Pillar Guide · Updated July 2026
Grant of Probate: Fees & Application Process for 2026/27
Applying for a grant of probate is often the first major administrative step after a death, and it involves both a court fee and, in most cases, prior reporting of Inheritance Tax to HMRC. This pillar guide explains the current Probate Registry fee, when probate is and is not required, the online and paper application routes, typical timescales, and when a professionally handled application makes more sense than applying yourself.
What Is a Grant of Probate
A grant of probate is the legal document issued by the Probate Registry, part of HM Courts & Tribunals Service, confirming that a named executor has authority to administer a deceased person’s estate — collecting assets, settling debts and tax, and distributing what remains to beneficiaries under the will. Where there is no valid will, the equivalent document is a grant of letters of administration, and the person applying is termed an administrator rather than an executor.
Banks, building societies, share registrars, pension providers and the Land Registry generally require sight of the grant before releasing significant funds, transferring investments, or allowing a solely-owned property to be sold or transferred, since it provides them with the legal assurance that they are dealing with the correctly authorised person.
When Probate Is Needed
Probate is not always required. It may be unnecessary where the estate is very small, where significant assets (such as the family home and joint bank accounts) were held jointly with a surviving spouse or civil partner and pass to them automatically by survivorship, or where individual financial institutions are willing to release smaller balances without a grant, up to their own internal threshold — commonly ranging from a few thousand pounds up to around £50,000 depending on the specific bank or building society.
Where the estate includes a solely-owned property, or holds larger sums with institutions above their internal release threshold, a grant of probate (or letters of administration) will almost always be required before those assets can be accessed, sold, or transferred.
Current Probate Registry Fees
The standard Probate Registry application fee is a flat £300 for estates valued over £5,000 — the same fee regardless of whether the estate is worth £50,000 or £5 million, since it is not calculated as a percentage of estate value. Estates valued at £5,000 or under are exempt from the fee entirely.
Additional office copies of the grant can be ordered at the time of application for a small extra charge per copy, typically around £1.50 each. It is common practice to order several extra copies upfront, since having multiple originals allows the executor to deal with several banks, share registrars or the Land Registry simultaneously rather than waiting for one copy to be returned before approaching the next institution.
Inheritance Tax Before Probate
In most cases, the Inheritance Tax position of the estate must be reported to HMRC, and where a liability exists, payment generally needs to be made or arranged, before a grant of probate can be issued — the Probate Registry needs HMRC confirmation that the tax position has been dealt with appropriately.
Many smaller and simpler estates, particularly those below the nil-rate band (£325,000) and, where relevant, the residence nil-rate band (£175,000) thresholds, can use a simplified "excepted estate" reporting process that requires less detailed information than a full account. Larger or more complex estates — those with significant assets, lifetime gifts within 7 years of death, trusts, or business and agricultural assets — require a full IHT400 account with supporting schedules.
Where Inheritance Tax is due before probate is granted, funds can sometimes be released directly from the deceased’s own bank or building society accounts under HMRC’s Direct Payment Scheme, paid straight to HMRC without needing the grant first — useful given that most other assets typically cannot be accessed until after probate is issued.
How to Apply
Most straightforward applications by a named executor acting under a valid will can now be made through the gov.uk online probate service, which is generally faster to process than the paper route. A paper application remains available using form PA1P (where there is a valid will) or PA1A (where there is no will), and is still necessary in certain more complex circumstances.
Both application routes require the estate’s Inheritance Tax position to have already been reported to HMRC before submission, and typically require supporting documents including the original will (where one exists), the death certificate, and details of the estate’s assets and liabilities gathered during the valuation process.
Typical Timescales
Once a complete, correctly prepared application (including satisfactory IHT reporting) is submitted, the Probate Registry typically issues the grant within roughly 8-16 weeks, though this can vary with current Registry workload, whether any additional information is requested, and the complexity of the specific case. Applications with errors or missing information can take considerably longer while queries are resolved.
The full process of administering an estate from death to final distribution — gathering valuations, reporting and settling Inheritance Tax, obtaining the grant, collecting in assets, settling debts, and distributing to beneficiaries — commonly takes 6-12 months for a straightforward estate, and can extend well beyond a year for larger, more complex, or contested estates, or where property needs to be sold as part of the administration.
DIY vs Solicitor
Many straightforward estates can be handled by the named executor applying directly through the gov.uk online service, saving significant professional fees. This tends to work well where the estate is relatively modest, the will is clear and uncontested, beneficiaries are cooperative, and there are no unusual complications around Inheritance Tax, business assets, or overseas property.
A solicitor is generally worth instructing where the estate is large or close to the Inheritance Tax thresholds, includes a business, farm, or overseas assets, where the will is unclear, missing or potentially disputed, where beneficiaries disagree, or simply where the executor lacks the time or confidence to manage a lengthy administrative process. Solicitors typically charge either a fixed fee for straightforward probate applications, or a percentage of the estate value (commonly around 1-5%) plus hourly rates for full estate administration.
After the Grant Is Issued
Once the grant is received, the executor uses it to collect in the estate’s assets — closing bank accounts, selling or transferring investments, arranging the sale or transfer of property, and settling outstanding debts, funeral costs, and any remaining Inheritance Tax. Only after these liabilities are settled can the executor distribute what remains to the beneficiaries in line with the will, or the intestacy rules if there was none.
A probate application can be delayed or challenged through a "caveat" lodged at the Probate Registry, commonly used where there is a genuine dispute about the will’s validity or who should administer the estate — such disputes are generally handled by specialist contentious probate solicitors given the distinct court procedures involved. Executors should keep clear, detailed records throughout the process, since they are personally accountable for correctly administering the estate.