The original death certificate or an interim death certificate from the coroner
A completed estimation and report of the value of the estate from HMRC, as completed in Step 1
Depending on the value of the estate, a notice from HMRC saying that you’ve either paid Inheritance Tax or have no tax to pay, as completed in Step 2 or 3 (this can be corrected if necessary after the probate/ letter of administration application is complete).
Things to note:
The application fee is £273 if the value of the estate is £5,000 or over. There is no application fee if the estate is under £5,000.
Extra copies of the grant of probate or letter of administration cost £1.50 each. It is worth getting a few copies – we would recommend one for each account you still have to close, so you are able to send them to different organisations at the same time. This should help you to complete the process faster.
How to apply for probate:
Once you have gathered all the documents from the list above, you need to complete the PA1P form and check whether you are eligible to apply for a grant of probate online
Once you have gathered all the documents from the list above, you need to complete the PA1A form and check whether you are eligible to apply for letter of administration online
Probate/ letter of administration usually takes around 8 weeks to be granted, but might take longer at the moment due to coronavirus
If you have already contacted financial organisations to inform them of your loved one’s death, the accounts should be frozen to stop payments going in or out. You can now go back to these providers to inform them that you have a grant of probate to act on the behalf of your loved one
Once you are able to access your loved one’s accounts, you can make an accurate assessment of the value of their estate and can correct any under or overpayments of Inheritance Tax with HMRC
If you are doing this without a solicitor, you can find further information on the Government website
Depending upon the financial situation of your loved one, you can now pay off any debts from the estate and distribute their assets according to their will (if there is one)
If the estate is complex, or if there are multiple beneficiaries, it would be sensible to keep detailed records or accounts showing the assets of the estate, all payments in and out, and the ultimate distributions to the beneficiaries
Last updated: 16/06/22
What is an estate?
An estate is everything your loved one owned. This includes property, money in their financial accounts (eg. bank, building society, pension pot) and possessions.
First, you need to value the money and all financial assets they owned
You might have already contacted all the financial organisations your loved one held accounts with. Just as a reminder, organisations to contact often include:
Their bank or building society – ask them to freeze any payments into or out of the account until you have applied for probate
Any companies with which they held stocks or shares
Their employer – they may be owed wages
Ask each of the organisations for a statement of the value of the assets and any debts held by the deceased. If they had a mortgage, ask their mortgage lender if they require payments to continue while you are completing the probate process.
Make a list of all the information you receive from the financial account providers. Include any lump sums from pensions or life insurance.
Then, you will need to consider any gifts made by the person who has died, which took place within the 7 years prior to their death.
Any gifts which totalled less than £3,000 in any year are exempt, as are any gifts made to charity or to a spouse or civil partner. There are some other exemptions which apply to smaller gifts for weddings or special occasions, and where the gifts have been made out of surplus income. If you have any doubt, you should seek professional advice.
Next, value your loved one’s possessions
Make a list of all the possessions they owned and whether these were privately or jointly owned. The list might include property, furniture, artwork, jewellery and cars
Estimate the value of each of these possessions on the day that your loved one died. This is a rough price that each item could realistically be sold for, not the price they paid. You can research this online, or get a professional valuation. If the estate is liable to inheritance tax (see below), you are likely to need a professional valuation
Divide any assets jointly owned with your loved one’s spouse or civil partner by two. For any assets owned by more than two people, divide the asset by the number of owners
To value a property for probate or letter of administration:
a) If you know the value is not close to the Inheritance Tax threshold of £325,000, you can carry out a property valuation for probate yourself by searching for it on Zoopla, or searching for the value of similar properties in the same area
b) You can use a local estate agent, but if you think the property may be valued near to the Inheritance Tax threshold (£325,000), it is recommended that you use a chartered surveyor as they will have more experience valuing a property for probate and Inheritance Tax purposes
Add these figures together for an estimation of the total value of the estate for probate or letter of administration.
Feeling a bit stuck?
We understand that calculating the value of an estate for probate is complicated. Although this guide will help you, others have said that using a solicitor takes away the pressure of dealing with estate laws and wills. Take a look at our trusted solicitor partners.
Managing wills and probate can be complicated, so here is a guide to the steps you will need to take – whether you are working with a solicitor or doing it yourself.
If your loved one had a will: You’ll need to apply for a grant of probate
The probate process: how long does probate take, and who can do it?
Obtaining a grant of probate allows you to access your loved one’s assets and distribute them in accordance with their will. The executor of the will should apply for probate within a few months of your loved one’s death, as it may be necessary to access and close certain accounts that your loved one held. The probate process can vary in length, but on average, administration takes 6-9 months.
You don’t need it if:
The person had no assets outside the UK, and
All assets were jointly owned (eg. Mr & Mrs Jones’s bank account), or
The value of the estate is less than £10,000 – but make sure you check with the financial providers!
You are likely to need probate if any of these apply to you:
If your loved one had any assets overseas – this includes property or financial accounts
If your loved one had financial assets valued at over £10,000 that were not jointly owned e.g stocks, shares, savings
If the value of your loved one’s estate (everything they owned) is more than £10,000 – this includes property, money and possessions. Each bank has its own threshold to determine whether you need probate to access your loved one’s account with them
To find out the thresholds for probate, contact the account provider(s). If you do need to apply for grant of probate, follow the steps in our guide below:
If your loved one didn’t have a will: You’ll need to apply for a letter of administration
What is letter of administration and who can do it?
Obtaining a letter of administration allows you to access your loved one’s assets and distribute them in accordance with their will. The executor of the will should apply for probate within a few months of your loved one’s death, as it may be necessary to access and close certain accounts that your loved one held. In this situation, the person who deals with the estate is usually the deceased’s next-of-kin, such as a spouse or child. You should apply for a letter of administration within the first few months of your loved one’s death if you need to access or handle their accounts.
You don’t need it if:
The person had no assets outside the UK, and
All assets were jointly owned (eg. Mr & Mrs Jones’s bank account), or
The value of the estate is less than £10,000 – but make sure you check with the financial providers!
You are likely to need a letter of administration if any of these apply to you:
If your loved one had any assets overseas – this includes property or financial accounts
If your loved one had financial assets valued at over £10,000 that were not jointly owned e.g stocks, shares, savings
If the value of your loved one’s estate (everything they owned) is more than £10,000 – this includes property, money and possessions. Each bank has its own threshold to determine whether you need a letter of administration to access your loved one’s account with them
To find out the thresholds for removing assets from your loved one’s accounts, contact the account provider(s). If you do need to apply for a letter of administration, follow the steps in our guide below:
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