How long does probate take in the UK?

Probate typically takes 9–12 months from start to finish. The Grant of Probate itself usually arrives within 8–12 weeks of application, but valuing assets, settling debts, and distributing the estate takes considerably longer. Complex estates involving property abroad, business interests, or disputes can extend well beyond 12 months.

You usually need probate if the deceased owned property in their sole name, or held bank accounts and investments above the institution’s threshold — typically between £5,000 and £50,000. Assets held jointly (such as a joint bank account or property owned as joint tenants) usually pass automatically to the surviving owner without probate.

How much does probate cost?

The court application fee is £300 for estates valued over £5,000 (no fee below this threshold). If you use a solicitor, expect fees of 1.5–2.5% of the estate value plus VAT. Additional costs may include professional property valuations, inheritance tax payments, and statutory notice fees. Beqst starts at £0 and guides you through the process step by step.

What is the inheritance tax threshold in the UK?

The standard nil-rate band (NRB) is £325,000 per person. If you pass your main residence to direct descendants, an additional residence nil-rate band (RNRB) of £175,000 applies — giving a combined threshold of £500,000. Married couples and civil partners can transfer unused allowances, potentially sheltering up to £1,000,000 from IHT.

What are an executor’s legal responsibilities?

As an executor you have a fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of the beneficiaries. This includes securing the estate, applying for the Grant of Probate, valuing all assets and liabilities, paying debts and inheritance tax, and distributing remaining assets according to the will. Executors can be held personally liable for errors or distributing assets before all debts are settled.

Can I do probate without a solicitor?

Yes — many people handle probate themselves, especially for straightforward estates. The government provides forms and guidance through GOV.UK, and tools like Beqst walk you through each step with checklists and automatic calculations. For complex estates involving business assets, foreign property, trusts, or family disputes, professional legal advice is recommended.

Probate Guide

Your Step-by-Step Guide to UK Probate

Probate can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. We break the process into five clear stages so you always know what comes next — and how Beqst can help at every step.

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The Probate Journey

Your Path to Peaceful Closure

Click any stage to learn what’s involved, what to watch out for, and how Beqst guides you through it.

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1 of 5

The First Week

The first week sets the foundation. In England and Wales, the death must be registered within 5 days (8 days in Scotland). Missing this deadline can create legal complications and delay everything that follows.

Visit the local register office within 5 days (England & Wales) or 8 days (Scotland). You’ll need the medical certificate of cause of death.

guided checklist guided checklist tracks deadlines so nothing is missed

Arrange the funeral

Confirm pre-paid plans, honour the deceased’s wishes, and coordinate with family members.

Final Wishes stores funeral preferences and organ donation decisions — no guessing

Order death certificates

You’ll need at least 5 certified copies — banks, insurers, and the Probate Registry each need an original.

how many copies tells you exactly how many copies based on your estate’s accounts

Notify key contacts

Employer, landlord, utility companies, and government agencies all need to be informed promptly.

Notification Contacts generates letters and tracks who’s been told

GOV.UK: Register a death

Secure & Discover

Missing assets are the most common cause of probate delays. A single overlooked bank account or insurance policy can stall the entire process. This stage is about building a complete picture — and Beqst makes sure nothing falls through the cracks.

Secure property

Change locks if needed, arrange building insurance, redirect post, and protect valuables.

Assets Register tracks property details, insurance status, and key holder info

Locate the will

Find the original signed will and verify it’s the most recent valid version. Check with solicitors and banks.

Will Hub stores the signed will with version history — no searching required

Inventory financial assets

Map every bank account, pension, investment, and insurance policy. Request balances at date of death.

10 asset types, 11 liability types 10 asset types, 11 liability types — catalogued and encrypted in one place

Secure digital assets

Email accounts, social media, crypto wallets, subscriptions — digital records often reveal hidden accounts.

Digital Vault stores passwords and credentials with AES-256 encryption

GOV.UK: Wills, probate and inheritance

Value & Apply

Overpaying inheritance tax is common and costly. Undervaluing assets triggers HMRC penalties. Beqst helps you get the valuations right and tracks your IHT exposure automatically — so you don’t leave money on the table or risk an audit.

Property valuations

Arrange a RICS-qualified surveyor for all properties. The valuation at date of death determines the IHT liability.

Probate Checklist Probate Checklist maps directly to IHT400 form fields

Calculate IHT

The nil-rate band is £325K. With RNRB (£175K) and transferable allowances, a married couple can pass up to £1M tax-free.

IHT Tracker calculates RNRB, transferable NRB, and taper relief automatically

Review lifetime gifts

Gifts made in the 7 years before death may be taxable. PETs, CLTs, and exemptions all need classifying.

Gifting Tracker classifies every gift with taper relief calculations built in

Apply for probate

Submit form PA1P (with a will) or PA1A (intestacy) to the Probate Registry. Pay IHT within 6 months.

Executor Portal guides you through the right form for your situation

GOV.UK: Applying for probate GOV.UK: Inheritance Tax

Settle the Estate

Executors are personally liable if they distribute assets before settling all debts. Statutory advertisements protect you from unknown creditors — and Beqst tracks every notification so nothing slips through.

Notify organisations

Banks, utility companies, HMRC, DWP — use the Tell Us Once service where available to notify multiple agencies at once.

Provider Notifications tracks responses and chases outstanding replies

Place statutory notices

Advertise in The London Gazette and a local newspaper. This gives unknown creditors 2 months to come forward.

guided journey tells you exactly when and where to place notices

Collect debts owed

Outstanding invoices, tax refunds, and loans made to others — collect everything owed to the estate before distributing.

Assets Register tracks outstanding debts alongside other estate assets

Pay debts and expenses

Outstanding debts, funeral costs, and administration expenses must be settled from the estate before any distributions.

Liabilities tracking ensures every debt is accounted for and paid

GOV.UK: Tell Us Once

Distribute & Close

The final stage is where family disputes most commonly arise. Beqst generates transparent estate accounts and gives every beneficiary visibility — so there are no surprises and no arguments.

Prepare estate accounts

A complete record of all assets collected, debts paid, and the distribution to each beneficiary.

Executor Portal generates estate accounts automatically from your data

Draft distribution schedule

Allocate assets according to the will (or intestacy rules). Send a draft to beneficiaries with a 21-day review period.

Beneficiary Distribution tracks allocations and share percentages

Distribute with receipts

Transfer assets to each beneficiary and obtain signed receipts — this protects you from future claims.

beneficiary portal so everyone sees how the estate was administered

Close estate accounts

Close all bank accounts, cancel subscriptions, file final tax returns, and formally conclude the administration.

journey tracker confirms every step is complete before you close

GOV.UK: Dealing with the estate

Frequently Asked Questions

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