Probate Application Form
Getting the Paperwork Right First Time
Completing the correct probate application form is one of the more important, and more nerve-wracking, steps in getting the legal authority to deal with someone's estate.
Which form you actually need depends on your specific circumstances, chiefly whether the person left a valid will and how you choose to apply, and getting the wrong one, or filling it in incompletely, is one of the most common reasons applications get delayed.
This guide walks through exactly which form applies to you, what information to gather beforehand, and the mistakes worth avoiding.
What Is a Probate Application Form?
A probate application form is the official document used to apply for legal authority to administer someone’s estate. It asks for information about the deceased, the executor or administrator applying, the estate itself, the will if one exists, estate values, and relevant tax declarations.
Once approved, you receive either a Grant of Probate, where a valid will exists, or Letters of Administration, where it does not.
Our guide on Letters of Administration explained covers that second route in more detail if there was no will.
Which Probate Form Do You Actually Need?
There are two main forms used in England and Wales, and knowing which applies before you start saves a lot of wasted effort.
Form PA1P is for executors named in a valid will, and leads to a Grant of Probate.
Form PA1A is for eligible relatives applying where there is no valid will, and leads to Letters of Administration instead. Most straightforward applications can now be completed online through GOV.UK’s probate service, which is generally faster, though paper forms remain available and are sometimes still necessary for more complex or unusual estates.
If you are at all unsure which route applies, it is worth double-checking against the current guidance or getting professional advice before you begin, since picking the wrong form is one of the more time-consuming mistakes to correct.
Information You'll Need Before Completing the Form
Before starting, it genuinely pays to gather everything in one place first.
You will usually need the original will if one exists, the death certificate, the deceased’s full name, date of death and address, your own details as executor or administrator, information about the beneficiaries, and full details of the estate itself, including property, bank accounts, savings and investments, pension information, insurance policies, and any outstanding debts and liabilities.
Our guide on investments after death is worth reading beforehand if the estate includes shares, bonds or a wider portfolio, since these need to be valued accurately before you can complete the financial sections of the form.
Completing the Probate Application Form
A few areas are worth extra care as you work through it.
Personal details. Double check full legal names, dates, addresses and contact information throughout. Something as small as a misspelled name can genuinely delay an application.
Estate assets. Make sure everything is accounted for, including property, bank accounts, savings, investments, vehicles, valuable possessions, business interests and any assets held overseas. Leaving something out, even accidentally, can cause complications once the Grant has already been issued.
Debts. Record mortgages, loans, credit cards, utility bills, care fees, funeral expenses and any other liabilities accurately, since the estate’s net value depends just as much on what it owes as on what it owns.
Supporting documents. Check what needs to accompany your application, which may include the original will, any codicils, the death certificate, tax documentation, and identification where requested. It is worth checking everything is genuinely included before submitting, rather than assuming and finding out later.
Common Mistakes on Probate Forms
Applications are frequently delayed by errors that, individually, feel minor but collectively add real time to the process: missing signatures, incorrect estate valuations, assets left off entirely, wrong personal details, forgotten supporting documents, using an outdated version of the form, or incomplete tax information.
Taking the time to properly review everything before submission, ideally with a second pair of eyes, catches most of these before they become a problem.
Can You Complete the Form Yourself?
Yes, and many executors do, particularly for more straightforward estates. That said, professional advice tends to be genuinely worthwhile where Inheritance Tax is involved, the estate includes business assets, there are assets held overseas, the will is being disputed, the estate is particularly high in value, or any other legal complication emerges during the process.
Our guide on probate advice covers more of the situations where bringing in professional support tends to pay for itself.
What Happens After You Submit the Form?
Once submitted, the Probate Registry reviews the information provided, and may come back to you requesting clarification or additional documents before proceeding. Assuming everything is in order, your application is then processed and a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration is issued.
Current guidance suggests straightforward applications, submitted online without complications, are generally processed within around twelve weeks, though this can vary.
Once you have the Grant in hand, you can begin collecting assets, paying debts, and properly administering the estate, as covered in our guide on probate administration.
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Understanding probate paperwork can make the whole administration process considerably less stressful.
If you would rather have professional support, Find a Funeral will soon let you view and compare experienced probate solicitors who can prepare and submit your application on your behalf.
Yes. Many applications can now be completed online through GOV.UK’s probate service, which is generally the faster route, although some circumstances still require paper forms such as PA1P or PA1A, or additional documentation.
If an error is identified, the Probate Registry may contact you for clarification or ask for additional information. More significant mistakes can require formal amendments before the application is able to proceed.
Yes. Where a valid will exists, the original document is normally required as part of the application, so it is worth locating and safely keeping it before you start.
Yes. Form PA1P is used where there is a valid will, and Form PA1A is used where there is not, with the appropriate route also depending on whether you apply online or by post.
Yes. Many probate solicitors offer an application-only service, or can manage the entire probate process on your behalf if you would prefer not to handle any of it directly.