Form PA8B: Extend a Probate Caveat Before It Expires
We're not a law firm — we help you find the right legal support. For advice on your situation, speak to a legal adviser or find a solicitor.
If you have already lodged a caveat to pause a probate application and that caveat is approaching its expiry date, you may need to extend it rather than let it lapse. The PA8B is the form used in England and Wales to request that extension, keeping your stop on the grant of representation in place while matters behind the scenes are worked through.
Caveats are often used where there is a question mark over the validity of a will, a concern about who should be appointed to administer the estate, or an unresolved dispute between family members or beneficiaries. This page walks through what the form does, who typically uses it, the information you need to hand before you complete it, and what happens once the request reaches the Probate Registry.
If you want a conversation with someone before you send yours in, the call option further down is there for that.
What this document is
The PA8B is a short application used to extend an existing caveat against a grant of representation. A caveat itself is a formal notice lodged at the Probate Registry that prevents any grant (whether a grant of probate where there is a will, or letters of administration where there is not) from being issued without the caveator first being told.
In practical terms, it freezes the probate process so that the estate cannot be formally administered while the caveat stands. A caveat generally runs for a set period before it automatically falls away. If the underlying issue has not been resolved by the time that period ends, the caveator can apply to extend it using the PA8B, which buys further time.
The form is relatively brief and is submitted to the Probate Registry along with the applicable court fee. It does not, on its own, resolve the dispute behind the caveat, it simply keeps the pause button pressed while negotiations, mediation or contentious probate steps continue.
How to use this document
- Check your current caveat details. Before completing the PA8B, locate the paperwork from your original caveat application. You will need the caveat reference number issued by the Probate Registry, the exact expiry date, and the name you used as the caveator, because these need to match what is already on the register.
- Confirm the deceased's details exactly. Enter the full name of the person who has died and their date of death precisely as they appear on the death certificate. If the deceased was known by any other names, for example a maiden name or an alternative spelling used in a will, include those too so the extension attaches to the correct record.
- Update any changed contact information. The form asks whether your details, or those of any legal representative acting for you, have changed since the caveat was first entered or last extended. If your address, phone number or representative has changed, flag this clearly so the Probate Registry can reach you and serve any warning correctly.
- Indicate your correspondence language and sign. Say whether you want correspondence in English only or in both English and Welsh. Then sign and date the declaration section yourself. If a solicitor or other representative is acting on your behalf, they can sign in the appropriate capacity instead.
- Pay the fee and submit in good time. A court fee applies to extend a caveat, so check gov.uk for the current amount. You can usually pay by cheque or postal order payable to HMCTS, in person at a court counter, through a fee account if you are a regular user, or by applying for help with fees if your income and savings are low. Send the form so it arrives before your existing caveat expires, otherwise it will lapse and you may need to enter a fresh one.
Common questions
Q How long does an extension to a caveat last?
An extension generally keeps the caveat in force for a further defined period from the date it is granted, running on from the original expiry. If the dispute is still unresolved when that new period ends, a further PA8B can usually be submitted. There is no cap on the number of extensions in principle, but repeated extensions without progress can attract scrutiny.
Q When should I send the PA8B to the Probate Registry?
You should send the form in the window before your current caveat expires, but not too early. Leaving it until the last few days risks the caveat lapsing in the post, while sending it months ahead may be rejected as premature. A sensible approach is to diarise the expiry date and apply roughly a month beforehand to leave room for processing.
Q What happens if someone issues a warning against my caveat?
If the person seeking the grant issues a warning, you are required to respond by entering an appearance within a short timeframe, setting out the contrary interest you are relying on. If you do nothing, the caveat can be removed. A warning is a sign the dispute is moving toward a more formal stage and legal input at that point is usually sensible.
Q Can I extend a caveat after it has already expired?
No. Once a caveat has lapsed, the PA8B is not the right route because there is nothing left to extend. Your option in that scenario is to lodge a fresh caveat using the original caveat form, assuming the grounds for doing so still apply and a grant has not already been issued in the meantime.
Q Do I need a solicitor to file a PA8B?
You are not required to use a solicitor to lodge or extend a caveat. Many caveators handle the form themselves. That said, the reason the caveat exists, whether a will dispute, capacity question or executor disagreement, is often the kind of matter where legal input is valuable, because the caveat is only a holding step and not a resolution.
Q How do I find my caveat reference number?
The reference number is issued by the Probate Registry when your original caveat is accepted, and it usually appears on the acknowledgement you received at that point. If you cannot locate the paperwork, the Probate Registry can generally help you trace the reference using the deceased's name and date of death.
Q Does extending a caveat stop the executor taking any action at all?
A caveat prevents a grant of representation from being issued, which blocks the formal authority the executor or administrator needs to deal with most estate assets. It does not freeze every practical step, for example funeral arrangements, and it does not by itself resolve the underlying disagreement. It simply prevents the grant from being sealed while it remains in force.
Sources
This guide is based on primary UK law and official guidance.
- Guidance · UK GovApplying for probate (gov.uk)gov.uk
- Guidance · UK GovStop a probate application (caveats) (gov.uk)gov.uk
Legal disclaimer
This article is for general information only. It is a tool to help you find your way — not legal advice, and not a substitute for speaking to a qualified adviser about your situation.