Can I Do Probate Myself? An Honest Assessment for UK Executors in 2026

What “doing it yourself” actually means

DIY probate does not mean doing it entirely without help or resources. It means you are the one making decisions, completing forms, and communicating with institutions — rather than paying a professional to do those things on your behalf.

In practice, you will interact with:

• HMRC — to submit the inheritance tax return (either the IHT205/IHT400 or the newer online excepted estates process) and, if applicable, pay any tax due before the grant is issued
• The Probate Registry — to submit the PA1P (if there is a will) or PA1A (if there is no will) application and pay the £273 probate fee
• Banks and financial institutions — to notify of the death, obtain valuations at the date of death, and ultimately close accounts and transfer funds
• HM Land Registry — to transfer or sell property included in the estate
• Utility companies, pension providers, insurers — to close accounts, claim death benefits, and cancel direct debits

Tools like Farra, GOV.UK guidance, and HMRC's own IHT notes guide you through each of these interactions. You are not navigating this from scratch — you are following a well-documented process that tens of thousands of people complete each year.

Is this estate simple enough for DIY?

This is the most important question. Most estates in England and Wales are straightforward enough for a competent executor to handle without professional help. Here is how to assess yours:

Signs your estate is suitable for DIY

• There is a valid, unambiguous will that has been located and is clear about who gets what. See our guide on how to read a will as an executor.
• All assets are in England and Wales. No overseas property, no foreign bank accounts of significant value.
• The estate is under £2m gross (though estates under the inheritance tax threshold at £325,000 or £500,000 with the residence nil-rate band are significantly simpler). Check our guide on the probate threshold and inheritance tax basics.
• No business interests — no shares in a private company, no partnership, no farming business.
• No trusts within or created by the will beyond straightforward legacies.
• All beneficiaries are known, alive, and contactable. No missing beneficiaries, no minors whose interests are contested.
• The will is not being contested and there are no threats of a claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.
• The estate is clearly solvent — assets comfortably exceed liabilities.

Signs the estate may be too complex for DIY

• Business interests: Valuing a share in a private company, claiming Business Property Relief, or winding up a partnership requires specialist expertise.
• Overseas property: Foreign real estate typically requires a separate legal process in the relevant country (a “resealing” or local probate equivalent). UK probate alone is not sufficient.
• Trusts: If the will creates a discretionary trust, a life interest trust, or relies on an existing trust structure, professional trust law expertise is needed.
• Missing beneficiaries: If you cannot trace a beneficiary, you face personal liability exposure. A professional can arrange missing beneficiary insurance.
• Will disputes: If someone is challenging the validity of the will or making a claim on the estate, instruct a solicitor. Do not try to navigate this alone.
• Insolvent estate: If debts may exceed assets, the rules governing the priority of creditors are complex and the executor's personal liability exposure is significant.
• Very large estates (£2m+): These often involve IHT taper relief, additional nil-rate band claims, HMRC correspondence and potentially enquiries. The higher the value, the more benefit there is from professional review.

The 7-step DIY probate journey

If your estate passes the “simple enough” test, here is what DIY probate actually involves. Our complete UK probate guide covers each step in full detail.

1. Register the death and obtain death certificates — You need the original death certificate to notify banks and institutions. Obtain at least five certified copies (each costs a small fee). See our guide on registering a death.
2. Locate the will and confirm it is valid — The original will must be submitted to the Probate Registry. It must be signed and witnessed correctly. If you cannot find it, see our executor first steps guide.
3. Value the estate — Obtain valuations for all assets as at the date of death: property (RICS-level valuation for probate purposes), bank accounts, investments, personal possessions, vehicles, and any jointly held assets. See our guide to valuing property for probate.
4. Complete the IHT forms — This is the step most people find most challenging. For excepted estates (broadly those under £1m or under the IHT threshold with the main allowances applied), you complete a simpler process. For taxable estates, you complete the IHT400 and its many schedules. See our IHT400 guide and our guide on paying IHT before probate.
5. Apply for the grant of probate — Submit the PA1P (with will) or PA1A (without will) to the Probate Registry with the original will and the £273 fee. You can now do this online. See our guide to applying for probate and the PA1P and PA1A forms.
6. Administer the estate — Once the grant arrives, collect all assets, pay all debts (including any outstanding IHT, funeral costs, utility bills), advertise for unknown creditors in the Gazette, and keep careful accounts of everything. See our estate administration checklist and guide to advertising for creditors in the Gazette.
7. Distribute to beneficiaries — Once all debts are paid and the creditor notice period has passed, distribute the estate in accordance with the will. Obtain receipts from all beneficiaries. See our guide on what to do after the grant of probate.

