Probate articles & guides
Plain-English preparation articles for England and Wales. Start with the pillar guide, then explore supporting articles on specific topics.
Pillar guide
Probate Readiness: A Complete Executor Guide for England and Wales (2026)
Probate is the legal process of proving a will (or applying when there is no will) and receiving authority to administer someone's estate after they die. In England and Wales, most executors need between six and twelve months to complete the process, with the bulk of time spent gathering documents and valuing assets before the grant is issued.
Read the complete guide →Supporting articles
- Executor Duties in England and Wales: A Step-by-Step Checklist
An executor named in a will takes on practical and legal responsibilities that continue until the estate is properly wound up. This step-by-step checklist covers the main duties executors in England and Wales typically handle — from the first days after a death through to final distribution.
- How Long Does Probate Take? Common Delays and How to Avoid Them
Executors often expect the Probate Registry to take the longest. In practice, much of the delay happens before an application is submitted. A realistic overall timeline for a straightforward estate in England and Wales is commonly six to twelve months from the date of death — longer where property, tax, or family issues arise.
- Do I Need Probate? A Plain-English Guide for Families
Probate is not automatically required for every estate. Whether a family needs a grant of probate depends on how assets were owned and what each institution demands before releasing funds. Banks and building societies set their own thresholds — often between £5,000 and £50,000 — but there is no single rule that applies everywhere.
- How to Value an Estate for Probate: What HMRC Actually Wants
HMRC expects executors to report open-market values at the date of death — not insurance replacement costs. Getting valuations wrong can delay probate, trigger penalties, or result in unnecessary inheritance tax. This guide explains what HMRC commonly expects for major asset types in England and Wales.
- Probate Without a Will: Letters of Administration Explained
When someone dies without a valid will — or the named executors cannot act — the estate is administered under intestacy rules and the court issues letters of administration instead of a grant of probate. The process parallels probate in many respects, but who can apply and who inherits follow statutory order rather than the deceased's wishes.
- What to Prepare Before Seeing a Solicitor: Estate and Family Admin Checklist
Seeing a solicitor is more productive when you know which area you need help with and what records you already hold. This guide covers common preparation across probate, Power of Attorney, inheritance disputes, and divorce admin in England and Wales.