PA1P Probate Form UK: How to Complete and Submit the Probate Application (2026)

PA1P stands for 'Probate Application — Person left a Will'. It is the official application form used to apply for a grant of probate in England and Wales when the person who died (the deceased) left a valid will. Once probate is granted, the executor named in the will has legal authority to collect the deceased's assets, pay their debts, and distribute the estate according to the will. WHEN TO USE PA1P: use PA1P if the deceased left a will and you are the named executor (or one of the named executors) applying for the grant. If the deceased left no will (died intestate), the correct form is PA1A — not PA1P. If there is a will but no executor is willing or able to act, a different application for letters of administration with will annexed may be needed. If the estate qualifies as an 'excepted estate' (typically below the IHT threshold and meeting specific criteria), PA1P is still required — the difference is in which IHT form accompanies it. PA1P can be submitted: (1) online via the MyHMCTS digital probate service (the Government's preferred route); or (2) by paper post to one of the HMCTS Probate Registries. The online route is generally faster and allows you to upload documents digitally. WHERE TO FIND PA1P: the paper version is available for download from gov.uk. The online version is completed interactively through MyHMCTS. MULTIPLE EXECUTORS: if there are several executors, all those applying must sign the statement of truth. Executors who do not wish to apply can 'power reserve' — they step back at this stage and retain the right to apply later if needed. PA1P has a section to record executors who are reserving power.

The following documents must accompany your PA1P application: ORIGINAL WILL AND CODICILS: the original will (not a copy) must be sent. If there are codicils (amendments to the will), send the originals of those too. Keep photocopies before posting — the originals will be retained by the Probate Registry. If the will has been damaged, altered, or has unexplained markings, include a covering explanation. DEATH CERTIFICATE: an official death certificate issued by the registrar of deaths is required. A copy of the doctor's certificate is not sufficient. Order additional certified copies from the registrar — you will need one for the probate application plus several for notifying banks, HMRC, pension providers, and other institutions. IHT FORMS: depending on the estate value, you will need either: (a) IHT205 (for excepted estates — simpler form, submitted with PA1P for estates below the IHT threshold); or (b) IHT400 plus supplementary schedules (for taxable estates or complex ones) — submit IHT400 and pay any IHT to HMRC first and obtain an IHT reference before submitting PA1P. For most estates, you will need an IHT421 (a probate summary form that HMRC sends to the Probate Registry after processing IHT400). From 2022 onwards, HMRC sends the IHT421 directly to HMCTS electronically in most cases — check HMRC guidance. PROBATE FEE: the court fee is £300 for estates valued above £5,000. Estates worth £5,000 or less pay no fee. Office copies of the grant cost £1.50 each — order at least five to ten when applying. STATEMENT OF TRUTH: PA1P includes a statement of truth that each applying executor must sign, confirming the contents of the application are accurate. Signing a false statement of truth is a contempt of court. Note: you no longer need to swear an oath before a solicitor — the statement of truth replaced this from late 2020.

PA1P is divided into several sections. Here is a guide to each: SECTION 1 — DETAILS OF THE DECEASED: enter the deceased's full legal name (as it appears on the death certificate), any other names by which they were known, date of birth, date of death, last address, and domicile (usually England and Wales unless they were permanently settled abroad). SECTION 2 — DETAILS OF THE WILL: confirm whether a will exists (you would not be using PA1P if it did not), whether there are any codicils, and confirm the date of the will. Note any alterations in the will and whether they appear to have been made before or after execution — unexplained alterations may require an explanation. SECTION 3 — DETAILS OF THE APPLICANT(S): provide your full name, address, email address, and telephone number. If there are co-applicants, include their details. All applicants must confirm they are aged 18 or over. SECTION 4 — EXECUTORS NOT APPLYING: list any executor named in the will who is not applying. State the reason: (a) died before the testator; (b) died after the testator but before applying; (c) power reserved — the executor has decided not to apply at this stage but retains the right to apply later. SECTION 5 — THE ESTATE: provide the gross value of the estate (total assets before deducting debts) and the net value (after deducting debts, funeral costs, and liabilities). These figures must match the values in your IHT form. You will also confirm whether the deceased owned any assets abroad. SECTION 6 — LEGAL STATEMENT / STATEMENT OF TRUTH: read this carefully. By signing, each applicant confirms that the information is correct to the best of their knowledge and belief, that they will administer the estate correctly, and that they will provide a full account if required. OFFICE COPIES: at the end of the form, indicate how many official copies of the grant you require — each costs £1.50. Order at least five.

