Probate Registry UK (2026): What It Is, Where to Apply & How Long It Takes
Updated 13 May 2026 · 8 min read · England & Wales
The Probate Registry is the HMCTS office that issues Grants of Representation — the legal authority to administer a deceased person’s estate in England and Wales. Whether you are an executor named in a will or an administrator dealing with an intestacy, you will need to apply to the Probate Registry to obtain the document that unlocks the estate.
What the Probate Registry does
The Probate Registry is part of His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS). Its primary function is to issue Grants of Representation: legal documents that formally authorise a named person to deal with an estate. There are two main types:
- Grant of Probate — where the deceased left a valid will and a named executor applies
- Letters of Administration — where there is no valid will, or the executor named in the will cannot act
Without a Grant, most financial institutions, the Land Registry, and other bodies holding the deceased’s assets will not release them to anyone. The Grant is the key that unlocks the estate.
Where to apply
Applications can be made:
- Online: via the HMCTS probate service at gov.uk/wills-probate-inheritance/applying-for-probate — the fastest route for straightforward applications
- By post: to the HMCTS Courts and Tribunals Service Centre, PO Box 12625, Harlow, CM20 9QE
- In person: at a local District Probate Registry (available in Bristol, Ipswich, Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle, Oxford, Winchester and others)
Online applications are recommended for most personal applicants — they are faster to process and easier to track.
What you need to apply
| Document | Where to get it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Original will | Wherever the deceased kept it | Must be the original — photocopies not accepted |
| Official death certificate | Register office where death was registered | Not the medical certificate — the civil registration certificate |
| IHT form (IHT205 or IHT400/421) | HMRC | IHT205 for excepted estates; IHT400 for taxable or larger estates |
| Probate application (PA1P or PA1A) | GOV.UK or included in online application | PA1P for will; PA1A for intestacy |
| Probate fee payment | Online payment or cheque | £300 for estates over £5,000 |
The probate fee
The HMCTS probate fee is £300 for all estates valued at £5,000 or more. There is no sliding scale — it is a flat fee regardless of estate size. Estates worth less than £5,000 pay no fee.
You should also order sealed copies of the Grant (£1.50 each). You will typically need 5–10 copies — one for each bank, one for the Land Registry, one for HMRC, and one for your own records. Order more than you think you need.
Paying inheritance tax before the Grant
If IHT is due, it must generally be paid (or arrangements made with HMRC) beforethe Probate Registry will issue the Grant. This creates a practical problem: the estate’s assets are frozen until the Grant is issued, but IHT must be paid before the Grant. Solutions:
- Use personal funds to pay IHT, then reimburse from the estate after probate
- Arrange a probate loan or inheritance advance from a specialist lender
- Use the Direct Payment Scheme — HMRC allows money in most banks to be used to pay IHT directly, before the Grant is issued
The IHT deadline is 6 months from the end of the month of death. Interest accrues after that at 7.75% (2026 rate). The Probate Registry cannot issue the Grant until HMRC confirms IHT has been dealt with.
Processing times in 2026
HMCTS publishes current average waiting times on GOV.UK. In recent years, straightforward applications have typically taken 8–16 weeks. Applications are slower if:
- Documents are missing or incomplete
- The will is damaged or requires a court order to be admitted
- There is a caveat in place (blocking the Grant)
- The estate involves foreign assets requiring re-sealed Grants
Check the latest published waiting times on GOV.UK before setting expectations with beneficiaries.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Probate Registry?
The Probate Registry is a division of His Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) responsible for issuing Grants of Representation in England and Wales. A Grant of Representation is the legal document that gives an executor (Grant of Probate) or administrator (Letters of Administration) the authority to deal with a deceased person's estate — to collect assets, pay debts, and distribute to beneficiaries. Without a Grant, banks, the Land Registry, and most financial institutions will not release assets. The Principal Registry is in London; there are also District Probate Registries across England and Wales.
How do I apply to the Probate Registry?
You can apply online via the HMCTS Probate Service (apply for probate online at GOV.UK) or by post. Online is significantly faster. To apply you will need: the original will (if there is one); an official death certificate (the one issued by the register office, not a photocopy); IHT return form (IHT421 for taxable estates, or IHT205 for excepted estates under £325,000 or covered by spouse exemption); the probate application form (PA1P if there is a will, PA1A for intestacy). You will also pay the probate fee online. The original will must be posted to the Probate Registry after submitting the online application.
How much does applying to the Probate Registry cost?
The HMCTS probate fee is £300 for estates valued at £5,000 or more. There is no fee for estates under £5,000. Additional copies of the Grant cost £1.50 each — order enough for all the banks and institutions you need to notify. If you use a solicitor, their fees are additional to the HMCTS fee and typically range from 1–2% of the estate value or an hourly rate, plus VAT.
How long does the Probate Registry take to issue a Grant?
Processing times vary. In 2024–2025, HMCTS were processing straightforward applications in 8–16 weeks. Applications with issues — missing documents, complex IHT, foreign assets, contested wills — take significantly longer. Applications submitted online tend to be processed faster than postal applications. HMCTS publishes current waiting times on GOV.UK. IHT must be paid (or arrangements made) before the Probate Registry will issue the Grant.
What is the difference between a Grant of Probate and Letters of Administration?
A Grant of Probate is issued when the deceased left a valid will and the executor named in the will applies. It confirms the executor's authority to administer the estate according to the will. Letters of Administration are issued when there is no valid will (intestacy) or when all named executors have died, renounced, or are unable to act. The person who applies is called the administrator, and they must administer the estate according to the intestacy rules rather than a will. Both documents have the same practical effect: they authorise the holder to deal with the estate.
Do all estates need to go through the Probate Registry?
No. Many assets pass outside the probate process: jointly-owned property (passing by survivorship), pension death benefits, life insurance written in trust, and bank accounts below the institution's small estate threshold (typically £15,000–£50,000). An estate may not need a Grant if it consists entirely of such assets. However, the Land Registry will not register a transfer of property solely owned by the deceased without a Grant, and most banks require one for larger sole accounts. If in doubt, contact the relevant institution directly to ask whether they need sight of the Grant.
Can I apply to the Probate Registry myself without a solicitor?
Yes. The HMCTS online probate service is designed for personal applicants. Most straightforward estates — where there is a clear will, an uncomplicated estate, and no disputes — can be handled without a solicitor. The process involves: notifying HMRC of the estate (IHT400 or IHT205), paying any IHT due, completing the online application, sending the original will to the Probate Registry, swearing or affirming the oath, and waiting for the Grant. Solicitors are advisable for complex estates: large IHT liability, missing assets, foreign property, disputed wills, or beneficiaries who cannot be traced.
Make probate easier — start with a clear will
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Get the will kit →Related guides
- How to apply for probate — step by step
- Grant of Probate — what it is and how to get one
- Probate fees — HMCTS and solicitor costs
- Do you need probate? When it is and isn’t required
- Letters of Administration — when you need them
- Executor duties checklist