Can I fill in PA1P and PA1A?

No. They are alternatives, not a set. Use PA1P where there is a valid will and PA1A where there is not.

Do I still need a paper form if I apply online?

Most personal applicants can complete the whole application online, which follows the same questions as the paper form. Some situations — such as a will with unusual amendments — must be applied for on paper.

Which form do I use for letters of administration?

PA1A where there was no will at all. Where there is a will but no executor able to act, you still use PA1P and the registry issues letters of administration with will annexed.

Which probate forms do you need?

If there is a valid will you need form PA1P. If there is no valid will you need form PA1A. Before either can be processed you must settle the Inheritance Tax position — an excepted estate is reported through the probate application itself, while a taxable or non-excepted estate needs a full IHT400 account sent to HMRC first.

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

In this section

PA1P formThe application where there is a valid will, question by question.PA1A formThe application where there is no will, and who is entitled to apply.IHT400 explainedWhen a full Inheritance Tax account is required and how it is put together.Excepted estatesThe test that decides whether you can skip the full account.

The form you need depends on one question

Everything starts with whether there is a valid will. The will decides the form, the type of grant, and who has the right to apply.

Situation	Form	Grant issued
Valid will with a living, willing executor	PA1P	Grant of probate
Valid will but no executor able or willing to act	PA1P	Letters of administration with will annexed
No valid will	PA1A	Letters of administration

The Inheritance Tax forms sit in front of the application

The registry will not issue a grant until the tax position is settled. For an excepted estate, the figures are declared inside the probate application and there is no separate account. For everything else, an IHT400 and its schedules go to HMRC, and you wait for their code before the registry will process your application.

Order matters

Submitting a probate application before HMRC has processed a required IHT400 does not speed anything up. It creates a stopped application and a requisition.

Supporting documents

The original will and any codicils — never a photocopy
The original death certificate or an interim certificate
Any renunciation or power reserved paperwork where an executor is standing down
The court fee of £526, or a help-with-fees reference

Find the official forms on GOV.UK

Frequently asked questions

Can I fill in PA1P and PA1A?: No. They are alternatives, not a set. Use PA1P where there is a valid will and PA1A where there is not.
Do I still need a paper form if I apply online?: Most personal applicants can complete the whole application online, which follows the same questions as the paper form. Some situations — such as a will with unusual amendments — must be applied for on paper.
Which form do I use for letters of administration?: PA1A where there was no will at all. Where there is a will but no executor able to act, you still use PA1P and the registry issues letters of administration with will annexed.

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.

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

Sources

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