Ready to start probate?
We are sorry for your loss
If you are here, you have lost someone. We are sorry. This page is where the practical part begins, and we have made it as simple as we can.
The below form gathers the information we need to start the probate process. It takes around 10 to 15 minutes, and you do not need every answer to hand. Fill in what you know. Leave what you don't. We will go through everything together on a call before anything proceeds, so nothing here is final and nothing here can be wrong. The important thing is that you add as much detail as possible and hold nothing back.
How it works
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This might have already happened, by phone, email, WhatsApp or text message. If not, feel free to call us at any time on 0203 355 4538. Alternatively, you can email us or WhatsApp us and all those details are on the Contact Us page.
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If we’ve already discussed your loved one’s estate, we’ve probably directed you to this page to fill in the below form.
It’s worth having a look at it so you can collate the information needed in advance, however you can always email us additional information over afterwards (info@awaywills.com).
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We will confirm everything you submit in advance. At this stage we will make a recommendation on the type of help you might need, along with confirming the costs.
Terms of Business will be sent for you to sign and we take a deposit up front before commencing work.
After that, we prepare and submit the probate application, then (with Full Administration) handle everything that follows. You're updated at every stage through our secure portal.
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We distribute the estate to beneficiaries, prepare the final accounts, and close the matter cleanly. You keep the records for the future.
Pricing
Grant Assist — £1,500
We obtain the legal authority for you to deal with the estate. You handle the rest. Best for capable executors with simpler estates who want professional accuracy on the legal paperwork. If there is an IHT400 form required, there is an additional fee of £490. We will advise on whether this is necessary.
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Full Administration — 2.4% of the gross estate value (with a minimum fee of £2,400)
We handle everything from start to finish. Valuing the estate, applying for probate, collecting assets, paying debts and tax, communicating with beneficiaries, and distributing the estate. Best for executors who want it taken off their hands.
The Details
Common Questions
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Probate is the legal process of dealing with someone's estate after they die — collecting their assets, paying any debts and tax, and distributing what's left to the people named in their Will. The "Grant of Probate" is the official document from the Probate Registry that gives the executor the legal authority to do this work. Without it, banks, the Land Registry, and other institutions usually won't release the deceased's assets. Not every estate needs probate — it depends on what the person owned and how those things were held.
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Most estates take 6 to 12 months from start to finish. The Probate Registry is currently issuing Grants in around 12 to 16 weeks. Complex estates with property sales or inheritance tax can take longer.
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Contested probate is a specialist area. If a dispute arises, we'll let you know honestly whether we can continue to help or whether we’ll need to pass you to a contentious probate solicitor alongside us. We have a questionnaire you can fill in if you already know this will happen. Either way, we'll guide you through what to do next.
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See all of our FAQs here and don’t forget you can book a free, 30 minute, no obligation call with one of our professional Will-writers at any time.
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Probate and inheritance tax are two separate questions. Most estates don't owe inheritance tax — the threshold is currently £325,000 per person, rising to £500,000 if the family home passes to direct descendants, and married couples or civil partners can usually combine their allowances. But even when no tax is owed, probate may still be needed to access the deceased's assets — the two questions don't always track each other. We'll work out both with you early on and prepare any forms required.