How long is a grant of probate valid?

It does not expire. It remains proof of the executors' authority indefinitely.

Who receives the grant?

It is posted to the applicant. Where several executors apply, one address is given for service.

What is the difference between a grant of probate and letters of administration?

A grant of probate is issued where there is a valid will naming acting executors. Letters of administration are issued where there is no valid will, or no executor able to act.

The grant of probate

A grant of probate is the court document confirming that the will is valid and that the named executors have authority to deal with the estate. Where there is no valid will, the equivalent document is letters of administration. Banks, registrars and the Land Registry rely on it before releasing or transferring anything.

Jurisdiction: England & Wales. Last reviewed 13 August 2026.

In this section

Grant vs letters of administrationWhich document applies, and how entitlement differs.Letters of administrationThe intestacy route and the order of entitlement.After the grantCollecting assets, paying debts, accounts and distribution.How long probate takesRealistic timings for each stage.

What the grant allows you to do

Close accounts and have balances paid to an executor account
Sell or transfer property registered in the deceased's sole name
Sell or transfer shares held directly
Claim in on policies and investments that require a grant
Deal formally with creditors of the estate

Office copies

An office copy is a sealed copy of the grant with the same standing as the original. Order one for each organisation you will deal with — £2 each with the application, £16 each later. Sending copies out in parallel rather than one at a time can save months.

How long it takes

Where the estate is excepted for Inheritance Tax and the application is complete, eight to sixteen weeks from application is common. Where a full Inheritance Tax account is required, HMRC has to process it first. Requisitions add weeks each.

It is a public record

Wills become public

Once a grant issues, the will and the grant become searchable public records. Anyone can obtain a copy. This surprises families more than almost anything else in the process.

Lost grant

If the grant is lost, you can obtain further office copies from the registry rather than reapplying. Keep at least one copy filed separately from the working set.

Search probate records on GOV.UK

Frequently asked questions

How long is a grant of probate valid?: It does not expire. It remains proof of the executors' authority indefinitely.
Who receives the grant?: It is posted to the applicant. Where several executors apply, one address is given for service.
What is the difference between a grant of probate and letters of administration?: A grant of probate is issued where there is a valid will naming acting executors. Letters of administration are issued where there is no valid will, or no executor able to act.

Dealing with a straightforward estate yourself?

Our free probate checker helps you work out whether this estate appears suitable for a self-help route. It asks about jurisdiction, disputes and complexity, takes a few minutes, and needs no account.

Check if I can do probate myself See how it works

£349 one-off service fee if you go ahead. Court fee and any Inheritance Tax are paid separately.

Sources

GOV.UK — Applying for probate

Continue your probate journey

Apply For Probate Online is an independent self-help service and is not part of HM Courts & Tribunals Service or GOV.UK.

Check if I can do probate myself