Probate can feel overwhelming when you are first appointed as executor. But with the right process and the right support, doing probate yourself is genuinely achievable and could save you thousands compared to using a solicitor. This guide walks through what is involved.
Step 1: Confirm whether probate is needed
Not every estate requires probate. If the deceased held all their assets jointly with a surviving spouse or civil partner (with right of survivorship), those assets pass automatically without probate. Check with each institution directly. If the estate includes solely-owned property or bank accounts above around £5,000 to £50,000 (institutions set their own thresholds), probate will almost certainly be required.
Step 2: Locate and validate the will
Find the original will (not a copy) and check that it is signed and witnessed. If you cannot find it, check with the deceased’s solicitor, their bank, the National Will Register, and the Probate Service. If no valid will exists, the estate is intestate and you apply for a Grant of Letters of Administration using form PA1A rather than PA1P.
Step 3: Register the death and collect documents
Register the death at the local register office and request multiple certified copies of the death certificate. Use the Tell Us Once service to notify government agencies. Gather the will, death certificates, the deceased’s National Insurance number, and your own identification.
Step 4: Value the estate
Contact every bank, building society, investment provider, and pension administrator to obtain balances as at the date of death. Value any property at its open market value. List all personal possessions with a meaningful monetary value. From the gross estate, deduct all liabilities: outstanding mortgages, debts, credit card balances, and funeral costs.
Step 5: Complete the HMRC inheritance tax forms
For deaths on or after 1 January 2022, complete the IHT400 and submit it to HMRC before you can apply to the Probate Registry. The IHT400 covers the full valuation of the estate, any gifts made in the seven years before death, and any exemptions or reliefs that apply.
Step 6: Apply for the Grant
Once HMRC has processed your IHT submission, apply to the Probate Registry using form PA1P (with a will) or PA1A (without a will). Submit the original will, official copies of the death certificate, your completed application form, and pay the £526 application fee.
Step 7: Administer and distribute the estate
Once the Grant is issued, you can access and collect estate assets, pay outstanding debts, obtain HMRC clearance, and distribute the estate to the beneficiaries in line with the will or the Rules of Intestacy.
Where does YouCanDoProbate fit in?
Steps 4, 5, and 6 are where most people run into difficulty. YouCanDoProbate handles all of this: the estate valuation, the IHT400 and all supplementary schedules, the exemption calculations, and the completed probate application forms. You do the gathering; the platform does the calculating and the form-completing.
