Form PA1P: Apply for Probate Where There Is a Will (2026 Guide)

Form PA1P: Apply for Probate Where There Is a Will (2026 Guide)

When someone dies leaving a valid will, the person named as executor must usually apply to the Probate Registry for a grant of probate before they can deal with the deceased’s estate. The document that starts that process is form PA1P. This guide explains exactly what PA1P is, when you need it, how to complete it step by step, and how to avoid the mistakes that delay applications by weeks or months.

What Is Form PA1P?

Form PA1P is the official application form used in England and Wales to apply for a grant of probate where the deceased left a valid will. It is published by His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) and must be submitted to the Probate Registry, either online through the MyHMCTS portal or by post to the National Probate Centre in Birmingham.

A grant of probate is a legal document issued by the court. It confirms:

• That the will is valid.
• That the named executor has authority to deal with the estate.

Without a grant of probate, most banks, building societies, land registries and investment platforms will refuse to release or transfer assets. It is the executor’s key.

PA1P is specifically for estates where there is a will. If the deceased died without a will (intestate), you need form PA1A instead — see the separate guide.

When Do You Need Form PA1P?

You need to complete PA1P when all of the following apply:

1. The deceased died in England or Wales (or had assets there).
2. There is a valid, signed, and witnessed will.
3. The total value of the estate means that a grant of probate is required to release assets.

When a grant of probate may not be needed:

• The estate consists only of jointly owned assets that pass by survivorship (for example, a joint bank account).
• All assets are held in trust.
• The total estate value is very small — individual banks and institutions set their own thresholds, typically between £5,000 and £50,000, so you must check with each institution separately.

If any significant asset — a house, stocks and shares, a sole-name bank account over the institution’s threshold — is in the deceased’s name alone, you almost certainly need a grant of probate and therefore need to complete PA1P. (If you are at the other end of the process — making a will rather than proving one — see our DIY will guide for England and Wales.)

What Is PA1P Used For?

PA1P collects the information the Probate Registry needs to:

• Verify the identity of the deceased.
• Confirm the will is the last valid will.
• Establish who the executors are and whether they are applying.
• Calculate the correct court fee (based on estate value).
• Issue the grant of probate, which is then sent to the executor.

PA1P is submitted alongside the original will (and any codicils), a certified copy of the death certificate, and — in most cases — a completed inheritance tax form. For most deaths on or after 1 January 2022, excepted estates complete no separate tax form at all — the estate values are declared inside the application. IHT205 remains the companion form only where the death was before 2022 (see the separate guide). For estates that are not excepted, HMRC form IHT400 is required instead.

PA1P deals with someone’s affairs after death. If you need authority over the affairs of a living person who has lost capacity, the route is a Court of Protection deputyship on Form COP1 — or, arranged while they still have capacity, a property and financial affairs lasting power of attorney on Form LP1F.

Step-by-Step Guide to Completing PA1P

Step 1: Gather the Documents You Need

Before you open the form, collect:

• The original will (and any codicils — amendments to the will).
• A certified copy of the death certificate (not a photocopy — a copy issued by the registrar).
• Details of all assets and liabilities in the estate: property values, bank balances, investments, outstanding mortgages, and debts.
• Your own identification documents.
• The inheritance tax position: for deaths since 2022, the estate values (and HMRC’s unique code where IHT400 was needed); for pre-2022 deaths, the IHT205 or IHT400 pack.

If the estate includes property, you will need an up-to-date valuation — normally a letter from an estate agent confirming the open market value at the date of death.

Step 2: Establish the Gross and Net Estate Value

You must calculate two figures:

• Gross estate value: the total value of everything owned by the deceased at the date of death, before deducting any debts.
• Net estate value: the gross value minus liabilities such as mortgages, loans, and funeral expenses.

These figures determine the court fee and feed directly into the application’s estate values — or your IHT205 or IHT400 where one is needed.

