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Common questions, a glossary of legal terms, and links to the official guidance.
Frequently asked questions
Do I always need probate?
Not always. Small bank balances can often be released without a grant, and assets owned as joint tenants usually pass automatically to the survivor. Probate is normally needed where there is property in the sole name of the deceased, or where an institution asks for a grant.
What is the difference between probate and letters of administration?
A grant of probate is issued to executors named in a valid will. Letters of administration are issued where there is no will, or no executor able to act. Both give authority to deal with the estate.
How long does it take?
Gathering valuations usually takes several weeks. HMCTS processing times vary and are published by the service. Estates with tax to pay take longer because HMRC must be dealt with first.
Can I be paid for acting as executor?
You can normally reclaim reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. Payment for your time is only allowed if the will provides for it or all beneficiaries agree.
What if I find a new asset after distributing the estate?
You will need to collect it and distribute it in the same shares. This is one reason to keep estate accounts and beneficiary details for several years.
Do you check my application before I submit it?
No. We help you organise and review your own information, but we cannot check your legal position. The declaration you make to HMCTS is yours alone.
What happens if my answers change part-way through?
Your estate record updates and any affected figures are recalculated. If a change means the estate no longer falls within the self-help scope, we tell you and explain what to do next.
Glossary
- Administrator
- The person who deals with an estate where there is no executor able to act.
- Beneficiary
- Someone entitled to receive something from the estate.
- Caveat
- A formal notice that stops a grant being issued while a concern is resolved.
- Estate
- Everything the deceased owned, less everything they owed.
- Executor
- A person named in a will to carry out its terms.
- Grant of representation
- The court document proving authority to deal with the estate.
- Intestacy
- Dying without a valid will; fixed statutory rules then decide who inherits.
- Nil-rate band
- The value of an estate that can pass free of Inheritance Tax.
- Personal representative
- The general term for an executor or administrator.
- Residue
- What is left of the estate after debts, expenses, tax and specific gifts.
- Statement of truth
- A personal declaration that the information given is true.
- Statutory notices
- Published notices that protect the personal representative against unknown creditors.
Official sources
We cannot answer legal questions
Our support team can help with the platform — accounts, payments and how a page works. We cannot tell you what to do about your particular estate. For that, see when to use a solicitor. Email help@applyforprobateonline.co.uk for platform help.