GRANT OF PROBATE APPLICATION (PA1P / PA1A) — PACK & GUIDANCE
This pack is a plain-English, fill-in-the-blanks toolkit to help a personal representative prepare an application for a grant of representation in England and Wales. It comprises four parts: (A) an overview of probate and letters of administration; (B) a details worksheet to gather everything you will need; (C) a step-by-step guide to making the application; and (D) a covering letter to the Probate Registry.
Important. The official application forms PA1P (where there is a will) and PA1A (on intestacy), together with the online probate service, are provided free by HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) on gov.uk. This pack does not reproduce those forms and does not replace them. You must complete the actual PA1P/PA1A form or the online service to apply. Use this pack only to organise your information and understand the process.
PART A — OVERVIEW
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Grant of Probate vs Letters of Administration.
- Grant of Probate is issued where the deceased left a valid will that appoints one or more executors, and at least one of those executors is applying. The person applying is the executor.
- Letters of Administration (with will annexed) is issued where there is a valid will but there is no executor able or willing to act (for example, the named executor has died or renounces). The applicant is an administrator.
- Letters of Administration (simple) is issued where the deceased left no valid will — this is called dying intestate. The applicant is an administrator, and who may apply is fixed by the statutory order of priority (usually the spouse or civil partner, then children, and so on).
Which form?
- Use PA1P if there is a will.
- Use PA1A if there is no will (intestacy).
- Both can be completed on paper or, in most cases, through the online probate service on gov.uk.
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When is a grant needed? A grant is usually required where the estate includes property or land held in the deceased's sole name, or where an asset holder (such as a bank) requires one because of the value held. A grant may not be needed where the estate is very small, or where all assets were jointly owned and pass automatically to the survivor by survivorship. Each asset holder sets its own threshold, so check with them.
PART B — DETAILS WORKSHEET
Complete every relevant row below before you start the PA1P/PA1A form or the online service. This is a working document for your own use; the figures you enter here should match those you report to HMCTS and HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).
B1 — Details of the deceased
| Full name of the deceased | ________ |
| Any other names used (e.g. maiden name, names on assets) | ________ |
| Date of birth | ________ |
| Date of death | ________ |
| Last permanent address | ________ |
| Marital / civil partnership status at death | ________ |
| Occupation (if any) | ________ |
| Domicile (country the deceased treated as permanent home) | ________ |
B2 — Details of the applicant (executor / administrator)
| Full name of applicant | ________ |
| Applicant's address | ________ |
| Telephone number | ________ |
| Email address | ________ |
| Relationship to the deceased | ________ |
| Capacity in which applying (executor / administrator) | ________ |
| Names of any other executors / administrators applying | ________ |
| Names of any executors not applying (power reserved / renouncing) | ________ |
B3 — Details of the will and any codicils (PA1P only)
| Date of the will | ________ |
| Number of codicils (and their dates) | ________ |
| Executor(s) named in the will | ________ |
| Witnesses to the will (names, if known) | ________ |
| Any amendments, marks or damage to the will | ________ |
| Where the original will is held | ________ |
B4 — Beneficiaries
| Name | Relationship to deceased | Entitlement (gift / share) |
| ________ | ________ | ________ |
| ________ | ________ | ________ |
| ________ | ________ | ________ |
| ________ | ________ | ________ |
B5 — Estate assets (gross value at date of death)
| Asset | Details / institution | Value (£) |
| Property / land (main residence) | ________ | ________ |
| Other property / land | ________ | ________ |
| Bank and building society accounts | ________ | ________ |
| National Savings / Premium Bonds | ________ | ________ |
| Stocks, shares and other investments | ________ | ________ |
| Life insurance / pension lump sums payable to the estate | ________ | ________ |
| Vehicles, household and personal possessions | ________ | ________ |
| Money owed to the deceased | ________ | ________ |
| Other assets | ________ | ________ |
| Total gross assets | | ________ |
B6 — Estate liabilities (debts at date of death)
| Liability | Details / creditor | Amount (£) |
| Mortgage / secured loans | ________ | ________ |
| Credit cards / loans / overdrafts | ________ | ________ |
| Utility bills, care fees and other debts | ________ | ________ |
| Funeral account | ________ | ________ |
| Total liabilities | | ________ |
| Net estate (gross assets less liabilities) | | ________ |
B7 — Inheritance tax (IHT) position
Since 1 January 2022 most excepted (non-taxpaying) estates no longer submit form IHT205; the estate values are reported directly within the probate application. Estates that must pay inheritance tax, or that are otherwise not excepted, still report on the full account form IHT400. Record your position below.
