What is a grant of probate?
A grant of probate is the court document confirming an executor's authority to administer an estate under a valid will. Banks, registrars, share registrars and buyers rely on it before releasing funds or transferring assets. It is issued by HM Courts and Tribunals Service in England and Wales.
The application requires the original will, the death certificate, a valuation of the estate and confirmation of the inheritance tax position. A copy of the will will not do; where the original cannot be found, the law presumes it was destroyed with the intention of revoking it, and a separate application is needed to prove its contents.
Timescales vary considerably with HMCTS caseload and with whether a full inheritance tax account is required. Anything unusual — a missing executor, a disputed will, a caveat entered by a family member — extends it further.
Once issued, the grant is a public document, and copies can be obtained by anyone.