Grant of Probate

Helping you navigate the Grant of Probate process to manage the estate efficiently and ensure the deceased’s wishes are carried out.

Wills and estates

When a person passes away, somebody needs to be authorised to deal with their estate (all their assets, debts and property). If the deceased left a Will, the appointed Executors will have this authority. If there is no Will, then the rules of intestacy will determine who can apply to be the administrator of the estate.

What is a grant of letters of administration?

The Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration is a legal document issued by the Probate Registry confirming who is the Personal Representative of the estate. The Personal Representative is then allowed to handle funds and carries personal responsibility to ensure that the estate is dealt with correctly by identifying the assets, paying all the debts and taxes and distributing the remainder correctly in accordance with the Will or the rules of intestacy.

Where there is a Will, the appointed Executors will apply to prove the Last Will and Testament and become the Personal Representatives of the estate. And if there is no Will, the Probate Registry will confirm who the lawful representative is by following the rules of intestacy and issuing the Grant of Letters of Administration.

Whether the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration is necessary depends on the type of assets the deceased held at the date of death and their value. If the value of the estate is less than £5000, the Grant is not required. In some cases, financial institutions will release the assets to the Executor or the next of kin if the value of the asset is low and the Executor or the next of kin signs a statutory declaration or gives an indemnity, which is a promise to deal with the funds correctly.

Where the deceased owned property, land, investments such as stocks and shares or bonds, it would be necessary to obtain the Grant of Probate to release, sell or transfer those assets.

As part of the process of applying for the Grant, it is necessary to values of the assets in the estate and where necessary, submit an Inheritance Tax Account to HMRC. If the estate is liable for Inheritance Tax, this must be paid in full or in part at the outset and only then HMRC will issue permission to apply for the Grant.

When an application is made for a Grant of Probate with a Will, the Grant confirms the validity of the Will and the Executor will be bound to follow its instructions. Only the original Will can be used and the Probate Registry will retain it indefinitely as when the Grant of Probate is issued, it becomes a public record. A copy of the Grant and the Will will then be available for anyone to see if they were to purchase a copy.

We take care of the probate process for you

We will help you to establish whether the Grant of Probate is necessary in your circumstances. If there is no Will, we will advise you who is entitled to apply to become a Personal Representative and apply for the Grant of Letters of Administration.

We will help you to obtain the necessary valuations and complete the Inheritance Tax account. We will liaise with HMRC and the financial institutions to settle the correct amount of tax.

We will inspect the original Will and will make an application for the Grant of Probate to the Probate Registry. If there is no Will, we will prepare an appropriate application for a Grant of Letters of Administration for the correct representative to be appointed. We will liaise with the Probate Registry on your behalf.

If you are an Executor appointed in the Will or the person with priority to the Grant of Letters of Administration where there is no Will, you may wish to renounce your appointment because you are not able to deal with the estate and we will prepare the necessary form of renunciation for you to sign.

If the appointed Executor or the correct Personal Representative is not able to act and would like to appoint somebody else to handle the estate on their behalf, we will prepare the necessary documents using Powers of Attorney.

Our commitments to you

Our team of experienced family solicitors are ready to help you.

We look after you

We understand that you’re going through a tough time, and we’re here to support you through it.

Our lawyers are available to talk to you whenever you need it.

We keep you informed

It can be stressful waiting for information.

We don’t keep you waiting. As soon as we have progress, we let you know straight away.

We help you understand

Legal matters can be complex.

We’ll explain everything to you and guide you through the process so that you know what’s happening.

Our process

Our team of experienced family solicitors are ready to help you.

1.

Book your free 30-minute consultation

2.

We’ll guide you through valuing the estate accurately

3.

We’ll prepare all necessary documentation and liaise with HM Revenue & Customs, the Probate Registry, and any other relevant institutions to settle the tax on your behalf

4.

We’ll communicate with you in the way that suits you best

5.

We’ll provide a clear breakdown of all costs from the outset

Fees

  • Grant of Probate only £1,400–£6,650 (plus VAT)

  • HMCTS Probate Fee £300 + £16 per copy (plus VAT)

Testimonials

“In all aspects of the issues that occurred we couldn’t have asked for better service And would highly recommend her to anyone seeking or requiring legal advice or services in any and all matters.”

CarlaSeptember 2025

“Louise, I can’t thank you enough. What felt like such a stressful, overwhelming process became manageable with your support. You were clear, reassuring, and always on my side. You achieved the result I had been hoping for and that’s been a huge relief!”

AnonymousJune 2025

“From my first telephone call, Alison provided an excellent service, going beyond what I expected. It was a very difficult, stressful time and her understanding and reassurance eased my concerns. Alison is a great listener and provides very clear explanations of options, implications and likely outcomes, which was so important for someone like me, without any experience on legal matters. Above all, Alison was always there for when I needed legal advice, responding promptly to my many queries and giving me the encouragement that I needed towards achieving a satisfactory settlement. With her invaluable help and empathy that objective was achieved.”

AnonymousMarch 2025
See more tesimonials …

Get in touch.

Book your free 30-minute consultation now.