What is probate?
What is a Grant of Probate?
A Grant of Probate is the official document issued by the Probate Registry in England and Wales confirming that a Will is valid and that the named Executor has the legal authority to deal with the estate of the person who has died. It is sometimes simply called “the Grant.”
Why do you need a Grant of Probate?
Banks, building societies, investment platforms, the Land Registry, and most other organisations holding the deceased’s assets will not release or transfer anything without sight of the Grant of Probate (or a sealed official copy at £2 each). Without it, an Executor has no legal standing to sell property, close accounts, or distribute assets.
When do you need one?
A Grant of Probate is needed when the deceased left a valid Will and the estate contains assets held in their sole name. Jointly owned assets (held as joint tenants) usually pass to the surviving owner automatically. Very small solely-owned estates may be released by financial institutions below their threshold, but each sets its own limit.
How long does it take?
Once a complete and correct application is received by the Probate Registry, most of our customers receive their Grant of Probate within 3 to 6 weeks of posting. Incomplete applications take longer.
How to apply
Apply using form PA1P, submitted with the original Will, an official copy of the death certificate, and the £526 application fee for estates over £5,000. YouCanDoProbate completes the PA1P and all required IHT400 forms for you automatically.
The easy and affordable way to apply for probate
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The set was easy to access and user friendly. It was good to be able to go in and out of the site to input data as it became available. The phone line was an additional help to guide me through.
From the beginning I have had helpful advice. Tom has shown oodles of patience. My hearing is not of the best, neither is my eyesight, but I plodded on with his gentle pushing. I have not finished yet, a paper has gone missing which will hold up the finish for a few days. Which this service had been available four years ago!!!
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This was my 1st time having to apply for probate and it looked pretty daunting. I found YCDP platform online and it made the task easy to follow. Saved me a lot of money not using solicitors. The courts received the application on the 15 April and I received the Grant of Probate 3 weeks later. Fantastic service which I would highly recommend this company.
My mother died in March this year and I now have an IHT421 AND Probate. Very happy with the process and occasional need to call for guidance. Callbacks were always prompt and informed. The idea of having a named case worker is as particularly helpful.
The YouCanDoProbate portal made the whole process extremely straightforward and it was at a fraction of the cost of engaging a solicitor, or a probate consultancy service. And, it was quick… Thoroughly recommended!
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Excellent package easy to follow and good help service if needed – probate obtained in six weeks – thankyou
Very easy to use and as they say you can contact any number of occasions as I did twice for advice. When you think I was quoted three times as much, therefore I would say they were value for money. If only the probate service was as quick.
Very prompt, efficient and friendly. Certainly helped me in difficult times. Very straight forward and the step by step forms were a great help.
Simple to use the online tools and help to complete my application
I was very impressed by the easy to use website that allowed filling-in, as the required information was collected. The completed probate application then emerged ready for signing. Difficulty with registering for the service after taking payment, caused by a server outage, was promptly solved by your team that rang back and guided me through the process.
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