What is probate, in plain English?

Probate is the court-issued authority to deal with a dead person's money and property. With a will, the executor gets a Grant of Probate; without one, the closest relative under intestacy gets Letters of Administration. Banks and the Land Registry act on that document — until then, sole accounts stay frozen and property can't be sold.

Do all estates need probate?

No. Jointly owned assets usually pass automatically to the survivor, and banks release small balances (thresholds vary, roughly £5,000–£50,000) on the death certificate alone. Sole-name property or significant sole savings almost always need a grant. Our probate checker gives a quick steer.

How much does probate cost in 2026?

The court application fee is £526 for estates over £5,000 (it rose from £300 on 13 July 2026), plus £1.50 per extra sealed copy of the grant. DIY probate costs little more than that; solicitors typically charge £1,500–£5,000+ or a percentage of the estate for full administration.

How long does probate take?

For straightforward estates the grant itself often arrives within 4–12 weeks of a digital application. The full administration — valuing, paying, distributing — typically takes 6–12 months, longer if there's property to sell, inheritance tax to resolve, or a dispute.

Can I do probate myself without a solicitor?

Yes, and most straightforward estates are handled without one. The online application (or form PA1P with a will, PA1A without) plus HMRC inheritance tax forms is genuinely manageable. Consider professional help for taxable, business, foreign or contested estates.

What Is Probate? UK Guide to the Process (2026)

What is probate? The UK process explained

Quick answer

Probate is the legal authority to deal with someone's estate after they die. The executor named in the will applies for a Grant of Probate (or, with no will, a relative applies for Letters of Administration). It costs £526 for estates over £5,000, typically takes 4–12 weeks for the grant, and isn't needed for jointly owned assets or small balances.

Probate in one paragraph

When someone dies, their sole-name assets are locked. Probate is the process that unlocks them: the court confirms who has authority (the executor under the will, or an administrator under the intestacy rules), checks the inheritance tax position, and issues the grant. Banks, investment platforms and the Land Registry then act on that grant. Without a will the process is the same shape, but the document is called Letters of Administration and the applicant is the person the law puts first in line.

When probate is — and isn't — needed

Usually not needed: jointly owned property and joint bank accounts (pass to the survivor), assets held in trust, nominated pension death benefits, and small balances each bank releases at its own threshold.
Almost always needed: a sole-name property or land, and sole-name savings or investments above the bank's threshold.

Full breakdown in do I need probate? — or get an instant steer from the probate checker.

The process, step by step

Value the estate — every asset and debt at the date of death, including property, savings, investments, pensions and possessions of value.
Report to HMRC — even when no tax is due, the IHT205 (excepted estates) or full IHT400 must be filed; any inheritance tax owed usually has to be at least partly paid before the grant issues.
Apply for the grant — online via gov.uk, or on paper (form PA1P with a will, PA1A without), with the £526 fee for estates over £5,000.
Collect the assets — close accounts, sell or transfer property, claim pension death benefits.
Pay what's owed — funeral costs, debts, taxes, in the legal order.
Distribute and account — pay the beneficiaries as the will (or intestacy) directs, and keep estate accounts. The working sequence is in the executor checklist.

What it costs and how long it takes

Court fees are only the start — see probate costs for DIY vs solicitor comparisons and the fees estimator, and how long probate takes for realistic timelines and what causes delays.

DIY vs professional help

Most straightforward estates — a house, some savings, a clear will, cooperative family — are administered without professionals, and the online application is designed for exactly that. Pay for help where the estate is taxable, includes a business or foreign assets, or where a dispute is brewing; a fixed-fee probate service or solicitor will quote against the estate. SwiftWill never sells probate or executor services — but a clear, properly signed will is the single biggest factor in how smoothly probate goes.