Grant of probate

A grant of probate is the document that confirms the executors named in a will have the authority to deal with the estate: to close accounts, sell or transfer property, pay debts and pass on what is left to the beneficiaries. In England and Wales it is issued by HMCTS Probate, and once granted, it and the will become public documents.

When you will need one

You need it when there is a valid will, the executors named in it are willing to act, and a bank or a conveyancer wants formal proof that they may deal with the estate. If there is no valid will, or no executor can or will act, the document a relative applies for is letters of administration instead. Some estates need neither: see probate for when a grant can be skipped.

What it costs

An executor applies to HMCTS Probate, online or by post. At the time of writing the application is free when the estate is valued under £5,000. An estate valued at £5,000 or more pays £526. Extra copies of the grant are £16 each.

What happens next

Online, the grant usually arrives within 4 weeks. By post it can take up to 15 weeks from the day the documents are sent. Once it is in hand, the executor can access the bank accounts, sell or transfer property, settle the debts and any Inheritance Tax, and share out what remains as the will directs.

In Scotland and Northern Ireland

The grant described here belongs to England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland follow their own probate rules, so a family dealing with an estate there should check the rules for that country before applying.