How to Apply for Probate Yourself When There’s a Will

To apply for probate, you must be a legally appointed executor named in the original will.

Start by locating the original will. This is often held by the deceased’s solicitor. To be valid, the will must be the original signed and witnessed document.

To find out how to register the death visit: gov.uk/register-a-death. This will guide you through the steps you need to take, depending on the circumstances. In most cases you will be required to register the death at your local register office.

A death must be registered within 5 days (8 days in Scotland). You will receive a certificate for burial or cremation (often known as 'the green form'). This must be given to the funeral director, crematorium or burial authority before the funeral takes place.

If the deceased claimed any benefits, the Department for Work and Pensions will need to be made aware of their passing.

The documents you need for probate are:

• Original will: If you are the executor, you should have been told of the location of the will before the passing of the testator
• Any codicils (changes to the will)
• Death certificate (original or interim death certificate) which is obtained from the coroner
• Valuation of assets (including property, savings, debts)
• Completed Inheritance Tax (IHT) form
• Official statements from financial institutions, such as  banks and building societies

Tip: Create a spreadsheet to log all assets, liabilities, contact details, and account references. This will make later steps much easier.

All assets must be identified, including overseas assets, property, financial investments, insurance policies, bank accounts and possessions. As the executor, you will need to write to the relevant institutions (banks, building societies, insurance providers) to get exact figures.

Assets such as cars, jewellery, and artwork can be valued based on their likely sale price. You can estimate this by checking similar items on online marketplaces.

A RICS Red Book valuation is highly advised for any property owned by the deceased, as it provides a recognised assessment that's accepted by HMRC.

You must also include any outstanding debts in the valuation.

With the exception of student loans, which are written off when someone dies, all debts must be repaid. These are settled from the estate before any remaining assets are distributed to the beneficiaries.

Inheritance Tax (IHT) must be paid before the application for probate is submitted. A UK Government tool can give you an approximate value of the estate and whether IHT is required.

Depending on the value of the estate, Inheritance Tax may need to be paid. If the estate is below the £325,000 threshold, you normally won’t need to pay tax.

An IHT400 form will need to be completed if there is any Inheritance Tax to pay.

Tip: Pay Inheritance Tax as soon as possible to get the probate process moving.

As the executor, you must apply for a grant of probate using the form PA1P. This confirms who has the legal authority to administer the estate.

If multiple executors are named, up to four of you can apply together.

If not all executors are applying, the person(s) submitting the application must:

• Make every reasonable effort to contact the other named executors
• Notify them in writing of the probate application
• Keep a copy of this communication in case it’s requested later

Executors who choose not to apply must complete and return a PA25 form (Notice of Power Reserved), confirming they are giving up their right to apply for probate at this time.

You can apply for probate online or by post. Online forms can be found on the government's website or you can send the completed application form to HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS).

The cost of applying for probate is £300 for estates valued over £5,000. If the estate is worth less than this, there is no application fee.

You can pay the fee online or by cheque. In most cases, the fee will be reimbursed from the estate later, or you can set up a payment account to draw directly from estate funds.

In addition to the application fee, you’ll also need to pay for any extra copies of the Grant of Representation you require for use in the UK or abroad.

Keep in mind there may be additional costs during the probate process, including solicitor fees and potential Capital Gains Tax. You can learn more about what to expect in our guide: Cost of Probate: Fees and Factors in the UK