A grant of representation is the legal authority to administer a deceased person's estate in England and Wales. It is the collective name for two documents, a grant of probate where there is a valid will, and letters of administration where there is not. You never apply for a "grant of representation" by that name; you apply for the specific type that fits the circumstances.
The three types, whether you need a grant at all, the 2026 cost, and the common mistakes are below. Figures are current as at August 2026, subject to change.
What is a grant of representation, exactly?
A grant of representation is a document issued by the probate registry, part of HM Courts and Tribunals Service, confirming who may collect in a deceased person's assets, pay debts and tax, and distribute the rest. It proves authority; it does not decide who inherits (gov.uk, wills, probate and inheritance, as at August 2026, subject to change).
It is an umbrella term, not a form you fill in: you apply for one of its named types, and asset holders release funds or transfer property to whoever the grant names. Who inherits is fixed separately, by the will or the intestacy rules.
The three types of grant of representation
Which grant applies depends on whether there is a valid will and whether an executor is able and willing to act. All three carry the same authority once issued; only the triggering situation and the form differ.
| Situation | Grant issued | Person who applies | Form |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valid will naming an executor who is able and willing to act | Grant of probate | The executor | PA1P |
| Valid will, but no executor is named, able or willing to act | Letters of administration with will annexed | A beneficiary or other entitled person (administrator) | PA1P |
| No valid will (intestacy) | Letters of administration | The closest entitled relative (administrator) | PA1A |
Based on gov.uk, apply for probate, as at August 2026, subject to change. The person who takes the role is a "personal representative", executor or administrator alike.
Do you always need a grant of representation?
No, not always. Whether you need one depends on how the assets were held and each provider's rules, not the size of the estate alone. Assets held as joint tenants, such as a jointly owned home or a joint bank account, usually pass to the surviving owner by survivorship, with no grant needed for that asset.
Many banks release smaller balances without a grant, though each sets its own limit, often between a few thousand pounds and around £50,000. Because thresholds vary, the personal representative asks every provider what it requires before deciding. Where one insists on a grant, you will usually need it for that asset. Our guide to what probate is and when it is needed works through the threshold question.
How do you apply, and what does it cost?
You apply for a grant once you have valued the estate and reported any Inheritance Tax, either online through MyHMCTS or by post on form PA1P where there is a will or PA1A where there is not. The registry then checks the application and issues the grant. The fee is £526 where the estate is worth more than £5,000, and the four steps below run in order.
- Value the estate and report Inheritance Tax. Total the assets and debts at the date of death, then report the position to HMRC. Smaller "excepted" estates report values through the probate application; larger or complex estates send a full account on form IHT400 (gov.uk, valuing an estate, as at August 2026, subject to change).
- Wait, if a full account was needed. Where you send an IHT400, allow 20 working days from submitting it before applying for the grant, so the registry can match your application to HMRC's confirmation (gov.uk, apply for probate, as at August 2026, subject to change).
- Apply and pay the fee. Apply online or by post and pay £526 where the estate is worth more than £5,000, or nothing at £5,000 or below. Order extra sealed copies at £2 each, one per asset holder (gov.uk, probate fees, as at August 2026, subject to change). Send the original will to the registry.
- Wait for the grant. The registry usually issues the grant about 8 to 16 weeks after a complete application, longer if there is an error or a query (gov.uk, applying for probate, as at August 2026, subject to change).
A straightforward estate often takes nine to eighteen months from death to final distribution. Our full probate process, stage by stage covers what happens after the grant arrives.
What people get wrong about grants of representation
The most common mistakes are treating "grant of representation" as a form you apply for, budgeting from an out-of-date fee, and distributing the estate before the six-month claim window has passed. Each one is easy to avoid once you know it is there. The three points below explain what goes wrong and how to stay on the right side of it.
Treating "grant of representation" as a form. It is the umbrella term. A bank asking for one will accept either a grant of probate or letters of administration, so you apply for whichever fits, on PA1P or PA1A, not a form of that name.
Relying on an out-of-date fee. The fee rose from £300 to £526 on 13 July 2026, so older guides still quote £300 or the earlier £273. Budget £526 where the estate is above £5,000 (gov.uk, probate fees, as at August 2026, subject to change).
Distributing too soon after the grant. A claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 can be brought within six months of the grant, so many representatives hold back distribution until that window has passed, in case a successful claim must be met.