Does probate override a will?

A probate does not override a will, because their purpose is different. A will allows you to express your wishes on how you want your estate to be managed after death, as well as indicating who the person responsible for it is. Subsequently, in order to fulfil this role, the executor of your will has to apply for probate. Only after this is granted, can they manage the assets.

What happens if there is no grant of probate?

You are not allowed to take any action involving the deceased's estate, until you are granted probate. That is due to the fact that sometimes, other members of the family might start a legal battle to obtain probate instead or there might also be suspicion regarding the validity of the will. For this reason, the executor of the will has to be granted probate before they can exercise their legal right of selling the property.

How long after probate is granted does it take to receive inheritance?

After obtaining probate, you will first need to settle any debts and pay taxes. Only after this is completed, can you start distributing the remaining estate. It can take anywhere from 6-12 months to receive inheritance, depending on the complexity of the case.

Can I do grant of probate myself?

Yes, you might be able to do it yourself. You can either apply by post or online. We explain how to apply for grant of probate in the article above. For complex matters or if you feel like you cannot handle this process during such a difficult time, you can get help from an experienced solicitor.

Stamps, pen and glasses sitting on top of a will. SAM Conveyancing's guide on how to apply for grant of probate

We explain how to apply for grant of probate, to help make things easier during this difficult time.

Find out more

How To Apply For Grant Of Probate

by:

Laura Cristian

Last Updated: 08/12/2023

Read by:

697

5 min read

Key Takeaways

When a deceased family member dies and leaves a will, you must apply for grant of probate before being able to manage their estate.
There are certain situations where obtaining probate is not necessary.
You can do this process by yourself, although for more complex cases we recommend getting help from a solicitor. We explain how to apply for grant of probate below.

What is a grant of probate?

The term probate refers to the legal right one has to manage someone else's assets after their death, as long as they've been named executor in the will. Before being able to exercise this right, you will need to apply for grant of probate. It is not recommended to take any action regarding these assets, until you are granted this.

Do you have to go through probate if you have a will?

Yes, even if there is a will which indicates you as the executor, you will need to apply for grant of probate.

If, however, there is no will in place, under the rules of intestacy, the estate is passed on to the surviving relatives. You can check if this applies to you, and if that is the case, you will need to apply for a letter of administration. This serves the same purpose as the grant of probate, but it is applicable when there is no will.

This is not applicable in the case of joint tenants. For this type of ownership, joint tenants have equal rights to the entire property. For this reason, if one dies, they cannot pass their share to anyone else, even if they have a will. For tenants in common, the relevant share of property will be inherited, which you will still need a grant of probate for.

You will also not need to worry about how to apply for grant of probate in the following situations:

insolvency
assets are held in a trust
there is no property to manage and the estate only consists of cash and personal belonging
the estate value is under £5,000 and any financial institutions (i.e. banks) have agreed to release funds without you obtaining probate

Why do you need a grant of probate?

You will need a grant of probate before being able to manage the deceased's assets. This document attests that you are, in fact, the executor indicated in the will and can therefore manage the estate.

Alternatively, other family members can always dispute someone's right to apply for a grant of probate. The person starting the claim will act as the Caveator and they will start a probate caveat process. This means that you will not be able to receive grant of probate, until the court makes a decision.

What is the process for grant of probate?

1

Make sure you have the will and death certificate

When sending your application, you will need to include the original will with it. You might be able to apply for probate, even if the original is lost. This is done by filing a Form PA13.

2

Figure out if there's inheritance tax to pay

Before applying for grant of probate, you will need to get a house valuation. This is an important step, as this will let you know if you need to pay inheritance tax. You will need to report this to HMRC.

3

Apply for grant of probate

When there is a will in place, you will need to fill out Form PA1P.

If the value of the property surpasses £5,000, then you are liable to pay an application fee of £273. If the property turns out to be worth less than that, this is not applicable. Extra fees might be incurred so make sure you are informed when applying. If you're on low income, you might be able to claim help with these fees.

4

Collect and manage the assets

Only when you've been granted probate, can you finally administer the estate. You can then pay off the deceased's debts as well as paying any other beneficiaries.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Written by: Laura Cristian

Andrew Boast FMAAT is a qualified accountant, conveyancing specialist and author with over 25 years of experience in the UK property sector. Since beginning his career in 2000 within established SRA and CLC-regulated conveyancing solicitor firms, Andrew has overseen the legal journeys of more than 75,000 clients.

He is the author of the property guide 'How to Buy a House Without Killing Anyone' and a frequent contributor to mainstream UK media on legislative updates, property law, first-time buyer guides, conveyancing best practices, and stamp duty changes. Andrew specialises in resolving complex title issues, property conflict disputes, and property tax options, streamlining the enquiry process to reduce transaction times and maintaining a client-friendly focus.

Reviewed by: Caragh Bailey

Caragh Bailey is a Lead Property Content Specialist at SAM Conveyancing, having joined the firm in 2020. With a portfolio of over 150 technical conveyancing, house survey and mortgage guides, she has become a primary authority on the end-to-end sale and purchase process.

Caragh specialises in complex legal workflows, including Help to Buy redemptions, equity transfers, shared ownership structures, trust deeds for tax planning, and joint ownership disputes. Her expertise extends to leasehold reform and RICS home surveys, where she provides clear, factual guidance on independent legal advice for specialist mortgage products and intricate ownership structures.

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