What is probate?
Probate Glossary: Key Terms Explained
Probate comes with its own language. Whether you have just been named as an Executor or you are trying to understand a letter from a financial institution, this glossary covers the terms you are most likely to encounter.
A
Administrator
The person appointed to manage the estate of someone who died without a valid will. Where there is no will, there is no named Executor, so a close relative can apply to become the administrator. The administrator has the same responsibilities as an Executor and must apply for a Grant of Letters of Administration rather than a Grant of Probate.
B
Beneficiary
A person or organisation named in a will (or entitled under the Rules of Intestacy) to receive a share of the deceased’s estate.
C
Codicil
A supplementary document that amends or adds to a will without replacing it entirely. A codicil must be signed and witnessed with the same formalities as a will to be valid.
D
Deceased Estates Notice / Statutory Advertisement
A notice placed in The Gazette to alert potential creditors that the deceased has died and the estate is being administered. Placing this notice protects the Executor: if a creditor comes forward after distribution, liability passes to the Beneficiaries rather than to the Executor personally.
E
Estate
Everything a person owned at the date of death: property, money, investments, personal possessions, and other assets, minus any outstanding debts, mortgages, and liabilities.
Executor
The person or persons named in a will to administer the deceased’s estate. Executors apply for Probate, gather and protect assets, pay debts and taxes, and distribute the estate in line with the will.
G
Grant of Letters of Administration
The legal document issued by the Probate Registry giving an administrator authority to deal with an intestate estate. The equivalent of a Grant of Probate but applies where there is no will.
Grant of Probate
The official document issued by the Probate Registry confirming that the will is valid and that the named Executor has the legal authority to administer the estate.
Grant of Representation
The umbrella term covering both a Grant of Probate (where there is a will) and a Grant of Letters of Administration (where there is no will).
I
IHT400
The main HMRC Inheritance Tax return for deaths on or after 1 January 2022. Completed before submitting the Probate application to the Probate Registry. Accompanied by supplementary schedules covering specific categories of assets and reliefs. YouCanDoProbate completes the IHT400 and all required schedules for you automatically.
Inheritance Tax (IHT)
A tax on the value of a deceased person’s estate above certain thresholds. The standard rate is 40% on the portion of the estate above the nil rate band.
Intestacy / Intestate
Dying without a valid will. When someone dies intestate, the Rules of Intestacy dictate who inherits.
N
Nil Rate Band (NRB)
The amount of an estate free from Inheritance Tax. Currently £325,000 per person. Can potentially be increased by transfers from a late spouse and by the Residence Nil Rate Band.
P
PA1A
The Probate application form used when the deceased died without a will (intestacy). Submitted to the Probate Registry. YouCanDoProbate auto-completes the PA1A from your answers.
PA1P
The Probate application form used when the deceased left a valid will. Submitted to the Probate Registry alongside the original will. YouCanDoProbate auto-completes the PA1P from your answers.
R
Residence Nil Rate Band (RNRB)
An additional Inheritance Tax allowance of up to £175,000 per person, available where a qualifying residential property passes to a direct descendant. YouCanDoProbate determines whether the RNRB applies and applies it correctly.
Rules of Intestacy
The legal rules that determine who inherits when someone dies without a valid will. A strict priority order applies, beginning with married or civil partners, then children, then other relatives. Unmarried partners do not inherit under these rules.
T
Tell Us Once
A government service allowing you to notify multiple government agencies of a death in a single step, including HMRC, DWP, DVLA, and local council.
Transferred Nil Rate Band (TNRB)
Unused nil rate band from a late spouse or civil partner can be transferred to the surviving partner’s estate, potentially doubling the tax-free threshold available. YouCanDoProbate handles TNRB claims automatically.
W
Will
A legal document setting out a person’s wishes for how their estate should be distributed after death. Must be in writing, signed by the person making it, and witnessed by two independent people present at the same time.
The easy and affordable way to apply for probate
Related articles
The system was very user friendly, and easy to use. The case was not straight forward and when needed, the telephone support was superb. Will definitely use again. Highly recommended.
After revisiting the IHT400 form several times and googling some of the terms used, stumbled upon You can do Probate. I was a little sceptical about signing up as it was£499 versus a minimum of £2k for a solicitor. The site breaks everything down into manageable sections. provides plain English guidance and videos to help you complete the form. it turns out I did not have to use the IHT400 as I had an excepted estate. once everything is completed, click print form, signed and sent off. I had probate granted after 7 working days and the certificate after 9. I cannot recommend the service enough
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. I work as a Digital Project Manager so I am computer literate, but I can confirm the platform is very user friendly and intuitive for anyone to use. I phoned the helpline once for advice and they called me back within 24 hours with helpful and friendly guidance. It was not an ‘accepted estate’ and there were several exemptions to be submitted. You Can Do Probate handled this with ease. After using the platform to generate the first set of estate summary forms for HMRC I received confirmation from them within 11 days of posting. I then printed and submitted the probate forms to HM Courts. It took 9 days to receive an approval email and the Certificate of Probate arrived in the post the next day. So from start to finish – 20 working days. We were shocked at the speed! I would highly recommend You Can Do Probate. Absolutely worth the purchase fee. Thank you for making a really difficult time a little easier to navigate.
YCDP asked all the right questions, it was fairly easy to complete. I spent about 2 months preparing the application, getting valuations etc. Probate was approved in 3 weeks from posting the application.
YCDP is excellent. As an 80 year old with very basic and fairly rubbish IT skills I was a bit apprehensive but found the process straight forward and easy to understand. It was very helpful to be given a list of the information I would need before starting. Having been quoted a price of over £1000 from a solicitor to complete the probate application the cost of using YouCanDoProbate was such a saving. I would recommend them to anyo
I am so glad I found this online company. I was a bit sceptical at first but as the cost of using a solicitor was fairly considerable I decided to opt for this. I am glad I did. The Probate Platform was easy to use and on the odd occasion that I had a query the telephone support was great. I have just been informed by HMCTS that the application has been approved. I have no hesitation in recommending this company.
Having used a well known company previously to carry out a probate application and being very dissatisfied as it took 12 months (this was not a complex case) I was determined to apply myself this time around. However the government online system is not very user friendly and I found myself rethinking my approach. You can do probate were the perfect middle ground. The cost was considerably less and the availability of experts to consult with throughout the process was very reassuring. Before you go straight to a solicitor or an independent probate firm take a look at we can do probate. The biggest difference is that you are in control of the time frame . I will use them again if the event ever arises.
Was really concerned i would struggle with this but it was an absolute breeze. Great platform and so user friendly.
Straightforward and easy to use system. Definitely recommended.
I seriously cannot believe the money I have saved by doing probate myself. If there was a question I didn’t understand I requested a call back, which I received quickly and was able to chat to the advisor who explained so that I was able to understand. Definitely recommend
Easy platform to navigate, all the totals are done on auto can not fault in any way, once probate and HMRC code completed the grant was issued in less than three weeks.
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.
AFFORDABLE FIXED PRICE
Forms filled in for you
No expertise needed
Unlimited UK support
One time payment
£499
including VAT
Get started in 3 simple steps
Back Guarantee
T&Cs apply.
Monday to Saturday; 9am - 6pm
Trusted & Secure
