Yes, you can apply for probate yourself, online, without a solicitor. For most straightforward estates the process is: work out what the estate is worth, check whether inheritance tax forms are needed, apply on GOV.UK and post the original Will. The only charge is the probate fee of £526, and there's no fee at all if the estate is worth £5,000 or less (GOV.UK).
Key Takeaways
- Applying for probate yourself costs £526 for estates over £5,000, and nothing for smaller estates. Solicitors often charge £1,000 or more for the same application.
- The first job is to work out the value of the estate. HMRC's free inheritance tax checker on GOV.UK helps you do this.
- Most estates don't owe inheritance tax and don't need the full IHT400 form, so you can apply straight away.
- Once you have your figures, the online application itself can take as little as 20 minutes.
- You'll usually get the grant of probate within 12 weeks.
This guide covers probate in England and Wales. Scotland ("confirmation") and Northern Ireland have their own processes. If the death was very recent, start with our checklist of what to do when someone dies: registering the death, the funeral, and the insurance and car points that are easily missed.
What is probate, and do you need it?
Probate is the legal right to deal with someone's property, money and possessions (their "estate") after they die. If there's a Will, the Executors apply for a grant of probate. If there's no Will, the closest relative applies for letters of administration, which work in the same way.
You may not need probate at all. It's often not needed if the person who died (GOV.UK):
- only had savings, and each bank or building society will release them without a grant
- owned everything jointly with someone else, such as a home or bank account held as "joint tenants", which passes automatically to the survivor
Every bank has its own limit, so ask each one. You'll almost always need probate to sell or transfer a house or flat that was in the person's sole name, or that they owned as "tenants in common". Our guide to joint tenants and tenants in common explains the difference.
Who can apply for probate?
If there's a Will, the Executors named in it can apply. Up to four people can apply together. If several of you are applying, one acts as the lead applicant and each person needs their own email address and mobile phone number (GOV.UK).
If there's no Will, the closest living relative can apply, in an order set by law: usually a husband, wife or civil partner first, then children. Our guide to what happens if you die without a Will explains who inherits.
Step 1: Work out the value of the estate
This is the first and most important job. Even if there's no tax to pay, you need the value of the estate for the probate application (GOV.UK).
Make a list of everything the person owned and owed on the date they died:
- Property: an estimate of the market value. A local estate agent will usually give one free.
- Bank and building society accounts, savings and investments: write to each one for the balance on the date of death.
- Their share of anything owned jointly, such as half of a joint account.
- Possessions: cars, jewellery and furniture, at what they'd sell for, not what they cost new.
- Debts: mortgage, credit cards, bills, and the funeral costs.
HMRC's free inheritance tax checker on GOV.UK walks you through this and tells you whether inheritance tax is likely to be due. In our experience, gathering the figures takes far longer than the application itself, so start writing to banks and pension providers early.
Step 2: Check whether you need to send full details to HMRC
Most estates are "excepted estates". That means no inheritance tax is due and you don't need to fill in the full inheritance tax account (form IHT400). You simply give the figures in your probate application and can apply straight away (GOV.UK).
If the estate does owe inheritance tax, or needs full details for another reason, you'll need to send form IHT400 to HMRC and normally start paying the tax before you can apply. HMRC then sends you a code to use in the application. This is where many people choose to get professional help.
Step 3: Gather what you need
Before you start the online application, have these ready:
- The original Will, and any codicils (formal additions to the Will). Photocopies aren't accepted.
- The death certificate details. You'll need a copy of the certificate if the person died outside England and Wales, or if you have an interim certificate from a coroner.
- Your estate figures from Step 1, including the gross and net values.
- The HMRC code, if you had to send an IHT400.
Step 4: Apply online
Apply through the GOV.UK probate service. You'll be asked about the person who died, the Will, the Executors and the estate's value, then to confirm that everything is true and pay the fee.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Probate application, estate over £5,000 | £526 |
| Probate application, estate of £5,000 or less | Free |
| Extra copies of the grant, ordered with your application | £2 each |
| Extra copies ordered later | £16 each |
Source: GOV.UK.
Order a few extra copies when you apply. Each bank, building society and pension provider will want to see one, and sending copies to several at once saves weeks compared with waiting for one copy to come back each time.
In our experience, once the estate figures are ready, the online application itself takes about 20 minutes.
Step 5: Send the original Will
After you apply, the service tells you where to post the original Will and any other documents. Keep a photocopy for yourself. The probate registry keeps the original Will, and once probate is granted it becomes a public record that anyone can order a copy of (GOV.UK).
Step 6: Wait for the grant
You'll usually get the grant of probate within 12 weeks, although it can take longer if the registry needs more information (GOV.UK). Simple, complete applications are often much quicker.
Once you have the grant, you can collect in the money, sell or transfer property, pay any debts and pass everything on as the Will says. Our guide to choosing your Executors explains what the job involves.
When is it worth getting professional help?
Applying for probate yourself is reasonably straightforward for a simple estate. It's worth getting help if:
- inheritance tax is due, or the estate is close to the threshold
- there's a Trust in the Will, a business, farmland or property abroad
- the Will is missing, damaged or might be challenged
- the estate may not be enough to pay all the debts
- family members disagree
If you're unsure, talk it through before you start. Our Free Probate Advice Line puts you through to a probate expert at Kings Court Trust. Call 0300 303 9000 and say you were referred by Direct Wills. It's open to everyone, with no obligation.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to apply for probate yourself?
The probate fee is £526 if the estate is worth more than £5,000, and there's no fee for smaller estates. Extra copies of the grant cost £2 each if you order them with your application (GOV.UK). There's no other charge for applying yourself.
Do I need a solicitor to apply for probate?
No. Anyone named as an Executor can apply online themselves. A solicitor can be worth paying for complicated estates, for example where inheritance tax is due or the Will may be challenged, but for most straightforward estates you don't need one.
How long does probate take?
You'll usually get the grant within 12 weeks of applying (GOV.UK). Gathering the estate figures beforehand often takes longer than the application itself, especially if you're waiting for banks and pension providers to reply.
Can I apply for probate if there's no Will?
Yes. The closest living relative applies for letters of administration, using the same online service. The law sets out who can apply and who inherits.
What if I don't want to be an Executor?
You can step aside, as long as you haven't started dealing with the estate. You can also let another Executor apply and have "power reserved", which means you can join in later if you need to.
The bottom line
If the estate is straightforward, applying for probate yourself can save you a solicitor's fee of £1,000 or more. Work out the value of the estate first, check whether HMRC needs full details, then apply online on GOV.UK. If anything is unclear, call our Free Probate Advice Line on 0300 303 9000 before you start.
Related guides: What to do when someone dies · Choosing your Executors · Joint tenants or tenants in common? · Where to store your Will
About this guide
This guide was written and checked by the Downloadawill Will Team. It explains the probate process in general terms and isn't legal advice for your own situation. Fees and processing times are from GOV.UK and were correct in November 2026. Downloadawill is a trading style of Direct Wills. All our Will Writers are Members of The Society of Will Writers. We've been writing Wills for people in England and Wales since 1997. Read more about us.
Not sure where to start?
Our Free Probate Advice Line puts you through to a probate expert at Kings Court Trust. Call 0300 303 9000 and say you were referred by Direct Wills. It’s open to everyone, with no obligation, whether or not you made your Will with us.
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