Once the initial application for a grant of probate is complete, it’s actually really easy to get extra copies. Easy and useful: it helps to have three or four around to make the estate administration process go faster. Here, we’ll explain exactly how to obtain a copy of a grant of probate if you need to.
Wait, what’s a grant of probate?
A grant of probate is a legal document that the executor of a will can use as proof of their right to manage the legal and financial affairs of a person who has died.
Banks and other financial organisations often ask to see a sealed copy of a grant of probate before they’ll let an executor access any accounts. This is especially true for accounts with lots of funds, although the threshold is different for every organisation.
When someone dies without a will, the person sorting out their estate will need to apply for letters of administration instead. More on this here.
How many copies of the grant of probate do you need?
It’s a really good idea to have three to six sealed copies of the grant of probate if you’re settling the estate. That way, you can send copies to a few different organisations at once and still have one at home for safe keeping.
How to get a copy of a grant of probate
When you first apply for a grant of probate, you can ask for additional copies. You can find out more about getting a grant for the first time here.
If you or someone else has already applied for and received the initial grant of probate, and you need additional copies after the fact, here’s how…
Order a copy of a grant of probate by post, online or in-person
There are three ways to obtain a copy of a grant of probate and a will: by post, online, and in-person. This guide covers England and Wales – the process is different in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Ordering by post
Ordering by post is the best option if you:
- Need a sealed copy of a grant of probate for administering an estate (this is a copy with an official court seal on it)
- Need a sealed and certified copy of a grant of probate for settling an estate that has some assets held abroad
- Want multiple copies
- Don’t mind waiting – if you need a sealed or certified copy urgently, contact your local district probate registry (more on this below)
- Want to set up a standing search for a grant of probate that hasn’t been issued yet. The probate registry will then send you a copy of the grant of probate (and the will, if there is one) as soon as the probate application is approved. The standing search lasts 6 months – after that, you’ll need to pay again to renew
To order a copy of a grant of probate by post, simply download form PA1S (here), fill it out, and send it to the address on the form. You’ll need the name, date of death and address of the person who has died.
- Time to arrive: 4 weeks
- Cost: £10 for the first copy, 50p for any additional copies
Ordering online
Ordering online is the best option if you:
- Don’t need the grant of probate to be sealed or certified – if you need it for family tree research, for example
- Are also unsure of the exact date of death or the address of the person who has died
- Are also in a hurry – ordering online is faster and easier than ordering by post
To order a copy of a grant of probate online, click here. Type the surname of the person who has died and the year that they died. Then you’ll just need to pick the right person from the list.
- Time to arrive: 10 working days
- Cost: £10 for each copy
Ordering in-person
You can get a copy of a grant of probate in-person from your local district probate registry. This is the best option if you:
- Are interested in obtaining a sealed copy of the grant of probate, or a sealed and certified copy
- Are also in a hurry – if you call ahead of time, ordering in-person can be faster than online and postal orders
You can find your nearest district probate registry here. It’s best to call ahead of time to confirm which documents you’ll need to bring.
- Time to arrive: 10 working days, or less
- Cost: £10 for the first copy, 50p for any additional copies
Settling an estate can be exhausting…
And getting a copy of the grant of probate is the least of it. With all kinds of other tasks, big and small, it can be a lot to take on by yourself.
Here at Beyond, we offer a fixed fee estate administration service that’s tailored to your needs. If you just need help getting a grant of probate, we can do that. If you want someone to handle everything, we can do that too. We’ll even rehome your loved one’s pets if you like! Prices start at just £695. To find out more, click here or call us on 0800 054 9896 for a quote.