How many copies of a Grant of Probate do I need?
When applying for probate, you can order extra copies of the probate document. It is recommended that you acquire a copy of the Grant for each financial institution with which the deceased held funds, as multiple institutions may need to see it at once. By having a copy for each institution, you can speed up the process as multiple assets can be administered at the same time.
The number of copies required will be different for each estate, so you should review how many institutions you need to contact that will likely require a copy of the Grant of Probate.
Institutions that may ask to see the probate document may include:
- Bank/building societies;
- Pension providers;
- Insurance providers;
- NS&I (Premium Bonds);
- Share registrars;
- Local councils;
- Management companies for leasehold properties.
An example
For example, if the deceased’s estate is made up of:
- Three bank accounts with different financial institutions, e.g., personal, savings, and credit card;
- NS&I Premium Bonds;
- A property with a mortgage;
- Two pensions with different providers;
- One life insurance policy.
In this scenario, you would likely need nine copies of the Grant of Probate to send to the eight financial institutions, as well as the local council to settle Council Tax.
How much do additional copies of the Grant of Probate cost?
At the time of application, extra copies of the Grant of Probate can be purchased for £1.50 each. If you need to apply again after probate has been granted, there will be a £20 fee. This is rare but may happen if one of the Executors who holds power reserved decides to apply for probate themselves.
