Probate Forms UK: PA1P, PA1A & How to Apply (2026)

At a glance

• Two main application forms: PA1P if the person who died left a valid will; PA1A if they did not. Only one applies to any given application.
• Two application routes: online through the GOV.UK probate service, or by post using the paper PA1P/PA1A forms. GOV.UK's own guidance says paper applications generally take longer to process.
• Typical timescale: GOV.UK states you'll usually get probate within 12 weeks of submitting a complete application, longer if information is missing or queries are raised.
• Inheritance Tax comes first: for deaths on or after 1 January 2022, most excepted estates report their summary figures directly on the PA1P/PA1A itself — IHT205 is no longer generally required. Non-excepted estates must complete the full IHT400 account with HMRC before applying.
• Application fee is changing: GOV.UK has confirmed a probate fee increase from 13 July 2026. Check the current figure on GOV.UK's fees page before you apply — do not rely on a fee quoted anywhere else, including this page.
• Supplementary forms exist for specific situations: power of attorney (PA11/PA12), a lost will (PA13), incapacity (PA14), giving up the role (PA15), searching probate records (PA1S), and help with fees (EX160).

What this document is

Probate is the legal process of proving a will and getting authority to deal with a deceased person's estate. Where there is a valid will, the named executors apply for a grant of probate. Where there is no will, or the will does not appoint an executor who is willing and able to act, the closest eligible relative applies for letters of administration instead, under the intestacy rules.

Both routes lead to a grant of representation — the document banks, the Land Registry and other institutions ask to see before releasing funds or transferring assets. GOV.UK's current guidance describes two ways to apply: online through the probate service, or on paper using form PA1P when there is a will, or form PA1A when there is not.

Before either form can be submitted, the estate has to be valued and its Inheritance Tax position established. Additional forms exist for specific situations — such as when an executor cannot act personally, when a will has gone missing, or when someone needs to search for a will or grant that has already been issued. An application fee applies above a set estate-value threshold, and that fee is due to change on 13 July 2026, so check the current amount on GOV.UK before sending your paperwork in.

The two main application forms: PA1P and PA1A

PA1P is used where the deceased left a valid will. The applicant is usually an executor named in the will, though a beneficiary can apply in limited circumstances if there is no executor able or willing to act. The form asks for details of the will, the executors, and how they are applying.

PA1A is used where the deceased did not leave a valid will (dying "intestate"). The applicant must be someone entitled to apply under the intestacy rules — normally a spouse, civil partner, or close relative, in a set order of priority. The form asks for family relationship details so the Probate Registry can confirm the applicant's entitlement.

Both forms can be completed as part of the online probate application, or downloaded and completed on paper for a postal application. Only one of PA1P or PA1A applies to any single application — sending the wrong one, or sending both, will delay matters while the registry writes back asking for the correct paperwork. The current versions of both forms, and full instructions for completing them, are published by GOV.UK: Form PA1P and Form PA1A.

Online vs paper: which route to use

GOV.UK's own guidance on applying for probate sets out both routes side by side:

• Online — you apply through the GOV.UK probate service after estimating the estate's value and (where the estate is not excepted) submitting the full IHT400 account to HMRC. GOV.UK's guidance notes this route is generally processed faster than paper applications.
• Paper (PA1P or PA1A) — you complete the relevant form, print it, and post it together with the original will (if there is one), the death certificate, and the fee to the address given in the current GOV.UK guidance. GOV.UK states that paper applications take longer to process than online ones.

Whichever route you use, if you have reported the full estate to HMRC using IHT400, you must start paying any Inheritance Tax due and wait for HMRC to send a unique code before applying. GOV.UK gives a typical timescale of around 12 weeks from a complete application to receiving the grant, whether you apply online or by post — though this can extend if the Probate Registry needs more information.

Inheritance Tax forms: IHT205, IHT400 and the excepted-estates change

Before either PA1P or PA1A can succeed, the estate's value and its Inheritance Tax position need to be established. This is where many first-time applicants get confused, because the rules changed materially for deaths from 1 January 2022 onwards.

For deaths before 1 January 2022: if the estate qualified as "excepted" (broadly, below the Inheritance Tax threshold, or fully covered by spouse/civil partner or charity exemption), the personal representative completed form IHT205 and sent it to HMRC alongside the probate application. GOV.UK's IHT205 guidance confirms this form remains relevant only for that earlier period (deaths from 6 April 2011 to 31 December 2021).