Step 3: Complete the Deceased’s Details (Section 1)

Enter the full legal name of the deceased exactly as it appears on the death certificate. If they used a different name in their will (for example, a middle name they were known by), you will need to explain this in a covering letter or a statement of truth.

Also enter:
– Date of birth and date of death.
– Last permanent address.
– Domicile — in most cases this will be England and Wales, but if the deceased had strong international connections you may need specialist advice.

Step 4: Complete the Will Details (Section 2)

Confirm that the will is the original, that it is signed and witnessed, and state the date it was made. If there are codicils, list them all. Every codicil must go in with the application — and if the beneficiaries later want to redirect what they inherit, that is done separately by a deed of variation rather than by amending the will.

You must state whether the will appoints executors and whether those executors are still alive and willing to act. If an executor named in the will has died or wishes to renounce their role, additional steps are required before submitting PA1P.

Step 5: Complete the Executors’ Details (Section 3)

For each executor who is applying, you must provide their full legal name, address, date of birth, and telephone number. You may apply as a sole executor or jointly with up to three co-executors.

If an executor is applying on behalf of a company or corporation, different rules apply — professional legal advice is recommended in that scenario.

Step 6: Confirm the Inheritance Tax Position (Section 4)

You must indicate whether you have submitted an inheritance tax form to HMRC and, if so, which one. For straightforward small estates, you confirm the estate qualifies as an excepted estate (one where no inheritance tax is due and no full IHT return to HMRC is required) and declare the estate values — a completed IHT205 is confirmed only for deaths before 2022.

Do not proceed with PA1P until the inheritance tax position is resolved. If IHT400 is required, HMRC will issue a reference number that must be included in your PA1P application.

Step 7: Calculate and Pay the Court Fee

The Probate Registry charges a fee based on the net estate value:

• Estates of £5,000 or less: no fee.
• Estates over £5,000: £526. The fee rose from £300 on 13 July 2026 — always check the current HMCTS fee schedule before applying.

Additional copies of the grant cost £2 each if you order them at the same time as your application, or £16 each if you order them afterwards. Order enough — you will typically need one per significant asset (bank, Land Registry, investment platform).

Step 8: Sign the Statement of Truth

PA1P includes a statement of truth that must be signed by each applying executor. This replaces the old oath sworn before a solicitor, which was abolished in November 2020. By signing, you confirm that everything in the form is true to the best of your knowledge and belief.

Do not sign the statement of truth until you have completed the entire form and checked every section.

Step 9: Submit the Application

You may apply:

• Online via the MyHMCTS portal at http://www.apply-for-probate.service.gov.uk — the preferred route as it is faster and gives you a reference number immediately.
• By post to HMCTS Probate, PO Box 12625, Harlow CM20 9QE.

If applying by post, send the original will, a certified copy of the death certificate, the completed PA1P, and your inheritance tax information (HMRC’s unique code for IHT400 estates, or the IHT205 where a pre-2022 death requires one). Do not send original documents you cannot replace. Royal Mail Special Delivery is strongly recommended.

Key Deadlines

There is no strict legal deadline for applying for probate after a death, but delays can cause practical problems:

• Banks may freeze accounts.
• Property sales may stall.
• If inheritance tax is owed, interest runs from six months after the end of the month in which the person died.

As a general rule, aim to submit your PA1P within six months of the date of death to avoid unnecessary complications.

What Happens After You Submit?

Processing times at the National Probate Centre vary. In 2025 and into 2026, average waiting times have been between eight and sixteen weeks for straightforward applications. Complex applications, or those requiring additional information from HMCTS, take longer.

Once the grant is issued, HMCTS will send you the original grant of probate and the number of official copies you ordered. You can then present these to banks, land registries, and other institutions to collect and distribute the estate.

After the grant is issued, you must administer the estate in accordance with the will — paying debts, liabilities, and taxes before distributing the residue to the beneficiaries.

