Yes, you can apply for probate yourself and here is the smartest way to do it.
DIY probate is a great idea. The government forms are free, but they leave you to figure out the estate calculations, inheritance tax rules, and which forms you actually need, entirely alone. YouCanDoProbate does all of that for you. You stay in control of your own application. We handle the parts that are most likely to go wrong.
Probate application forms completed for you
Inheritance tax forms prepared where required
Only £499
inc. VAT
Plus the £526 Probate Registry fee for estates over £5,000, paid directly to HMCTS. Same fee regardless of which route you take.
Or call 0800 689 1447 · Monday to Saturday, 9am to 6pm
No legal knowledge needed
All your forms completed for you
Unlimited UK-based expert support
Works with or without a Will
You are asking the right question
DIY probate is a completely reasonable choice. Most people can do it.
There is no legal requirement to use a solicitor to apply for probate in England and Wales. Thousands of people apply themselves every year, and it is entirely achievable for the vast majority of straightforward estates.
The challenge is not the concept. It is the execution. The free government route hands you forms and leaves you to work out everything else on your own. No guidance on which exemptions apply. No help with the estate calculation. No one to check your figures before you post. One small error can mean a rejected application or weeks of delay.
That is the gap YouCanDoProbate fills. It is DIY probate done properly. You are still the one applying. We just make sure the difficult parts are handled correctly.
“I wanted to have a go at doing probate myself but did not have the confidence to go it alone. This platform was the perfect compromise and saved us thousands in solicitors fees.”
Verified Trustpilot review
What the free route does not tell you
The forms are free. But the knowledge is not included.
When you apply for probate through GOV.UK, the forms are free to download. What you are not given is any of the following.
Guidance on which forms you actually need
Do you need a PA1P, PA1A, IHT400, IHT205, IHT207, or some combination? This is genuinely confusing and choosing wrongly wastes significant time.
Help with the estate calculation
You need to total every asset, apply the correct deductions, and determine the net estate value accurately. Get this wrong and the inheritance tax figure is wrong too.
Exemption identification
The Transfer of Nil Rate Band and the Residence Nil Rate Band can reduce or eliminate an inheritance tax liability on many estates. Most people going it alone do not know these exist, let alone how to claim them. Missing either one means paying more inheritance tax than you owe.
Any check on your work before you post
There is no one to look over the forms and confirm everything is complete and accurate. If something is missing, you find out when HMCTS or HMRC writes back to you weeks later.
DIY probate, done properly
You provide the details. We do the difficult parts.
The forms, completed for you
YouCanDoProbate generates all the Probate and Inheritance Tax forms you need, completely filled in from your answers. PA1P or PA1A for the probate application. The full IHT400 series for HMRC where inheritance tax forms are required. You never face a blank or jargon-heavy form.
The calculations, handled automatically
The platform calculates the full estate position, identifies every available exemption including TNRB and RNRB, determines whether inheritance tax is due and how much, and applies everything correctly. You do not need to understand the rules. The platform does.
Expert support, whenever you need it
UK-based probate specialists are on hand by phone, email, live chat, and support ticket. Unlimited, included as standard. Most queries are answered the same day. Many customers tell us this is what gave them the confidence to start.
Watch first
See how it works in 90 seconds
A short, friendly walkthrough of the whole process, from registering to posting your forms.
HOW IT WORKS
Four simple steps to your Grant of Probate
Everything is designed to take you smoothly from registration to ready-to-post forms. Most customers receive their Grant of Probate within 3 to 6 weeks of posting.
Would you rather be talked through it? Call us on 0800 689 1447 and we’ll help.
1
Enter the details
The platform guides you through a logical series of questions about the person who died, their Will if there was one (it works either way), and their estate, including assets, belongings, and gifts. It’s the same information you’d hand a solicitor.
2
Let the platform do the hard part
YouCanDoProbate applies any available exemptions, calculates the full position of the estate, and works out whether any inheritance tax is due. You don’t need to understand the rules. We handle them for you.
3
Get your completed forms
The platform knows exactly which forms you need. It generates your completed probate forms, along with any inheritance tax forms required, ready to print and sign.
4
Print, sign, and post
You receive full submission guidance covering what to send, where to send it, and how. Print your forms, sign them, and post them with confidence.