| Is the estate an excepted estate (no IHT to pay, reported within the probate application)? | ________ |
| Is a full account (IHT400 and schedules) required? | ________ |
| Nil-rate band available | ________ |
| Transferred (unused) nil-rate band claimed from a predeceased spouse / civil partner | ________ |
| Residence nil-rate band claimed (if applicable) | ________ |
| Gross value of the estate for IHT | ________ |
| Net value of the estate for IHT | ________ |
| Inheritance tax due (if any) | ________ |
| IHT reference number (if IHT400 filed) | ________ |
| Date IHT reported / paid to HMRC | ________ |
PART C — STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE
Step 1 — Register the death and gather documents. Obtain the death certificate and locate the original will and any codicils. Date completed: ________.
Step 2 — Value the estate. Establish the value at the date of death of every asset and liability (see Part B). Obtain written valuations for property and, where appropriate, professional valuations for high-value items. Date estate valuation finalised: ________.
Step 3 — Report and pay any inheritance tax. If the estate is excepted, the values are reported within the probate application. Otherwise, complete and submit IHT400 with its schedules to HMRC, obtain an IHT reference in advance, and pay any tax due. Where a full account is needed, wait for HMRC to confirm before applying for the grant. IHT reference: ________. Date submitted: ________.
Step 4 — Complete PA1P or PA1A. Complete PA1P (with a will) or PA1A (intestacy), either online or on paper, using the information from Part B. Application started on: ________.
Step 5 — Assemble and send the supporting documents. Send the original will and any codicils (never a photocopy) and, if applying on paper, the original or an official copy of the death certificate. Do not staple, pin or attach anything to the original will. Documents sent on: ________.
Step 6 — Pay the application fee. Pay the probate application fee, ordering additional copies of the grant as needed for the various asset holders. Fee amount paid: ________. Number of additional copies ordered: ________. Date paid: ________.
Step 7 — Confirm the statement of truth. Applicants now confirm the application by a statement of truth rather than swearing an oath. Each applicant must confirm that they will administer the estate lawfully and that the information given is true. Statement of truth confirmed on: ________.
Step 8 — Wait for the grant. HMCTS will process the application and, if it is in order, issue the grant of probate or letters of administration. Keep the case reference safe. HMCTS case / reference number: ________. Grant issued on: ________.
PART D — COVERING LETTER TO THE PROBATE REGISTRY
________
________
HM Courts & Tribunals Service
Probate Registry
________
Date: ________
Dear Sir or Madam,
Re: Application for a grant of representation in the estate of ________ (deceased), who died on ________
I write to submit my application for a grant of ________ in respect of the estate of the above-named deceased, whose last address was ________. I am applying in the capacity of ________.
I enclose the following documents in support of the application:
- Completed application form ________ (PA1P / PA1A);
- The original will and any codicils: ________;
- The death certificate (original or official copy): ________;
- Inheritance tax confirmation / reference (if applicable): ________;
- Payment of the application fee and any copies ordered: ________;
- Any other enclosures: ________.
Please contact me if any further information is required. I can be reached by telephone on ________ or by email at ________. I would be grateful if you would return the original will and death certificate with the grant, where possible, and I look forward to receiving the grant in due course.
Yours faithfully,
________
________