Common Mistakes That Delay Applications

1. Sending a photocopy of the will instead of the original. The Probate Registry requires the original, signed will document.
2. Incorrect or inconsistent name spelling. The name on PA1P must match the death certificate exactly. Any discrepancy requires a written explanation.
3. Forgetting codicils. Every amendment to the will must be submitted alongside the original.
4. Undervaluing or overvaluing assets. Incorrect valuations can lead to the wrong IHT form being used or the wrong court fee being paid.
5. Signing the statement of truth before completing the form. Sign last, once every section is finalised.
6. Not ordering enough copies of the grant. Each institution you need to deal with typically requires its own copy.
7. Applying before HMRC has processed the IHT form. If IHT400 is required, HMRC must issue a reference number first. Submitting PA1P prematurely results in rejection.

The Rules

The law governing probate applications in England and Wales is primarily found in:

• The Senior Courts Act 1981, which gives the Probate Registry its jurisdiction.
• The Non-Contentious Probate Rules 1987 (as amended), which set out the procedural requirements for applications.
• HMCTS Practice Directions and Guidance updated from time to time.

HMCTS publishes updated guidance for PA1P on the GOV.UK website. Always use the most recent version of the form — outdated forms will be rejected.

Related Court Forms & Guides

• Form PA1A: Probate (no will) — applying for a grant where there is no will.
• Form IHT400: Inheritance Tax — the full inheritance tax account.
• Form IHT205: Estate Information — excepted estates and the pre-2022 rules.
• Civil Court Forms Index — every civil court form guide in one place.

How Chris Can Help

Probate is one of the most document-intensive processes the civil justice system asks ordinary people to navigate alone. Form PA1P has to be exactly right — wrong valuations, missing signatures, or an inconsistently spelt name can add months to an already difficult process.

Chris can draft and check your PA1P application, prepare the accompanying statement of truth, review your estate figures, and make sure your submission pack is complete before it leaves your hands. You handle the signing and posting. Chris handles the preparation.

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Probate & the inheritance-tax forms you may need

Applying for the grant: PA1A — letters of administration (no will) · IHT421 probate summary

Inheritance tax: IHT205 (pre-2022 estates) · IHT402 transferable nil-rate band · IHT435 residence nil-rate band · IHT403 gifts & the 7-year rule · IHT30 clearance

Frequently asked questions

What is form PA1P?

PA1P is the official HMCTS application form for a grant of probate in England and Wales where the deceased left a valid will. The grant confirms the will is valid and that the named executor has authority to deal with the estate; without it, most banks, building societies and registries will refuse to release or transfer assets.

When do I need PA1P instead of PA1A?

You use PA1P when there is a valid, signed and witnessed will. If the deceased died without a will (intestate), you need form PA1A instead. PA1P applies where the deceased died in England or Wales (or held assets there) and the estate’s value means a grant is required to release assets.

Do I always need a grant of probate?

Not always. A grant may not be needed where assets pass by survivorship (such as a joint bank account), where everything is held in trust, or where the estate is very small. Institutions set their own thresholds, so you must check with each one separately. If a significant sole-name asset exists, you almost certainly need a grant and therefore PA1P.

What documents must I submit with PA1P?

PA1P is submitted alongside the original will and any codicils, a certified copy of the death certificate (issued by the registrar, not a photocopy), and in most cases the inheritance tax information — for deaths since 2022 the estate values are declared in the application itself; IHT400 where the estate is not excepted; IHT205 only for pre-2022 deaths.

Is there a deadline for applying?

There is no strict legal deadline, but delays cause practical problems — banks may freeze accounts and property sales may stall. Where inheritance tax is owed, interest runs from six months after the end of the month of death, so the page suggests aiming to submit within six months. Always check the current figures for your situation.

Can I apply for probate without a solicitor?

Yes. There is no legal requirement to use a solicitor; the statement of truth that each applying executor signs replaced the old oath sworn before a solicitor. eLitigant prepares the document; you handle the signing and posting and remain the litigant in person.

Related guides: Form PA1A — probate without a will · Form IHT205 — estate information · Form IHT400 — inheritance tax account · All civil court forms