How difficult is it to do probate yourself?

Probate can be an overwhelming and complex process, especially when dealing with the passing of a loved one. The legal procedure involves proving a Will's validity, paying off debts, and distributing assets such as property, money, and possessions, according to the deceased's wishes. Before all of this can be done, an Executor must obtain a Grant of Probate. This is a legal document giving you the right to access bank accounts, sell assets, and settle debts.

Many people rely on professionals such as Kings Court Trust to navigate probate due to their expert legal knowledge, but you may be wondering how difficult it is to do probate yourself. In this article, we’ll break down how difficult the probate process is whilst covering the key aspects of what it involves, the potential challenges you may come up against, and the time it takes to complete if you do decide to tackle probate yourself. 

Do all estates need probate?

To administer most estates, probate will need to be applied for. However, there are some circumstances in which it’s not needed. Probate is required when: 

• The assets of a deceased person are held solely in their name.
• The balance of assets exceeds the probate threshold(s) of the financial institution(s) they are held with.

Because of this, you may not need probate if the estate of the deceased is of limited value. Generally, if the estate is worth less than £5,000, most financial institutions do not require a Grant of Probate to release the funds. Furthermore, if the assets contained within an estate are held jointly with a surviving spouse, civil partner, or joint owner, they will often pass automatically to them, meaning that probate isn’t needed at all.  

When do you apply for probate? 

If probate is needed, it’s best to start the application for a Grant of Probate as soon as possible, as this will enable the Executor to begin administering the estate. However, some tasks must be completed beforehand. These include: 

• Registering the death;
• Valuing the assets and liabilities;
• Valuing any property;
• Valuing any gifts made by the deceased.

Once the estate has been valued for Inheritance Tax (IHT) purposes (if applicable), a probate application can be submitted to the Probate Registry. 

What happens once probate is granted?  

Once the Executor has a Grant of Probate, they can begin the process of estate administration. This involves dealing with the assets, debts, and taxes associated with the estate in accordance with the deceased’s wishes in their Will. If you have been named as Executor, then you will also be responsible for distributing the inheritance to the beneficiaries of the Will.

How long does probate take?

Once you’ve completed the tasks listed above and have submitted your application to the Probate Registry, according to GOV.UK, you’ll usually receive the Grant of Probate within 12 weeks of the date of submission. However, this can take longer if you are asked to provide additional information. According to the HMCTS Probate Report 2025, as of December 2024, there were a total of 2171 Grant of Probate applications between 12-24 months old, still waiting to be completed. There can be delays or pauses to the process if there are issues with the application – this is called a ‘stopped’ application. The most common causes of a stopped application include missing documents, missing IHT information, missing Executors, issues with the Will’s validity or condition, and disputes. 

Someone with an interest in the estate, such as someone who believes they should be entitled to inheritance, can also enter a caveat at the Probate Registry. This causes a delay as legal proceedings are likely to be necessary for the Court to make a decision. Therefore, probate can be delayed or contested, but it will not be stopped completely unless the application is invalid in some way, for example, if the person applying is not the named Executor. 

Once you’ve received the Grant, the time required to complete administering the estate will vary depending on the complexity of the estate. More complex estates, such as those containing property that needs to be sold, or shares and investments, will take considerably longer to settle. Whereas simpler estates consisting solely of money being held within a bank account are usually settled in a much shorter space of time. Probate can take anywhere from several months to even years to complete. Therefore, if you are considering doing probate yourself, you should be prepared for the process to take a considerable amount of time. 

How much does probate cost?

You may have to pay an upfront fee when applying for a Grant of Probate. This is dependent on the value of the estate: 

• If the value of the estate exceeds £5,000, the application fee is £300.
• If the value of the state is £5,000 or less, there is no application fee.

If the estate does exceed £5,000 and you are required to pay the application fee, this fee still applies, no matter if you are doing probate yourself or instructing a professional to complete the process for you. You can also order additional copies of a Grant of Probate for £1.50 per document, allowing you to send them to multiple organisations at the same time.  

Administering the estate yourself

When deciding whether to undertake probate and estate administration yourself, it is important to consider the amount of work involved. There is a wide range of legal and administrative tasks that must be completed during estate administration, and with every estate being different, the process is often extremely unpredictable. If you are considering administering the estate yourself, you may have to: 

• Gather information from banks, creditors, Government Departments, and more;
• Prepare tax forms and apply for probate;
• Close accounts;
• Complete legal work, such as Trusts within the Will;
• Sell or transfer property;
• Produce estate accounts;
• Distribute inheritance to beneficiaries.

Whilst it is possible to complete this work yourself, it’s important to consider whether you have the capacity to do so.  

In conclusion: How difficult is it to do probate yourself? 

Whilst it is entirely possible to handle probate on your own, it’s not always advisable, especially if the estate is complex or involves family conflicts. If the estate is small, with little to no disputes, you may find that the probate process is manageable with some research and diligence. However, if the estate is complicated or you’re uncertain about the process, it may be wise to hire a probate specialist or estate administration professional to help guide you through the process. In short, probate can be difficult and time-consuming to do yourself, especially if you don’t have legal expertise and are simultaneously processing the death of a loved one. Taking the professional route can save you time, money, and stress in the long run.