DIY Probate Checklist

When DIY probate works

Most executors can handle probate themselves without professional help. DIY probate works best when the estate is straightforward: there is a valid will, assets are in England and Wales, the estate is below or not significantly above the inheritance tax threshold, and there are no disputes between beneficiaries.

You do not need a legal background. The Probate Registry application is a form, and the steps that follow are largely administrative. What you do need is patience, good record-keeping, and the time to write to institutions and wait for their responses.

This checklist covers every major stage. Not all steps apply to every estate, so treat it as a comprehensive reference rather than a rigid sequence. Read our full guide on what an executor must do for more detail on your legal duties.

Section 1: Before you apply for probate

These tasks need to happen before you can submit your probate application. Most take place in the first two to four weeks after the death.

1. 1

   Register the death

   Register at the local register office within 5 days of the death (8 days in Scotland, but this checklist covers England and Wales). You will receive the death certificate at this point.

2. 2

   Order at least 10 certified death certificates

   Each bank, building society, investment platform and Government department needs an original certified copy. Order them from the register office at the time of registration - they cost around £12.50 each. It is much cheaper and faster to order in bulk now than to request more later.

3. 3

   Locate the will and confirm you are the named executor

   Check the deceased's home files, safe, and solicitor. You can also search the National Will Register. Once located, read it carefully. If there are any codicils (amendments), gather those too.

4. 4

   Confirm the will is valid

   A valid will must be signed by the testator and witnessed by two independent witnesses (who cannot be beneficiaries). If the will looks unusual, was made very close to the time of death, or the deceased lacked mental capacity, take professional advice before proceeding.

5. 5

   Write to each bank and financial institution

   Send a written notification to every bank, building society, and investment provider. Send a certified death certificate with each letter. Ask for the date-of-death balance and request that the account be frozen to prevent further transactions. Keep a log of every letter sent and every response received.

6. 6

   Use the Tell Us Once service

   Tell Us Once allows you to notify multiple government departments in a single step, including HMRC, the DVLA, the Passport Office, and the Department for Work and Pensions. You will receive a reference number from the register office when you register the death - you need this to access the service.

7. 7

   Value the estate

   You need a date-of-death valuation for every asset: bank accounts, investments, property, vehicles, personal possessions, and any money owed to the deceased. Property should be valued by a qualified estate agent or RICS surveyor. Investments can usually be valued using the historic share price on the date of death. You also need a figure for all outstanding debts.

8. 8

   Check the inheritance tax position

   The standard nil-rate band is £325,000. If the estate is below this, and the deceased did not make large gifts in the 7 years before death, no inheritance tax should be due. If the estate includes a main residence passed to direct descendants, the residence nil-rate band (currently £175,000) may also apply. For anything complex, take professional advice. Our guide on probate costs and IHT covers the main thresholds.

9. 9

   Open an estate bank account

   An estate bank account is a dedicated account in the name of the estate (not your personal account) used to receive money from the deceased's accounts and to pay debts and expenses. Many high street banks offer these for executors. Having a separate account makes the estate accounts much easier to prepare at the end.

10. 10

    Apply for any interim payments for urgent bills

    Most banks will release funds directly to pay the funeral bill without waiting for probate. Some will also release funds to pay inheritance tax before the grant is issued (using the Direct Payment Scheme). If the estate has urgent ongoing costs - such as mortgage payments on a property - contact the lender early to discuss options.

Section 2: Applying for probate

Once you have gathered valuations and confirmed the tax position, you are ready to apply. Read our detailed guide on how to apply for probate for a step-by-step walkthrough of the application itself.

1. 1

   Complete the probate application form

   If there is a will, you complete form PA1P. If there is no will, use form PA1A. Both are available on GOV.UK. You can apply online or by post. The online service is generally faster and easier for straightforward estates.

2. 2

   Submit the original will and a death certificate

   The Probate Registry requires the original signed will (not a copy) and the original death certificate. If you are applying online, you upload scanned copies first and then post the originals. You will not get the will back once it has been proved, so take copies of the key pages before you submit.

3. 3

   Pay the court fee

   The court fee is currently £300 for estates over £5,000. There is no fee for estates worth £5,000 or less. The fee is paid when you submit the application. You can pay online by card or by cheque if applying by post.

4. 4

   Order sealed copies of the grant

   At the time of application, order your sealed copies. Each costs £16 and you will need one for every institution that holds estate assets - banks, investment platforms, the Land Registry for property transfers, and so on. Order at least 8 to 10. Running out and reordering later adds several weeks of delay.

