What is a grant of probate? The plain-English answer

A grant of probate is an official document from the probate service that confirms two things: the will is valid, and the executor named in it has the legal authority to deal with the estate. Banks, pension providers and the Land Registry ask to see it before they release money or transfer property.

When you need one

You usually need a grant when the person owned property in their sole name, or when a bank holds more than its own threshold — commonly somewhere between £5,000 and £50,000, and each bank sets its own. Ask each organisation directly; they will tell you what they need.

When you probably do not

If everything was jointly owned with a surviving spouse or partner, it usually passes automatically and probate is often not needed. Small estates with no property and modest balances can frequently be dealt with using just the death certificate.

How to get one

Value the estate first, then deal with Inheritance Tax if it is due — that has to be under way before the application. Most people apply online through GOV.UK. The fee is £526 for estates over £5,000, and extra sealed copies of the grant cost £2 each if you order them with the application — order several, because each organisation wants its own.

You do not have to use a solicitor. Many executors apply themselves. A solicitor earns their fee when the estate is disputed, insolvent, or includes trusts or business assets.

A note on names

If there is no will, the equivalent document is called letters of administration, and the person who applies is the administrator rather than the executor. The authority it gives is the same.