Skip to main content
Form

Apply for probate by post if there is a will: Form PA1P

Use this form to apply for probate by post either as an executor named in the will of someone who's died, or as a beneficiary if there are no executors.

Updates to this page

From:
HM Courts & Tribunals Service
Published:
27 November 2018
Last updated:
29 December 2025
Show all updates

  1. Added large print form.

  2. Added an address in the guidance for probate practitioners to send their completed form and supporting documents to.

  3. Contact message updated to 12 weeks in the guidance.

  4. Updated the probate helpline opening times.

  5. Questions about receiving a letter from HMRC with a unique probate code (as part of the Inheritance Tax process) have been added to the Welsh forms.

  6. Questions about receiving a letter from HMRC with a unique probate code (as part of the Inheritance Tax process) have been added to the forms.

  7. Added a large print version of the Citizen applicants only: PA1P form.

  8. Updated helpline opening times

  9. Updated helpline opening times

  10. Updated April's bank holiday week opening times

  11. Added a welsh version of the practitioner form

  12. Removed the pre-2022 citizen applicant form only.

  13. Updated opening times for the probate helpline

  14. Removed the wrong address being shown on legal statement page of the form.

  15. Updated to show we're closed on Saturdays.

  16. Updated form page with new paper forms for applicants with and without an excepted estate

  17. Added information about how to pay.

  18. Updated helpline information.

  19. Revised form including equality and diversity questions.

  20. Probate helpline opening times amended.

  21. New legal practitioner form published.

  22. Revised application form.

  23. Revised PA1P.

  24. Revised Welsh PA1P uploaded.

  25. Removed the link to HMRC as it is no longer needed.

  26. First published.

Documents

Apply for probate online

https://www.gov.uk/applying-for-probate/apply-for-probate

Citizen applicants only: PA1P

PDF, 383 KB, 28 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email hmctsforms@justice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Probate practitioners only: PA1P

PDF, 836 KB, 24 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email hmctsforms@justice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

How to apply for probate by post if there is a will

HTML

Citizen applicants only: PA1P – large print

PDF, 659 KB, 47 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email hmctsforms@justice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

If you are applying online, you do not need to submit a paper application.

You can apply for the legal right to manage the estate of someone who has died and left a will. You’ll receive a ‘grant of probate’.

Open a document

You can download and open PDF documents on your device. Downloading enables more features to be used, such as printing.

Adobe Reader is a free to use PDF viewer. You can use this to view, fill in and print PDF documents. You do not need to sign up for a free trial.

Follow these steps:

  1. Download Adobe Reader for free.

  2. Right-click on the document link then select ‘Save link as’ or ‘Download linked file’.

  3. Save the form (in your ‘documents’ folder, for example).

  4. Open Adobe Reader and then select the saved form.

If the form still does not open, contact hmctsforms@justice.gov.uk.

If you need a printed version contact your local court.

Find more court and tribunal forms by category.

Find out how HM Courts and Tribunals Service uses personal information you give when you fill in a form.

Sign up for emails or print this page

Related content