HMCTS Online Probate Service UK: Full Guide for 2026

Updated: 20 May 2026 • Reading time: 8 min

The HMCTS Online Probate Service is the UK government’s digital portal for applying for a grant of probate or letters of administration in England and Wales. Launched in 2019 and continuously improved since, it now handles the vast majority of probate applications — replacing the older PA1P and PA1A paper forms for most users. This guide explains exactly how to use the service in 2026, from creating your account to receiving your grant, including common pitfalls that cause applications to be queried or rejected.

What the Online Probate Service Does (and Doesn’t Do)

The HMCTS Online Probate Service handles the court side of the probate process — the application to the Probate Registry for the grant. It does not handle:

• The inheritance tax side — IHT400 and supplementary schedules are submitted separately to HMRC’s Inheritance Tax office. The online service links to the HMRC process by asking for the IHT421 reference number.
• Estate administration after the grant — collecting assets, paying debts, distributing the estate. The grant is the start, not the end, of the executor’s duties.
• Scottish or Northern Irish applications — each jurisdiction has its own court process. This guide covers England and Wales only.

The service is available 24/7. It is free to access (the £300 court fee is paid within the portal at the point of submission). There is no requirement to use a solicitor — the service is designed for lay users.

Before You Start: Preparing Your Information

Gather the following before opening the service — the application can be saved and returned to, but having everything to hand speeds the process significantly:

• The original will and any codicils — these must be in your physical possession before you start, as you will post them to HMCTS after submitting online.
• Official death certificate — the registrar’s certified copy, not the hospital’s cause-of-death certificate. You can use either an original or a certified copy; certified copies are available from the General Register Office.
• Details of all executors — full names, addresses, and whether each executor intends to apply, formally renounce, or reserve their power to apply later.
• Estate summary figures — the net value of the estate, jointly held assets, and whether IHT is payable. For excepted estates you will provide these figures within the portal. For IHT400 estates, you will need the HMRC IHT421 reference number.
• GOV.UK One Login — by 2026, most users need to verify their identity through GOV.UK One Login before submitting the application. This requires acceptable photo ID (passport, driving licence, or biometric residence permit).

Step-by-Step: Using the HMCTS Online Probate Service

Step 1 — Create or Sign Into Your Account

Navigate to the HMCTS Online Probate Service via GOV.UK (search “apply for probate online GOV.UK”). Sign in using your GOV.UK One Login credentials, or create a One Login account and verify your identity before proceeding. Once verified, you will land in the probate application dashboard.

Step 2 — Start a New Application

Click “Start a new application”. The service first asks:

• Did the deceased leave a will? (→ grant of probate if yes, letters of administration if no)
• Where did the deceased live? (must be England or Wales — if Scotland or Northern Ireland, you are directed elsewhere)
• When did the deceased die? (the date affects which IHT rules apply)

Step 3 — Enter the Deceased’s Details

Enter full name, date of birth, date of death, last address, and marital status. The service asks whether the deceased was also a surviving spouse or civil partner of someone who died — if so, a transferred nil-rate band claim (IHT402) may be available.

Step 4 — Enter Executor/Applicant Details

List all executors named in the will. For each, indicate whether they are:

• Applying — they are part of this application
• Renouncing — they are formally giving up their right to act (renunciation form PA15 must be signed and submitted)
• Power reserved — not acting now but retaining the right to apply later if the applying executors die or become unable to act
• Deceased before the testator
• Lacking capacity

At least one executor must apply. All applying executors must each complete the statement of truth within the portal.

Step 5 — Enter the Will Details

Provide the date of the will and any codicils. The service asks whether there are any alterations to the will that are not formally countersigned. If there are, HMCTS will scrutinise them — unexplained alterations can cause the application to be queried. If alterations exist, be prepared to explain or provide an affidavit of due execution from a witness.

Step 6 — Enter the Inheritance Tax and Estate Summary

The service asks whether the estate requires a full IHT400 or falls within the simplified excepted estate process:

• Excepted estate: Enter gross and net estate values. The service captures the summary information HMRC needs and generates the required declaration as part of the probate application itself. No separate IHT form is sent to HMRC for most excepted estates.
• IHT400 estate: Enter the IHT421 reference number that HMRC issued after processing the IHT400 account. HMRC sends the IHT421 directly to HMCTS electronically — the portal links your probate application to the HMRC record using the reference number.

Step 7 — Review, Sign the Statement of Truth, and Pay

Review the full draft application. Each applying executor must log in and sign the statement of truth digitally — this can be done on the same or different devices and does not require everyone to be in the same place. Once all signatories have signed, the lead applicant pays the court fee (£300 online by card). The application is then submitted to HMCTS.

Step 8 — Post the Original Documents

After submitting online, the portal generates a coversheet with a unique reference number. Print the coversheet and post it together with:

• The original will (and any codicils)
• The official death certificate (original or certified copy)
• Any renunciation forms (PA15) for non-applying executors
• Any other documents the portal specifies (e.g. evidence of deed poll name change if names do not match)

Post to the address shown on the coversheet (Newcastle Probate Registry in 2026 for most applications). Use Royal Mail Recorded Delivery — the original will is irreplaceable and the portal warns to keep a copy before posting.

After Submission: Tracking and Timeline

Once HMCTS confirms receipt of your physical documents (typically within 5–7 working days of posting), the application enters the review queue. The HMCTS target for straightforward online applications is 16 weeks from the date documents are received. You can track progress in your portal dashboard.

HMCTS may contact you by email if:

• Documents are missing or need to be resubmitted
• Clarification is needed on an executor’s status
• The will has alterations that need explanation
• HMRC has not confirmed the IHT421 (for IHT400 estates)
• The application raises a legal question requiring HMCTS to issue a requisition

Respond to any queries promptly — an unanswered query pauses the application clock.

When the grant is issued, HMCTS posts the original grant plus the number of sealed copies you requested (ordered during the application — £1.50 per copy). The portal status updates to “Grant issued”. Most executors order 6–10 sealed copies — enough to send to banks, building societies, HM Land Registry, share registrars, and HMRC simultaneously.

Common Rejection Reasons and How to Avoid Them

HMCTS uses the term “requisition” rather than rejection — it writes to ask for clarification or additional documents rather than refusing outright. Most problems are resolvable. The most frequent issues are:

1. Documents not received or not legible. Post promptly after online submission. Ensure the original will has not been damaged. If the will has been stapled or bound, HMCTS may query any staple holes as potential evidence of removed pages.
2. IHT421 not linked. Submit the IHT400 to HMRC at least 4–6 weeks before you intend to submit the probate application — HMRC needs time to process and electronically forward the IHT421 to HMCTS.
3. Alterations in the will not properly witnessed. Any handwritten change to a will after signing must be countersigned by the testator and both witnesses at the point of the alteration. Unwitnessed alterations require an affidavit from the solicitor who prepared the will or from a witness confirming the state of the will when signed.
4. Executor renunciation form missing. If a named executor will not be applying, they must formally renounce using form PA15 (signed in front of an independent witness) and this must be posted with the other documents.
5. Name discrepancies. If the will refers to the deceased by a name that differs from the death certificate — for example, a shortened name, maiden name, or alias — provide an explanation and, if significant, an affidavit confirming identity.

Frequently Asked Questions