Submitting and tracking an online probate application
Once an online probate application is submitted and the fee is paid, you post the original will to the registry, then wait. Progress is tracked through the online service and by email. If anything is missing, the registry issues a requisition and the application pauses until you reply.
Jurisdiction: England & Wales. Last reviewed 13 August 2026.
The order of events
- Submit the application and pay the fee.
- Post the original will and codicils, with your application reference, by a tracked service.
- The registry checks entitlement, the will and the tax position.
- Any gaps come back as a requisition.
- The grant and any office copies are issued and posted.
If it is taking longer than expected
| Symptom | Usual cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No movement weeks after submitting | The original will has not been matched to the application | Check your postal tracking, then contact the registry with the reference |
| Registry says the tax position is unresolved | HMRC has not confirmed the account | Chase the Inheritance Tax side first — the registry cannot proceed without it |
| Requisition about names | Names differ between will, certificate and application | Reply explaining the discrepancy and supply evidence of the alias |
| Application stopped entirely | A caveat has been entered against the estate | Take legal advice — this is a dispute, not an administrative delay |
A caveat means stop
If someone has entered a caveat, no grant can issue until it is resolved. That is outside the scope of any self-help service and you should speak to a solicitor.Keeping a clean record
Keep every submission reference, posting receipt, requisition and reply in one file. If the estate is later questioned by a beneficiary or a creditor, that file is your evidence that you acted properly. Our workspace stores your figures, your correspondence templates and your step-by-step progress in one place for exactly this reason.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I track my probate application?
- Through the official online service using your application reference, plus email updates from the registry.
- What if my application is rejected?
- Most applications are not rejected outright; they are stopped by a requisition that you can answer. Genuine rejections usually mean the applicant was not entitled to apply.
- Can I withdraw an application?
- You can ask the registry to withdraw it, but court fees are generally not refunded once the application has been processed.
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.
£349 one-off service fee if you go ahead. Court fee and any Inheritance Tax are paid separately.
Sources
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.