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On or after 1st March 2025
On or before 28th February 2025
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What is probate?

What is the Difference Between a Grant of Probate and Letters of Administration?

Both are types of Grant of Representation. Both give the named person legal authority to deal with the estate of someone who has died. The core difference is simply whether or not the deceased left a valid Will.

Grant of Probate

Issued when the deceased left a valid Will with a named Executor willing and able to act. The application uses form PA1P. The Executor distributes the estate in accordance with the Will.

Letters of Administration

Issued when there is no valid Will, or when a Will exists but no Executor can act. The application uses form PA1A. A qualifying relative (the administrator) manages the estate, distributing it according to the Rules of Intestacy.

Are they treated differently by banks and institutions?

No. Banks, financial institutions, and the Land Registry accept both documents equally. What matters is that it is an original or sealed official copy (£2 each) issued by the Probate Registry. YouCanDoProbate supports both. The platform determines which forms apply and completes them automatically.

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Our UK-based team is on hand to help. Call us, or Request a Callback. No obligation. Just honest answers.
Trustpilot five star rating
Why would you not use this excellent service

Very straightforward process which explained everything required to fill out the form. This coupled with excellent back up with regard to speaking to somebody if clarification was required & explained in simple terms. Very recommended and good value for money.

Mr Trevor Niblett
Trustpilot five star rating
How to do Probate the easy way

My experience of using the YouCanDoProbate programme has been good and certainly it is a well put together one. Firstly it specified the information which would be required by the Probate Office so that I could save time when using the programme. It then went on with what is basically a copy of the Government sheets so that the information could be added. Adding the information required was not as easy as it would seem.This was not a fault of the programme, but rather the way the person who had designed the sheets for the Government had expressed their requirements. On several occasions I was a bit stuck and and sent a message to YCDP requesting assistance. I found that they could not have been more helpful and I would like to thank both Adam and Tom for their assistance. They both answered my queries and made it clear that they would spent as much time as was necessary in doing so, very much a PLUS point in this day and age where many companies cannot get away fast enough. They would contact me either by phone or email, whichever I preferred. Another thing that I particularly liked was that the programme would not allow me to tick the box as finished in error, until each section it was complete. By doing so it meant that the Probate office should not have to return it as incomplete. The current programme is designed to cater for a maximum nett figure of £325,000 before Inheritance tax is payable. There are circumstances where there is only one son or daughter who will inherit and the Government will allow up to a nett figure of £500,000 before Inheritance Tax is due, and I was informed that they are working on an amendment to the programme to allow for this. I can fully recommend this programme which is considerably cheaper than putting it in the hands of a Probate Specialist.

Brian Pullin
Trustpilot five star rating
Easy and very cheap DIY probate with…

Easy and very cheap DIY probate with full money back guarantee

caba sinko
Trustpilot five star rating
best £399 ever spent

Fantastic service..best £399 ever spent. I had quotes for over £5000 from solicitors I sent off my probate form on the 28th Oct 2024 (hard copy) I received an email on the 18th November 2024 letting me know that they had received my applications. I have just received my email 30/11/24, that my probate application has been granted… Just under a month all done. I was holding off doing this job for months as I was struggling to find a solicitors that I liked.. I am so happy I came across this company.. Honestly if I can do it so can anyone!!!

customer
Trustpilot five star rating
Having spoken to HMRC for advice…

Having spoken to HMRC for advice following the death of my Mum they told me what forms I needed…. the forms were multiple, long and confusing as where the notes to help you fill in the forms !!! This platform just seemed too good to be true which is what I said to Tom when I phoned to enquire . He was very informative and reassuring about how and why it works and reassured me there is constant support during the whole process of completion. I sat with the HMRC forms one more time, gave up again and then I registered on the platform which took minutes , paid my £499 and I never looked back . It really does all the work for you and yes on the couple of occasions I did need guidance Tom was there calling me back after logging a support call within half an hour . Completed the platform …. Probate forms then all printed off from the information you have already input and then just a trip to the post office to post and then peace of mind !! Now I’m just waiting for it to be processed by the Probate office .

Karen
Trustpilot five star rating
Brilliant system

Really pleased to have come across this service. The system was easy to use and the support provided was really helpful when I wasn’t sure what info to enter. From my perspective the cost was negligible for the peace of mind the system and team provided. Probate was granted within 8 weeks. Highly recommended.

nigel
Trustpilot five star rating
System was priced sensibly and easy to…

System was priced sensibly and easy to use

PJM
Trustpilot five star rating
Worth every penny

When life is at its trickiest and you are expected to be able to navigate probate, this service takes all the hassle out of it. The helpline and email responses are quick and so helpful. It is such good value for money.

Louise Conway
Trustpilot five star rating
This was money well spent made life so…

This was money well spent made life so much easier and prevented any time being wasted by not sending all relevant documents and having to re submit.

Mr Walker
Trustpilot five star rating
YouCanDoProbate was great, I would recommend !

YouCanDoProbate was great and took you carefully through all the questions & areas that are needed to complete and submit Probate forms and calculate any IHT payable. It may seem a daunting task, but taking it one section at a time, I was able to complete and obtain probate saving thousands in Solicitors fees. Most of the information you are going to have to obtain yourself, even if using a Solicitor.

Customer
Trustpilot five star rating
The whole process was very simple

The whole process was very simple. If I can do probate with this website, anybody can!

KD
Trustpilot five star rating
Provided clear and precise instructions…

Provided clear and precise instructions as to what needs to be done. Made a complex process straight forward, especially for relatively simple estates.

Dean
AFFORDABLE FIXED PRICE
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£499

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Additional costs: The probate registry fee of £526 (for all estates over £5,000) and any additional official copies at £2 each. (Payable directly to HM Courts and Tribunals Service by cheque or postal order, enclosed with your application forms).
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© YouCanDoProbate • YouCanDoProbate is a trading name of Kabing Ltd.
YouCanDoProbate is not a law firm, is not authorised to conduct reserved legal activities, and is not regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). Our digital service is a self-help online platform for you to input data, navigate forms, and manage your own inheritance tax returns and probate applications as a lay applicant. It provides administrative utility tools, forms, and general information. Our telephone, email, support ticket, and live chat support provide administrative and technical guidance only. We do not provide legal, estate planning, or tax advice, and our service is not a substitute for a regulated professional’s advice regarding complex estate or tax matters.
© Kabing Ltd | All Rights Reserved. Company number 12125399.

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