5. 5

   Wait for the grant to be issued

   The Probate Registry currently issues grants within 8 to 16 weeks of a complete application, though timescales can vary. You cannot act with the authority of the grant until it arrives. Use the waiting period to chase outstanding valuations and prepare for the next stage.

Section 3: After probate is granted

Once you have the grant in your hands, you have the legal authority to act on behalf of the estate. This is often the busiest stage. Read our guide on what happens after probate is granted for more detail.

1. 1

   Send sealed copies to each institution

   Write to every bank, building society, investment platform and other asset holder, enclosing a sealed copy of the grant. Each institution will have its own closure process. Keep a log of every copy sent, the date sent, and the date you received a response. Use recorded post for anything valuable.

2. 2

   Close bank accounts and transfer funds to the estate account

   Once each bank confirms it has received the grant, it will close the account and transfer the balance to wherever you direct. This will usually be the estate bank account you opened in step 9 above. Our guide on closing bank accounts after death covers the process in detail.

3. 3

   Sell or transfer property

   If the estate includes a property that is to be sold, instruct an estate agent and a conveyancing solicitor. If the property is to be transferred to a beneficiary rather than sold, you will need a conveyancing solicitor to handle the Land Registry transfer forms. Property transactions are one of the most time-consuming parts of estate administration.

4. 4

   Collect investment proceeds

   Shares, unit trusts, ISAs and other investments can be sold or transferred depending on what the will directs and what the beneficiaries prefer. Contact each investment platform or share registrar with the sealed grant and their standard bereavement form. Timescales vary significantly between providers.

5. 5

   Deal with pension death benefits

   Pension death benefits are typically paid at the discretion of the pension scheme trustees and do not automatically form part of the estate for probate purposes. Contact the pension provider, complete any expression of wishes or nomination forms they hold, and follow their bereavement process. Pension benefits paid to nominees are generally not subject to inheritance tax.

6. 6

   Pay all outstanding debts and liabilities

   Before distributing to beneficiaries, pay all estate debts: credit cards, loans, utility bills, council tax arrears, outstanding care costs, and any other liabilities. Do not distribute until you are confident no further debts will emerge. Advertising for creditors in the London Gazette can help protect you if debts are discovered later.

7. 7

   Complete the final tax return for the deceased

   If the deceased was in self-assessment, you need to file a final return covering the period from 6 April of the last tax year to the date of death. You may also need to file a return for income earned by the estate during administration, if it is above the relevant threshold. HMRC should confirm when the tax position is settled before you make the final distribution.

8. 8

   Prepare estate accounts and distribute to beneficiaries

   Estate accounts are a clear summary of all assets, liabilities, income and expenses, and how the residue is distributed. Every residuary beneficiary is entitled to see them. Once the accounts are prepared and agreed, make the payments, obtain signed receipts from each beneficiary, and keep all records for at least 12 years.

Section 4: Common mistakes to avoid

• Distributing the estate before the grant is issued

  You do not have legal authority to collect in or distribute estate assets until you have the grant in hand. Acting before then can create personal liability. The only exception is assets that pass outside the estate (such as jointly held property or nominated pension benefits).

• Losing or sending out all your sealed copies

  Sealed copies cannot be replaced without a fee and further delay. Keep a master log of every copy, where it was sent, and whether it has been returned. Some institutions return the copy after processing - if they do, keep it safely for future use.

• Missing creditors and distributing too soon

  If a creditor comes forward after you have distributed the estate, you may be personally liable for the debt. Wait at least 6 months before making the final distribution. Consider placing a notice in the London Gazette and a local newspaper to give creditors the chance to come forward.

• Missing inheritance tax deadlines

  Inheritance tax must be paid within 6 months of the end of the month in which the person died, or HMRC will charge interest. This is often before the grant has even been issued. If IHT is due, you will need to arrange payment via the Direct Payment Scheme or from personal funds, and then reclaim from the estate once the grant arrives.

How Settle can help

Settle is a free tool for executors in England and Wales. The free probate assessment takes about two minutes and tells you whether probate is likely to be required and what your next steps are. You can then work through the process using our 77 plain-English guides, which cover every step from registering the death to preparing estate accounts.

The executor workspace, launching soon, will give you a full task tracker, institution log, and document checklist in one place. Join the waitlist to be notified when it is available.