Form PA1A: applying where there is no will
PA1A is the application used when someone dies without a valid will. Instead of an executor, the law sets an order of priority — spouse or civil partner first, then children, then parents, then siblings — and the highest-ranked relative who is willing to act applies for letters of administration.
Jurisdiction: England & Wales. Last reviewed 13 August 2026.
Who is entitled to apply
| Priority | Relationship | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spouse or civil partner | Must be married or in a civil partnership at the date of death |
| 2 | Children, or their children if a child died first | Includes adopted children; excludes stepchildren |
| 3 | Parents | Where there is no spouse and no issue |
| 4 | Brothers and sisters, then their children | Whole blood before half blood |
| 5 | Grandparents, then uncles and aunts | Rarely reached |
Separated is not divorced
A separated spouse still inherits and still has first right to apply. Only a decree absolute or final order changes that. Unmarried partners have no automatic entitlement at all, however long the relationship.What the form asks
- Your relationship to the deceased and why you are entitled to apply
- Whether anyone with a better right exists, and whether they have been cleared off
- The deceased's details, address and domicile at death
- The full family tree relevant to entitlement
- Gross and net estate values and the Inheritance Tax position
- A statement of truth signed by each applicant
Distribution follows the statutory rules, not the family's wishes
An administrator has no discretion. The intestacy rules decide who receives what, including the statutory legacy to a surviving spouse and the split of anything above it. If the family wants a different outcome, that needs a deed of variation within two years of death, signed by everyone giving something up — take advice before attempting one.
Frequently asked questions
- Can two relatives apply together?
- Yes. Up to four administrators can be named. Where a beneficiary is a minor, at least two administrators are usually required.
- What if a higher-priority relative does not want to apply?
- They renounce their entitlement in writing, and that renunciation is filed with the application.
- Does an unmarried partner inherit?
- Not under the intestacy rules. They may have a claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act, which is a court matter needing a solicitor.
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