PA1P Probate Form UK: How to Apply for Probate With a Will

At a glance

• What PA1P is: the application for a grant of probate, used when the person who died left a valid will. Use PA1A instead if there is no will at all.
• Current court fee (check GOV.UK for the latest): £300 where the estate is worth more than £5,000; no fee where the estate is £5,000 or less. Extra sealed copies of the grant cost a small amount each.
• Route: GOV.UK's online probate service is the main route and is generally processed faster than post. The paper PA1P remains for applications that do not fit the online eligibility rules.
• Typical timescale: GOV.UK's current guidance is up to 12 weeks for a complete, straightforward application, longer if information is missing or inheritance tax is still being resolved.
• Documents you cannot substitute: the probate registry expects the original will and the official death certificate, not photocopies.
• If an executor cannot act: they either formally renounce, or have power reserved, under the Non-Contentious Probate Rules 1987 (SI 1987/2024) — both must be disclosed on the application.
• Help with fees: if you are on a low income or certain benefits, form EX160 lets you apply for help with the court fee.

What the PA1P is for

The PA1P is the application used in England and Wales to apply for a grant of probate where the person who died left a will. The grant is a court-issued document confirming that the executor named in the will has legal authority to collect in the deceased's assets, settle debts and taxes, and distribute what remains according to the will.

Without it, banks, registrars, and other institutions will generally refuse to release funds or transfer ownership above certain thresholds. The application captures details about the person who died, the will itself, the executors named in it, the value of the estate, and the family members who survive.

It also flags situations that need special handling — for example where an executor cannot or will not act, where the will has been damaged, or where foreign assets are involved. If there is no will, a different form, PA1A, is used to apply for letters of administration instead. See our guide to form PA1A if there is not a will for that route.

Online vs paper: which route to use

GOV.UK's applying-for-probate service is built around an online application as the default route, and its own guidance is direct: it takes longer to process paper applications than online ones, so applying online is preferred where you are eligible.

The paper PA1P is still the right route in some situations — for example where the applicant is not a named executor applying in the ordinary way, where the case involves complications the online system is not built for, or where a paper application has already been started. Check the current eligibility rules on GOV.UK's applying for probate pages before choosing, since the online service's scope is periodically extended.

Whichever route you use, the underlying information required is the same: details of the deceased, the will, the executors, the estate value, and the surviving family. Working through a paper PA1P first — even if you ultimately apply online — is a useful way to gather everything you need in one place.

The court fee

As at the last check, the probate application fee is £300 for estates worth more than £5,000, and there is no fee for estates at or below that threshold. Extra sealed copies of the grant carry a modest per-copy charge — worth ordering in advance because banks, pension providers, and the Land Registry will often each want their own sealed copy rather than accepting one shared original.

Fees are set centrally and reviewed periodically, so always check GOV.UK for the current amounts before you send your application or pay online. If you are on a low income or receive certain benefits, you can apply for help with the fee using form EX160, either at the same time as your probate application or shortly before — see get help with court and tribunal fees.

Before you apply: documents and inheritance tax

1. Gather the core documents. You will need the original will (and any codicils), the official death certificate or an interim certificate from the coroner, and any inheritance tax paperwork you have prepared. The probate registry expects the original will, not a photocopy, so handle it carefully and never staple or remove pages.
2. Work out the estate value and deal with inheritance tax first. Before applying, you generally need to establish whether inheritance tax is due and, if so, submit the relevant return to HMRC. For many estates this is a straightforward exempt-estate confirmation; larger or more complex estates require form IHT400 and a wait before probate can be granted. See valuing the estate of someone who has died for the current process.
3. Check who is applying. If more than one executor is named in the will, all applying executors need to agree who applies — usually up to four executors can apply on a single grant.

Completing and submitting the PA1P

1. Fill in the details of the person who died, the executors, the estate value, and the surviving family. If any executor named in the will is not applying, you must explain why — for example because they have died, renounced their role, or reserved power to act later.
2. Sign the legal statement. All applying executors sign the statement of truth on the form (online, this is completed as part of the digital journey instead).
3. Send the application, the original will, the death certificate, and the fee. For paper applications, this goes to the address given in the current GOV.UK guidance, together with any supporting documents. Keep copies of everything you send. For online applications, the will is usually sent in afterwards by post, following the instructions given at the end of the online journey.
4. Wait for the grant and respond to any queries. The registry may come back with questions or request further evidence, which is common where the will has unusual features. Once issued, the grant of probate can be sent to banks, the Land Registry, and other institutions so you can begin administering the estate.

If an executor cannot or will not act

The Non-Contentious Probate Rules 1987 (SI 1987/2024) set out two distinct routes for an executor who does not want to apply:

• Renunciation — the executor gives up their right to act entirely. A signed form of renunciation is normally needed, and once probate has been granted to someone else, a renunciation can only be retracted with a registrar's permission, which is given only in exceptional circumstances.
• Power reserved — the executor takes no active part in the current application but keeps the right to apply for a similar grant later if circumstances change. Notice of the application is normally given to any executor to whom power is being reserved.

Both situations must be disclosed on the PA1P. Getting this wrong, or leaving it ambiguous, is one of the more common reasons a straightforward-looking application is queried by the registry.

Common problems that delay a PA1P application

• Missing or inconsistent details between the will, the death certificate, and the application form — even small discrepancies in names or dates can trigger a query.
• Inheritance tax not yet resolved with HMRC before the probate application is sent.
• The original will not enclosed, or sent as a photocopy.
• An executor's status left unclear — whether they are applying, renouncing, or having power reserved.
• The will appears damaged, altered, or incomplete — for example loose staples, paperclip marks, or pages that look like they may be missing — which can prompt the registry to ask for further evidence that the will has not been tampered with or revoked.

This guide provides general information about applying for probate using the PA1P in England and Wales. It is not legal advice and is not a substitute for advice tailored to your specific circumstances. Fees, forms, and processing times change from time to time — always check GOV.UK for the current position before you apply.

Last reviewed: July 2026 by a non-practising solicitor · Next review due: July 2027 or on GOV.UK guidance change.