Applying for grants of probate as a legal professional

How to register with MyHMCTS

First, check that your firm is not already signed up to MyHMCTS. Firms with probate departments may already have accounts.

If your firm is using MyHMCTS, request a username and password from your administrator.

If your firm has not signed up, register for the service.

Your firm needs to nominate an administrator to set up and manage the account.

For administrators

Adding users

Once registered and confirmed as an administrator for your organisation, you can invite colleagues to create their own accounts.

You then need to choose the type of access required for each person.

Users can then:

• issue new applications
• view case details online
• progress cases

Setting up a fee account

To pay for online applications, organisations must register for Payment by Account (PBA).

Accounts are usually confirmed within three working days.

If you have any questions about setting up an account, email MyHMCTSsupport@justice.gov.uk.

Where to send evidence for online applications

Send all original documents supporting an online application, such as a will, to:

HMCTS Probate
PO Box 12625
Harlow
CM20 9QE

Do not send completed paper forms alongside supporting documents for an online application.

The automated bulk-scanning process reads this paper form as a separate application, which:

• creates a duplicate case
• deducts an extra fee from the linked account
• delays the online application while HMCTS identifies and refunds duplicate cases

Attach a cover letter for all evidence

For every piece of evidence that you send, you should attach a cover letter.

This is so HMCTS can link documents to online applications.

The cover letter should also have a reminder of what documents should be going with it.

Download the cover letter (Word 50 KB)

Without a cover letter, the evidence will fall into an ‘exceptions queue’, which causes delays.

If you cannot print the document, a blank piece of paper with the case reference number on top of the document is fine.

Paper applications

If you applied by post, you should receive a letter or email within 12 weeks.

If you do not receive confirmation within 12 weeks, you should contact the Courts and Tribunals Service Centre (CTSC).

HMCTS will not act on standard applications before 12 weeks.

Exceptions that require priority action include cases involving:

• financial hardship
• house sales (the property was placed on the market before the deceased passed away), or
• court action

While paper applications are generally more complex than online requests, HMCTS accepts more action is needed to tackle the long waits.

Find out how to contact HMCTS

PA17 and PA18 forms

Probate practitioners may also find these supporting forms useful:

• PA17 form – giving up probate executor rights
• PA18 form – find out what form and evidence you need for complex estates

How you can help reduce 'stops'

Stopped applications are those that have been paused usually due to a legal issue or complication that prevent the process from continuing.

For probate practitioners, common reasons for stopped applications include:

• the physical condition of wills – unexplained alterations or damage
• executor not being accounted for – are any executors pre-deceased?
• original documents required (such as an original will)
• extra documents are needed and reminders have to be sent out
• content of the will, for example if it’s not been signed

Read HMCTS's blog on common causes of application stops.

Find out how to check the progress of your cases.

Inheritance tax forms

If inheritance tax (IHT) needs to be paid, you should:

1. Send the IHT400 form to HMRC

Download the inheritance tax account (IHT400) form.

The IHT400 form has space for practitioners to include an email address to receive the code required for the HMCTS grant application to proceed.

2. Wait for HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to send an acknowledgment letter

This will include a unique code and the gross and net estate values.

The code and values can then be used to register the probate application on MyHMCTS.

If HMRC cannot issue a unique code, the letter will advise the applicant of next steps.

Probate applications where an IHT400 has been submitted to HMRC will not be accepted by HMCTS without these codes and values. This is to reduce delays caused by ‘premature’ probate applications.

If you have sent an application and not received any communication after 15 working days, contact HMRC.

HMRC will not give codes over the phone.

Damaged or altered wills

Wills are legal documents and damage, no matter how small, must be noted on MyHMCTS.

When applying for probate, if the will or codicil (amending document) appears to have been changed or damaged, use the notes field on MyHMCTS to give an upfront explanation of what has happened.

This will help avoid unnecessary delays to your application.

Common types of damage include:

• rips
• tears
• unexplained staple or punch holes
• water damage
• removed pages

Exempt estates

As of January 2022, more estates are exempt from the requirement to submit detailed estate returns in order to obtain probate.

Read the amended Inheritance Tax (Delivery of Accounts) (Excepted Estates) (Amendment) Regulations 2021.

Practitioners should provide HMRC with the same information that’s collected on the IHT205 form.

For both digital and paper applications, you’ll need to provide:

• the usual gross and net figures for probate
• a gross and net figure for inheritance tax purposes

Find out how to work out these figures

Use HMCTS’ checker tool to get an estimate

When you enter a date of death after 1 January 2022 in a digital application, the system will generate extra questions.

Extending probate caveats

You can challenge a probate application (enter a caveat) online or by post.

A caveat lasts for six months at first.

If you need to extend a caveat for another six months, you'll need to post a PA8B form to Harlow:

HMCTS Probate
Leeds District Probate Registry
York House
31 York Place
Leeds
LS1 2BA

Posting the form is the best way to make sure HMCTS applies the extension.

Do not request an extension by letter or email, as this could risk delay.

If an extension has been missed, HMCTS’s safeguard period will prevent probate from being granted.

When HMCTS uploads a delayed extension, it'll trigger the notification as though it's a new caveat.

If you have any issues accessing the forms you can contact: hmctsforms@justice.gov.uk.

Checking application progress

You can check the status of your applications at any time using the MyHMCTS dashboard.

Before contacting HMCTS directly to check application progress, you should wait 12 weeks for either paper or online applications.

You can now view and track the progress of probate applications that have been submitted on paper forms on your MyHMCTS dashboard.

To do this, you’ll need to complete a notice of change on MyHMCTS with the details of the probate application.

Once submitted the application should appear on your dashboard immediately.

Find and track the progress of your case

How long it takes to process an application

In November 2024, HMCTS received 23,694 applications and issued 23,618 grants of probate.

From document receipt to grant issued, digital applications took:

• 0.4 weeks (2.8 days) without stops
• 11.1 weeks when stopped

Paper applications took:

• 5.2 weeks without stops
• 23.2 weeks when stopped

Find out how to avoid stops

Although there has been a decline in probate delays, HMCTS acknowledges more needs to be done.

We continue to raise member concerns about the probate service with HMCTS.

To reduce the current backlogs, HMCTS continues to increase capability through additional training of existing staff.

Attend a drop-in session with HMCTS

HMCTS holds a series of probate drop-in sessions throughout the year.

Drop-in sessions offer a chance to your feedback, find out more about the service and meet members of HMCTS.

We will update this page with upcoming drop-in sessions.

To register your attendance and find out more, email NSFAMILYBMT@justice.gov.uk.

Temporary changes to the probate service enquiry line

From 14 February 2024, HMCTS is temporarily changing the probate enquiry line opening hours.

If you need help with your application, the enquiry phone line is open from Monday to Friday, 9am to 1pm.

Log in to MyHMCTS to track the progress of your probate application.

You can still contact the probate service by webchat from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

If your query is urgent, for example, cases involving hardship, house sales or court action, an escalation route is in place.

You can contact HMCTS by phone, email, webchat or post and let staff know what the circumstances are.

Delete unsubmitted applications

You must delete draft cases that have been on the system for more than 180 days by the end of this financial year.

Log into MyHMCTS to check and delete where appropriate.

Your feedback

If you have other queries or concerns about the probate service that you’d like us to raise with HMCTS, email hmctscourtreform@lawsociety.org.uk.