For deaths on or after 1 January 2022: the separate IHT205 filing was removed. If the estate still qualifies as excepted, the summary figures are instead reported directly on the PA1P or PA1A probate application itself — there is no separate HMRC form to send in for a qualifying excepted estate. GOV.UK's guidance on checking the type of estate sets out the current qualifying conditions, which broadly include:

• the estate's value is below the current Inheritance Tax nil-rate band, or
• the estate is worth £650,000 or less where a spouse or civil partner's unused nil-rate band is being transferred in, or
• everything was left to a spouse, civil partner living in the UK, or a qualifying charity, and the gross estate is worth less than £3 million, or
• the deceased was domiciled outside the UK and their UK assets are worth £150,000 or less.

If the estate is not excepted — for example because it exceeds these limits, or the Inheritance Tax position is more complex — the personal representative must complete the full IHT400 account and submit it to HMRC before applying for probate, using form IHT400 and its accompanying schedules. Any Inheritance Tax due generally needs to start being paid, and HMRC needs to issue a reference code, before the probate application itself is submitted.

Because the excepted-estate rules depend on exact figures and family circumstances, and because they changed materially in 2022, always check GOV.UK's current guidance rather than assuming an older description (including anything written before 2022) still applies. See our companion guide on estate valuation for probate for a fuller walkthrough of valuing assets and working out which category an estate falls into.

The supporting PA-form family

Beyond PA1P and PA1A, GOV.UK's probate forms collection includes a number of supplementary forms used only in specific situations. You do not need all of these — only the ones that match your circumstances.

| Form | What it is for | |------|-----------------| | PA1P | Main application — grant of probate, where there is a valid will | | PA1A | Main application — letters of administration, where there is no will | | PA2 | GOV.UK's guide to obtaining probate for people acting without a solicitor — background reading, not a form to submit | | PA11 | Apply for power of attorney (will) — appoints someone else to apply on your behalf where there is a will | | PA12 | Apply for power of attorney (intestate) — the equivalent where there is no will | | PA13 | Report that the original will is lost — only used where the applicant is representing themselves | | PA14 | Medical certificate — completed by a medical practitioner where an executor or administrator cannot act because of a mental health condition or impairment | | PA15 | Give up (renounce) executor or administrator rights permanently | | PA1S | Find a will or probate document — used to search records once a grant has already been issued | | EX160 | Apply for help with the probate application fee, for those on a low income or certain benefits |

Read the specific GOV.UK guidance for any of these before completing it, as each has its own eligibility conditions and evidence requirements.

Fees: check GOV.UK before you apply

The Probate Registry charges a fixed application fee where the estate's value is above a set threshold, with no fee below it. GOV.UK also charges a small amount for each additional copy of the grant, which is usually worth ordering, as banks and other institutions often want to see one each.

This is not a page to rely on for the exact figures. GOV.UK has confirmed that court and tribunal fees, including the probate application fee, are changing from 13 July 2026. Whatever figure you have seen quoted elsewhere — including in older guides, forums, or even earlier versions of this page — check the current amount on GOV.UK's applying for probate: fees page immediately before you submit your application, since the fee you owe is the one in force on the day you apply.

If you have a low income or receive certain benefits, you may be able to get help with the fee. You can apply online or use paper form EX160, details of which are on GOV.UK's help with fees guidance.

How to use this document

1. Work out whether you need a grant at all. Small estates, particularly those made up entirely of jointly owned assets or low-value accounts, sometimes do not need a grant. Contact the institutions holding the assets and ask what they require. If any of them ask for a grant, you will need to apply.
2. Choose the correct main form. Use PA1P if the deceased left a valid will. Use PA1A if they died without a will. Only one of these applies to your application, whether you apply online or by post.
3. Value the estate and deal with Inheritance Tax first. Before submitting the probate application, value everything the deceased owned and owed, and work out whether the estate is excepted. If it is not, complete IHT400 and report to HMRC before applying. See estate valuation for probate for the full process.
4. Complete any supplementary forms that apply. Depending on the circumstances, you may need PA11 or PA12 for power of attorney arrangements, PA13 where the original will cannot be found, or PA14 where a medical certificate is needed. Read the GOV.UK guidance on each before completing it.
5. Check the current fee, then apply. Confirm the up-to-date application fee on GOV.UK — remembering the fee changes from 13 July 2026 — and decide whether to apply online or by post. Send the completed form, supporting documents, the original will and codicils if applicable, the death certificate, and the correct fee to the address given in the current GOV.UK guidance if applying by post. Keep copies of everything you send.
6. Track your application. GOV.UK gives a typical timescale of around 12 weeks for a complete application. If the registry writes to you with questions, respond promptly, since the clock effectively pauses until you do. See the Probate Registry explained for more on what happens after you apply and how to search probate records once a grant has been issued.

This guide provides general information about probate forms and the application process in England and Wales. It is not legal advice and is not a substitute for advice tailored to your specific circumstances. The position described was accurate as at July 2026 and is subject to change, particularly around fees — always check GOV.UK and legislation.gov.uk for the most current position before applying.

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