Applying for probate
After you've applied
Your application will be reviewed by the Probate Service. Track the progress of your probate application online.
Once your application has been approved, the will and any additions to it (‘codicils’) will be kept by the probate registry and become a public record. If you sent in the death certificate, it will be returned to you.
What you’ll get
You’ll get a document that allows you to start dealing with the estate. This will be one of the following:
- a ‘grant of probate’ - if the person left a will
- ‘letters of administration with will annexed’ - if the will does not name an executor or the named executor cannot apply
- ‘letters of administration’ - if the person did not leave a will
You’ll usually get the grant of probate or letters of administration within 16 weeks of submitting your application. It can take longer if you need to provide additional information.
If you ordered copies of your probate document for use outside the UK, these will take longer to arrive than your UK copy.
If there’s anything wrong with the probate document, return it to the district probate registry listed on the grant or letters.
What happens next
Once you have the grant of probate (or letters of administration) you can start dealing with the estate.
Send copies of the probate document to organisations that hold the assets of the person who died, for example their bank.