Common DIY pitfalls and how to avoid them

Most DIY probate problems are avoidable. Here are the ones executors most commonly encounter:

• Distributing before all debts are paid: An executor who distributes assets before paying known creditors is personally liable for the shortfall. Always pay debts first, advertise in the Gazette, and wait for the two-month creditor notice period before making final distributions.
• Using the wrong IHT form: The excepted estate rules changed in January 2022. Make sure you understand which form applies to this estate. Our guide to inheritance tax basics explains the thresholds.
• Missing assets: Old pension plans, dormant bank accounts, share certificates for long-forgotten holdings. Use the free unclaimed assets register searches and check all old paperwork.
• Undervaluing or overvaluing the property: HMRC may challenge probate valuations. Use a qualified surveyor for residential property rather than relying solely on an estate agent's opinion.
• Missing the IHT deadlines: IHT must be paid within six months of the end of the month of death, or interest starts accruing at the HMRC rate. See our guide on probate delays and IHT interest.
• Signing an inaccurate IHT return: You sign the IHT return personally as executor. If the information is wrong — even carelessly — HMRC can impose significant penalties. See our guide on DIY probate risks.

Time commitment: a realistic breakdown

One of the most common questions is: how long will this take? There are two separate answers — calendar time (how many months from start to finish) and your personal time (how many hours of your own effort).

Note: elapsed time is dominated by third-party turnaround times (banks, Probate Registry, HMRC) rather than your own effort. The work itself is not continuous — it comes in bursts.

See our executor timeline guide for a month-by-month breakdown, and how long probate takes for realistic expectations on Probate Registry waiting times.

What does DIY probate actually cost?

For a full breakdown of professional fee structures, see our guide to fixed fees vs percentage fees and our DIY vs solicitor cost comparison. For probate where no grant is needed at all, see do you need probate?

What if you start DIY and realise you need help?

This happens more often than you might expect — and it is not a problem. You can instruct a professional at any stage. Here is what to do:

• Before you apply for the grant: You have complete flexibility. Hand over everything you have gathered (valuations, will, death certificate) to a solicitor or probate specialist. A grant-only service may be all you need.
• After the grant has been issued: The grant is issued to you as the named executor. You can still instruct a professional to help with the administration — collecting assets, dealing with HMRC correspondence, selling property. You remain the legal executor; they are your agent.
• If a problem emerges: A disputed will, a creditor appearing from nowhere, HMRC opening an enquiry — instruct a solicitor promptly. Delay in getting professional help when problems emerge is the thing that makes situations worse.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a legal requirement to use a solicitor for probate?

No. There is no legal requirement to use a solicitor to obtain a grant of probate or to administer an estate. The process is administered by the Probate Registry (part of HMCTS) and any executor named in a will can apply directly. Thousands of executors do so every year without professional help.

Can I do probate myself if the estate includes a property?

Yes, in most cases. Executors regularly handle estates including one or two properties without professional help. You will need a probate valuation of the property, and once the grant is issued you can instruct an estate agent to sell it in the normal way. The Land Registry transfer (transferring legal title to a beneficiary or buyer) involves some additional forms but is well-documented. If the property is complex — agricultural land, commercial property, a leasehold with complications — professional help is advisable.

What is the hardest part of doing probate yourself?

For most executors, the IHT forms are the most technically demanding element — particularly if the estate is above the nil-rate band (£325,000) or involves a property where the residence nil-rate band (£175,000) applies. The second hardest part is often the emotional toll of doing detailed administrative work while grieving. Our guide on how hard DIY probate is rates each stage honestly.

What if there is no will?

If there is no will, the process is largely the same but you apply for letters of administration rather than a grant of probate, and use the PA1A rather than the PA1P form. The estate is distributed according to the intestacy rules rather than a will. See our guide to letters of administration.

How does the probate application process work?

You apply online through the HMCTS probate service or by post. You submit the PA1P (or PA1A), the original will, and proof of the IHT position. You pay the £273 fee (no fee for estates under £5,000). The Probate Registry then issues the grant — a sealed court document authorising you to deal with the estate. See our full guide on applying for probate.