The online probate service is available via MyHMCTS (HMCTS manage.gov.uk). It is the Government's preferred method and is generally processed faster than paper applications. STEP 1 — CREATE AN ACCOUNT: go to manage.gov.uk and create a MyHMCTS account using a Government Gateway login. You will need an email address and to verify your identity. STEP 2 — START A PROBATE APPLICATION: once logged in, select 'Manage your probate case'. Answer the preliminary questions (did the deceased die in England or Wales? Did they leave a will?). You will be directed to the PA1P online form. STEP 3 — COMPLETE THE ONLINE FORM: follow the on-screen prompts. The questions mirror the paper PA1P. You will need the deceased's details, the will details, executor details, and estate values. STEP 4 — UPLOAD DOCUMENTS: you will be asked to upload scanned copies of the original will, codicils, and death certificate. Keep the originals — you will be asked to post the original will and death certificate separately after the online application is submitted. STEP 5 — PAY THE FEE: the £300 court fee and £1.50 per office copy is paid online by debit or credit card. STEP 6 — SEND ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS: after online submission you will receive a reference number. You must then post the original will (and any codicils) to the HMCTS Probate Registry address stated in your confirmation email. The death certificate may also need to be sent — the system tells you whether an original or a certified copy is required. STEP 7 — AWAIT THE GRANT: HMCTS will review the application and issue the grant of probate. In 2026, online applications typically take 8-12 weeks from submission of all documents; paper applications can take 12-20 weeks or more if there are queries.

PA1P and PA1A are both probate application forms, but they are used in different circumstances depending on whether the deceased left a will. PA1P — PROBATE APPLICATION (PERSON LEFT A WILL): used when the deceased made a valid will and named executors. The successful outcome is a 'grant of probate'. The executor named in the will is the person entitled to apply. PA1A — ADMINISTRATION APPLICATION (PERSON LEFT NO WILL): used when the deceased died intestate (without a will). The successful outcome is 'letters of administration'. The person entitled to apply follows the priority order set out by the Non-Contentious Probate Rules: spouse or civil partner first, then children, then other relatives in order. NO WILL BUT EXECUTOR EXISTS: if the deceased left a will but did not name an executor (or all named executors are dead, have renounced, or lack capacity), an application for 'letters of administration with will annexed' is made — this uses a separate form rather than standard PA1P. KEY PRACTICAL DIFFERENCE: on PA1A you confirm the deceased left no will and explain why you are entitled to administer the estate. On PA1P you confirm the will is valid, enclose it with the application, and confirm your appointment as executor. BOTH FORMS: require the same core documents (death certificate, IHT evidence) and carry the same court fee (£300 for estates over £5,000). Both can be submitted online via MyHMCTS or by paper post. WHICH COURT: both PA1P and PA1A are filed with the HMCTS Probate Registry. The national probate registry address for postal applications is: HMCTS Probate, PO Box 12625, Harlow, CM20 9QE. Personal appointments at local probate registries are available but limited — check gov.uk for availability.

Processing times for probate applications in England and Wales vary depending on how you apply and the complexity of the estate. ONLINE APPLICATIONS (MYHMCTS) IN 2026: straightforward applications with all documents correct are typically processed within 8-12 weeks from the date HMCTS receives the original will documents. PAPER APPLICATIONS BY POST IN 2026: paper applications take longer — typically 12-20 weeks. The additional time reflects manual processing and a higher error rate requiring written queries. FACTORS THAT CAUSE DELAYS: (1) missing documents — if any required document is missing or unclear, HMCTS will issue a 'requisition' requesting further information or documents, which resets the clock; (2) issues with the will — alterations, unusual clauses, or damage may require explanations; (3) IHT queries — if HMRC has not cleared the IHT400 and issued the IHT421, HMCTS cannot proceed; (4) HMCTS workload — processing times fluctuate; check the HMCTS probate registry website for current average times. HOW TO TRACK YOUR APPLICATION: online applicants can log in to MyHMCTS to see the status of their application. Paper applicants can call the probate registry helpline (0300 303 0648). EXPEDITED APPLICATIONS: in genuine urgent cases (e.g., an urgent property sale that needs the grant to proceed), HMCTS can be asked to prioritise an application — include a covering letter explaining the urgency and providing evidence. There is no fee for an expedited request, but it is granted at HMCTS discretion. ONCE ISSUED: the grant of probate is sent to the applicant by first-class post. The executor can then use it to access and transfer the deceased's assets. Order enough office copies (at least five to ten) at the application stage — each additional copy later costs more time and money.