Side by side
Doing it entirely alone vs YouCanDoProbate
YouCanDoProbate
Doing it entirely alone
Cost
£499 fixed
Free forms
Step-by-step guidance
None provided
Forms completed for you
No, you complete them
Right forms chosen
Often confusing
Estate calculations done
Yours to work out
Inheritance tax worked out
Complex and risky
Exemptions applied correctly
Easy to miss
TNRB and RNRB handled
Often missed entirely
Risk of errors or rejection
Significantly reduced
Higher
Support if you get stuck
Unlimited expert support
Online forums and guesswork
Save progress anytime
Not applicable
Typical Grant timeline
3 to 6 weeks from posting
Variable, higher error risk
Common concerns, honestly answered
The things people worry about before they start
You do not need to be. The platform tells you exactly what information is needed as you go. Your progress saves automatically, so you can gather information gradually and return to it whenever you are ready. There is no time limit.
Many of our customers are in their seventies and eighties and describe themselves as not especially technical. The platform is designed to be simple and intuitive. And if you get stuck at any point, our UK-based team is only a call, email, or chat away.
The platform will not generate your forms until every section is complete and nothing is missing. You can also raise a support ticket or call us before you post, and our team will happily go through the checklist with you. We want you to post with confidence.
The platform handles most types of estate, including those with inheritance tax. If your estate involves specific complexities like business or agricultural relief, assets in trust, or certain unusual tax positions, call us first and we will tell you honestly whether the platform is right for you.
Carol Fennell, Verified Trustpilot
From people who did exactly what you are considering
Rated 4.9 Excellent on Trustpilot by people who applied for probate themselves
Saved thousands
“Self explanatory and easy to use. Probably saved us £10k in solicitors fees. I had one query and somebody called me within 30 minutes and explained everything simply.”
Grant C.
Verified Trustpilot review
Simple process
“I didn’t even know where to start, but as soon as you register, it guides you through step by step. It made a complicated system really simple.”
Lucia
Verified Trustpilot review
Worried at first
“Was really concerned I’d struggle with this, but it was an absolute breeze. Great platform and so user friendly.”
Shaun Cherry
Verified Trustpilot review
Not tech-confident
“As an 80 year old with very basic IT skills, I found the process straightforward and easy to understand.”
Mrs Sally Baxter
Verified Trustpilot review
Put it off
“I was dreading probate but YouCanDoProbate really made things easier. I had been putting this job off for months.”
Verified Trustpilot
Verified Trustpilot review
Fast result
“Makes everything really simple. Got probate granted in 2 weeks!”
Andre
Verified Trustpilot review
What you get for £499
Every part of the technical work, handled for you
All probate forms completed
PA1P or PA1A, whichever your estate requires, filled in accurately from your answers. If your estate involves inheritance tax, the full IHT400 series is completed too. Ready to print and sign.
Estate calculation and inheritance tax
The platform calculates the full estate position, applies all available exemptions including the Transfer of Nil Rate Band and Residence Nil Rate Band, and works out whether inheritance tax is due and how much. You do not need to understand the rules.
Unlimited expert support
UK-based probate specialists by phone, email, live chat, and support ticket. Included as standard. Not billed per hour. Not limited to a few calls. Unlimited, for as long as you need it.
ICAEW accredited
Accredited for compliance by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. The same professional body that regulates accountants. Independently assessed, not self-declared.
Rated 4.9 on Trustpilot
By hundreds of people who switched from a solicitor quote to YouCanDoProbate, or who were on the verge of booking a solicitor and found us instead.
14-day money-back guarantee
Try YouCanDoProbate risk-free. If it is not right for you, let us know within 14 days of purchase for a full refund. No questions asked.
PRICING
One fair fixed price. No solicitor’s bill.
YouCanDoProbate Platform
£499
one-off · inc. VAT
No hidden costs. No percentage of the estate. Ever.
Full submission guidance: what to send, where, and how
Integrated written and video guidance
Save your progress and return any time
Unlimited support by phone, email, live chat and ticket
14-day money-back guarantee
The only additional cost is the official £526 Probate Registry fee for estates over £5,000, paid directly to HMCTS. Compare that to thousands in solicitor fees, for a process you would still have to help with anyway.
Is it right for your estate?
Is YouCanDoProbate right for your estate?
YouCanDoProbate works for nearly any estate in England and Wales, including estates with an inheritance tax liability. Here is what the platform covers, when it is worth a quick conversation first, and the small number of situations where a different route would be more appropriate.
Yes, the platform works for your estate
The person died on or after 1 January 2022
They were domiciled in England or Wales, or were a long-term UK resident living in England or Wales
PA1P and PA1A Probate forms
IHT400 Inheritance Tax forms and all applicable schedules
Estates with a Will
Estates without a Will (Intestacy Walkthrough included)
You can do probate. Let us show you how straightforward it can be.
Thousands of people have applied for probate themselves using YouCanDoProbate. Many of them were nervous before they started. Most of them tell us afterwards that it was far simpler than they expected. The platform handles all the difficult parts. You just need to provide the details.
