Can I Do Probate Myself?
Yes — and thousands of executors do it every year. This guide explains exactly how to apply for probate without a solicitor, what it costs, and where to be careful.
Is DIY Probate Right for You?
Most straightforward UK estates are perfectly suited to self-administration. Here's how to tell which category you're in.
You can likely do it yourself if…
Consider a solicitor if…
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How to Apply for Probate Yourself: 6 Steps
This is the complete process for England & Wales (and Scotland, which follows the same broad steps — see the jurisdiction notes in each step).
Register the death & locate the will
Register the death at the local register office within 5 days (8 in Scotland). Obtain several certified death certificate copies (you'll need them for banks, HMRC, and the Probate Registry). Locate the original will - check with the deceased's solicitor, bank, or at their home.
Practical tip: Order at least 5-6 death certificates. Institutions want originals, not photocopies, and you'll go through them faster than you expect.
Value the estate
Contact every bank, building society, pension provider, insurer, share registrar, and mortgage lender to get date-of-death balances. Property should be valued by a RICS-qualified surveyor. Keep notes of every call and letter — you'll need them for the IHT forms and estate accounts.
Practical tip: Write to institutions using a standard letter of notification. EstateCopilot provides ready-made templates for banks, insurance companies, HMRC and more.
Assess inheritance tax (IHT)
Work out whether IHT is due. The nil-rate band is £325,000 (or up to £500,000 if a home passes to direct descendants). Estates below the threshold use a simplified reporting process (via probate or letters of administration application). Estates above must complete the full IHT400 return, pay any tax due - usually within 6 months of death - and get HMRC clearance before probate is granted.
Practical tip: IHT calculations trip up even experienced executors. Getting this wrong can mean penalties from HMRC.
Complete & submit probate forms
For England & Wales you'll apply online via MyHMCTS or on paper using form PA1P (with a will) or PA1A (without). For Scotland you apply to the local Sheriff Court for Confirmation using form C1. Send the original will, completed forms, and the £300 court fee (England & Wales; no fee for estates under £5,000).
Practical tip: Errors on the PA1P are common and cause weeks of delays. Auto-filling with estate data eliminates most of them.
Collect assets & settle debts
Once the Grant of Probate/Confiramtion (or Letters of Administraion) arrives (typically 8-16 weeks after submission), you can release funds from bank accounts, sell or transfer property, and encash investments. Use a dedicated estate bank account to track everything. Pay all debts, taxes, and expenses before distributing to beneficiaries.
Practical tip: Keep a running ledger from day one. You'll need accurate estate accounts to distribute fairly and protect yourself from future claims.
Prepare estate accounts & distribute
Prepare formal estate accounts showing all receipts, payments, and the final distribution. Have beneficiaries sign a discharge receipt confirming they're satisfied with their share. Distribute funds and close the estate bank account.
Practical tip: Estate accounts are your protection. A beneficiary who's signed off cannot later claim they were shortchanged.
What Does DIY Probate Cost?
Compare the three realistic paths
Fully DIY
- £300 Probate Registry court fee
- ~£300 property valuation (RICS)
- Your time: 50-200+ hours
- Risk: errors delay the process
- No form-filling support
- No task management
- Hours searching for answers
EstateCopilot
- Plus mandatory court fees
- Auto-filled PA1P / PA1A / C1 forms
- Full estate & IHT assessment
- Guided task management
- Asset & debt tracking
- Beneficiary portal
- Document storage
Full solicitor
- Plus mandatory court fee
- Handles all correspondence
- Drafts estate accounts
- Provides legal advice
- Paid from estate before distribution
- You hand over full control
5 Pitfalls to Avoid When Doing Probate Yourself
These are the mistakes that cause delays, penalties, and personal liability for executors.
Missing the IHT deadline
IHT must be paid within 6 months of death. Miss it and interest accrues at 7.5% p.a. — on a large estate, that's thousands of pounds.
Distributing too early
If you pay out to beneficiaries before settling all debts and the estate can't cover what remains, you're personally liable for the shortfall.
Missing assets or liabilities
Forgotten share certificates, old pension policies, or undisclosed loans can cause the estate accounts to be challenged or reopened years later.
Getting IHT valuations wrong
HMRC can challenge property valuations up to 4 years after a grant. Undervaluing property can trigger an investigation and penalties.
Form errors causing delays
The PA1P has over 300 fields. A single inconsistency sends the application back - adding weeks to an already long process.
EstateCopilot flags all of these automatically — deadline alerts, IHT calculations, and form validation are built in so you don't have to catch them manually.
How EstateCopilot Makes DIY Probate Manageable
You stay in control and keep the cost savings. We provide everything you'd otherwise spend months figuring out.
Auto-filled probate forms
PA1P, PA1A, and C1 are filled automatically from your estate data. Over 300 fields — no typos, no inconsistencies.
IHT assessment & calculations
Our IHT engine calculates your five GOV.UK checker values, identifies reliefs and exemptions, and tells you which forms you need.
Task management & deadlines
Personalised task list ordered by what matters right now. Automated alerts before HMRC and Probate Registry deadlines.
Asset & debt tracking
Log every asset, liability, and transaction with supporting documents. Generates formal estate accounts at the end.
Co-executor collaboration
Multiple executors can work together on the same estate. Shared access, clear audit trail.
Jurisdiction-aware guidance
England & Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland each have different rules. EstateCopilot adapts to your jurisdiction automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
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