What Happens After Probate Is Granted: A Step-by-Step Guide

After probate is granted, the Grant of Probate arrives by post. You can then use it to collect the estate's assets, pay debts, and distribute what remains to the beneficiaries. That is the short answer. In practice, each of those steps takes time and involves dealing with banks, HMRC, and sometimes property solicitors.

The full administration of an estate typically takes 6 to 18 months once probate is granted, depending on what assets are involved. For a sense of the overall timeline, see our guide to how long probate takes.

Receiving the grant

The grant arrives by post from the Probate Registry, along with the sealed copies you ordered at the time of application. Each sealed copy is an official certified version of the grant, stamped by the court, that you can use to prove your authority to act.

When you receive the grant, check it carefully. Confirm that the spelling of names, the date of death, and other details are correct. If there is an error, contact the Probate Registry immediately - it is far easier to correct before you start using the grant.

Distributing Sealed Copies to Institutions

Each institution holding assets belonging to the estate will need its own sealed copy of the grant before they will release funds or transfer assets. When you applied for probate, you were asked how many sealed copies to order (at £16 each). If you ordered enough, you can now begin distributing them.

Institutions that typically need a sealed copy include:

• Each bank or building society where the deceased held accounts
• Investment platforms and stockbrokers
• The Land Registry (if property is being transferred or sold)
• Share registrars (such as Computershare or Equiniti)
• Life insurance companies (for policies that form part of the estate)
• National Savings and Investments (if Premium Bonds or savings certificates are held)

Send each copy by recorded post and keep a log of what was sent, when, and to whom. If you run out of sealed copies, you can apply for more, but it takes time and costs £16 per copy, so it is better to have ordered enough upfront.

Collecting Assets

Once institutions receive the sealed grant, they will release funds or transfer assets to you as executor. This process is called collecting in the assets of the estate.

Bank accounts

Banks will transfer the balances to an executor bank account that you set up, or in some cases issue a cheque. It is good practice to open a dedicated executor account - a basic current account in the name of "the estate of [deceased's name]" - so that all estate money flows through one place. This keeps your personal finances separate and makes preparing estate accounts far simpler. See our guide to closing bank accounts after death and documents required to close a bank account after death.

Investments and shares

Investment platforms will transfer holdings to you or sell them and send the proceeds, depending on the estate's requirements and the beneficiaries' wishes. Share registrars will transfer certificated shares into the estate or arrange a sale.

Life insurance

For policies that form part of the estate (i.e. not written in trust), the insurer will pay out to the executor account on receipt of the grant and death certificate.

Premium Bonds

NS&I will either cash in Premium Bonds or transfer them to beneficiaries (up to certain limits). Contact NS&I directly with the sealed grant and death certificate.

Paying Debts and Liabilities

Before any money is distributed to beneficiaries, all debts and liabilities of the estate must be paid. The order of priority is set by law:

1. Secured debts - mortgage or other loans secured against property
2. Funeral costs
3. Testamentary expenses - costs of administering the estate (including the probate fee)
4. Preferred creditors - certain tax debts
5. Unsecured creditors - credit cards, utility bills, personal loans
6. Beneficiaries - only after all the above are settled

Keep receipts and statements for every payment made from the estate. These form part of the estate accounts.

Final income tax

If the deceased was registered for self-assessment, you may need to submit a final tax return covering the period from the start of the tax year to the date of death. Any tax refund forms part of the estate; any liability must be paid. HMRC should be kept informed throughout. See our guide to executor duties for more on your responsibilities to HMRC.

Placing a Deceased Estate Notice

As executor, you are personally liable if you distribute the estate and a creditor then comes forward with a valid claim that cannot be met. To protect yourself from this risk, consider placing a deceased estate notice in The Gazette (the official public record).

This gives creditors 2 months and 1 day to submit any claims against the estate. If no claims are received within that period, you have a legal defence if an unknown creditor comes forward after distribution. The notice can be placed online at gazette.co.uk for a small fee.

Placing a Gazette notice is particularly recommended if the deceased ran a business, had any unusual financial arrangements, or if you are not entirely certain of the full picture of their liabilities.

Dealing With Property

If the estate includes property, it can now be sold or formally transferred to a beneficiary. You will need a conveyancing solicitor to handle the legal transfer. If the property is being sold, normal conveyancing rules apply - the executor signs as the seller.

Property can be a major reason why estate administration takes longer than expected. Sales depend on buyers, chains, and the property market. Our guide to selling property during probate covers this in more detail.

Preparing Estate Accounts

Before you make any final distributions, you should prepare a set of estate accounts. These are a clear record of:

• All assets collected (with values)
• All liabilities paid (with dates and amounts)
• All costs and expenses incurred (probate fee, professional fees, Gazette notice, etc.)
• The residue available for distribution
• The proposed distribution to each beneficiary

Beneficiaries are entitled to see the estate accounts before distribution. They do not need to formally "approve" them unless required by the will or a court order, but sharing them builds trust and reduces the risk of disputes.

Final Distribution to Beneficiaries

Once all debts are paid, tax is settled, and estate accounts are prepared, you can make the final distributions.

• Specific legacies (cash gifts or particular items named in the will) are distributed first
• The residue - what remains after legacies, debts, and costs - is divided according to the will

For each payment, keep a clear record. Ask each beneficiary to sign a receipt confirming they have received their entitlement. This is your protection if a dispute arises later.

If a beneficiary is a minor, their share must be held on trust until they reach the age specified in the will (usually 18 or 21). You may need to open a separate account or set up a bare trust to hold the funds.

Closing the Executor Account

Once all distributions are made, all receipts collected, and you are satisfied that there are no outstanding liabilities, you can close the executor bank account. The estate is then fully administered.

How Long Does This All Take?

For a straightforward estate with no property or a quick property sale, the post-grant phase might take 3 to 6 months. For estates with property that takes time to sell, or where HMRC has queries about the final tax position, it can take 12 to 18 months or more.

The key is to stay organised and keep records of every step. Settle provides a structured workspace and task tracker that helps you manage every stage of post-grant administration - from logging when you sent sealed copies to recording each distribution and receipt.