10 guides

Applying for probate

The order of events from the days after a death through to the grant arriving, and what has to be settled before you can apply.

4 min read

Tell Us Once: what it covers and what it doesn't

How the Tell Us Once service notifies government departments of a death, which organisations it covers, and who you still have to contact yourself.

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6 min read

What to do in the first two weeks after a death

A calm, ordered checklist for the first fortnight after a death in England & Wales: certificates, the funeral, securing property and what can safely wait.

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4 min read

Registering a death: what to take and what you get

How to register a death in England & Wales, who can register it, what to bring to the appointment, and how many death certificates to order.

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5 min read

Acting as one of several executors

How multiple executors work together: who must sign, the maximum number on a grant, power reserved, and what happens when executors disagree.

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5 min read

Probate for a small estate: when you don't need a grant

When a small estate can be settled without probate, bank small-estate limits, the indemnity forms involved, and when a grant is unavoidable.

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6 min read

The probate timeline, month by month

A realistic month-by-month timeline for administering an estate in England & Wales, from registering the death to final distribution.

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6 min read

Do I need probate?

Not every estate needs a grant of probate. How to work out whether you need one, based on property ownership, account balances and how assets were held.

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6 min read

How long does probate take?

A realistic timeline for probate in England & Wales, stage by stage, and the specific things that cause the biggest delays.

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8 min read

How to apply for probate without a solicitor

A step-by-step walkthrough of applying for a grant of probate yourself in England & Wales, what you need to hand, and when to stop and get advice.

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5 min read

Grant of probate vs letters of administration

The difference between a grant of probate and letters of administration, who can apply for each, and what changes in practice when there is no will.

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Where this fits in the probate process

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