, tax or financial advice. Reading it does not create a professional relationship. It is based on the law of England and Wales, and other UK jurisdictions may differ. Figures and rules are current as at July 2026 and are subject to change. Before acting, many people choose to seek advice from a suitably qualified professional, such as a solicitor, a STEP practitioner, an accountant, or an FCA-authorised financial adviser, who can consider your individual circumstances.