Probate Forms Explained: PA1P, PA1A and the Others You Might Need

Most people applying for probate need only one form, or none at all. The rest of the list below exists for less common situations: a lost will, an executor who wants to step down, or someone applying on another person's behalf. Read the first section, and only go further if one of the later situations applies to you.

The two main forms: PA1P and PA1A

Both forms ask for the same core information: details of the person who died, the applicants, the estate's value, and whether Inheritance Tax is due. HMCTS publishes a version for members of the public and a separate version for probate practitioners such as solicitors. Make sure you download the "citizen applicants" version.³

Up to four executors can be named on one application. If only one applies, they must show they tried to contact the others named in the will.¹ If there is a will, the original goes with the application. A photocopy is not accepted.¹

Online or by post?

GOV.UK lets you apply online or by post. The online service asks the same questions as the paper forms and lets you track the application once it is submitted. GOV.UK says paper applications take longer to process than online ones.¹ If you apply by post and have heard nothing within 12 weeks, you can contact the Courts and Tribunals Service Centre on 0300 303 0648 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 1pm, as listed on GOV.UK).⁶

For a step-by-step walk through the whole application, see how to apply for probate.

HMRC forms that come before the probate form

Before you apply, you must estimate the estate's value and check whether Inheritance Tax is due.¹

• Excepted estates. Most estates with no Inheritance Tax to pay are "excepted estates". You give the values on the probate application itself and no separate HMRC form is needed.⁴
• IHT400. If the estate is not excepted, you send form IHT400 to HMRC first. HMRC then sends a unique code, usually within 20 working days of receiving the IHT400 or any tax payment, whichever is later. You need that code to apply for probate.⁴
• IHT205 and IHT421. IHT205 is no longer used for deaths on or after 1 January 2022. IHT421 is now only for applications in Northern Ireland.⁴ More detail is in our IHT205 guide.

The other probate forms, and when you would use them

All of these are listed on the GOV.UK Probate forms and guidance page.⁷ A "PA4" form sometimes appears in search results, but it is not among the probate forms HMCTS currently lists. If a website asks you to pay for a probate form, you do not need to: the official forms are free.

Fees on the form

The application fee is £526 if the estate is worth more than £5,000, and there is no fee for estates of £5,000 or less. Extra official copies of the grant cost £2 each if you order them with the application and £16 each afterwards.² Most executors find five to ten copies saves time, because banks and other organisations can then be dealt with at the same time. See how much probate costs for the full picture.

Common mistakes on PA1P and PA1A

• Using the practitioner version of the form instead of the citizen version.
• Sending a photocopy of the will instead of the original.
• Applying before HMRC's unique code has arrived, where an IHT400 was needed.
• Giving an estate value that does not match the figures used for Inheritance Tax.
• Forgetting to order extra copies of the grant at £2 each.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between PA1P and PA1A?

PA1P is the paper form to apply for probate when the person left a will. PA1A is the paper form when there is no will, and leads to letters of administration. You only need one of them, and only if you are applying by post rather than online.

Do I need a probate form if I apply online?

No. The online probate service on GOV.UK asks the same questions as PA1P and PA1A, so you do not fill in a paper form. You still send the original will and any other documents by post when the service tells you to.

Is the IHT205 form still used?

Not for deaths on or after 1 January 2022. Most estates with no Inheritance Tax to pay are now "excepted estates" and need no separate HMRC form. If the estate is not excepted, you send form IHT400 to HMRC and wait for a unique code before applying for probate.

How much does it cost to apply for probate?

The probate application fee is £526 if the estate is worth more than £5,000, and nothing if it is worth £5,000 or less. Extra copies of the grant cost £2 each when ordered with the application, or £16 each later.