PA17 Form UK: Probate Practitioner Renunciation Guide

What this document is

Form PA17 is the official renunciation form used by probate practitioners who have been named as an executor in a will because of their position at a firm. Rather than every partner or member individually signing away their right to act, the form provides a structured way for the firm to confirm that a particular practitioner is stepping back from the role.

It is submitted to the Probate Registry, which sits within the Family Division of the High Court. The form is most commonly used when a testator named a firm of solicitors or a particular professional in their will, and the circumstances of the firm have shifted by the date of death.

This might include a merger, a change of partnership structure, or simply a practitioner leaving the profession. Once the renunciation is accepted, that practitioner no longer has the right or duty to apply for a grant of probate, and the remaining executors or beneficiaries can move the estate forward without them.

How to use this document

1. Confirm the form is right for your situation. Before filling anything in, check that PA17 fits the circumstances. It is designed for probate practitioners named in a will who are partners, directors, members or shareholders in a professional firm. If you are a lay executor, a different renunciation process applies, and PA17 is not the correct document to use.
2. Gather details about the deceased and the will. You will need the full name and last address of the person who has died, the date of death, the date the will was signed, and the date of any codicils. Having a copy of the will to hand makes this part straightforward and helps you match the wording in the form to what the testator actually wrote.
3. Record the firm's history and any succession. The form asks for the firm's name as it appeared in the will and the current name of the firm. If there has been a merger, rebrand, or succession, you will need to confirm that the present firm carried on the practice of the named firm as at the date of death. This matters because it links the named executor role to the practitioner now renouncing.
4. Complete the executor renunciation sections. Each practitioner renouncing must provide their full name, address, and role within the firm. If more than one practitioner is renouncing, their details go into the additional executor sections. Everyone renouncing must sign, and the signatures typically need to be witnessed in line with probate registry requirements, so read the guidance notes carefully before signing.
5. Submit the form to the Probate Registry. Once completed and signed, the form is sent to the relevant Probate Registry along with the probate application or alongside other supporting documents. Check current gov.uk guidance for the correct submission address and any accompanying forms, because procedures and addresses have changed in recent years as probate moved largely online.

Common questions