Farra is a death administration assistant for UK families. Get step-by-step guidance for registering a death, applying for probate, notifying banks, and managing bereavement admin. From essential documents to practical checklists, Farra simplifies estate paperwork and funeral-related tasks so you can focus on what matters.
Need probate if: property/land in deceased's sole name OR assets over £5K-£50K (bank-dependent). Don't need if: everything jointly owned, small estate under £5K, or assets with named beneficiary. Property: sole ownership needs probate, joint tenants don't. Major banks require probate over £50K, smaller banks £15K-£25K. Timeline: 3-6 months total.
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You usually need probate if the person owned property in their sole name or had money over the bank's threshold (typically £15,000–£50,000). You often don't if assets were jointly owned, small, or had named beneficiaries. Always confirm requirements with each bank or provider.
One of the first questions executors ask after someone dies is: "Do I need probate?" The answer depends on what the person owned, how much it's worth, and how it was owned. This guide explains exactly when probate is required in the UK.
Probate is the legal process that gives you (the executor or administrator) the authority to deal with someone's estate after they die. According to GOV.UK, the court issues a document called a grant of probate (if there's a will) or letters of administration (if there's no will).
This legal authority allows you to:
Without probate, banks and other institutions will refuse to release assets—even to close family members.
You always need probate if:
If the deceased owned any property or land in their sole name (or as tenants in common), you'll need probate to transfer or sell it—regardless of value.
The Land Registry will not register a change of ownership without seeing the grant of probate.
If the person had money in banks or building societies and the total exceeds the institution's threshold (typically £5,000-£50,000), you'll need probate. Understanding the probate threshold for 2026 can help you determine if your estate requires probate.
Each institution sets its own limit—we'll cover specific thresholds below.
If the deceased owned shares directly (not through an ISA or joint account), you'll usually need probate to transfer or sell them.
You don't need probate if:
If the deceased only had bank accounts with small balances under each institution's threshold, you won't need probate. For example:
Assets held jointly (joint bank accounts, property owned as joint tenants) automatically pass to the surviving owner without probate.
Some assets bypass probate through nomination:
These pay out directly to the named person without needing probate.
Even if probate would normally be needed, some banks will release funds directly to a surviving spouse or civil partner if:
This is at the bank's discretion and not guaranteed.
Each bank sets its own threshold for releasing funds without probate, as noted by Which?. Here are typical limits for major UK institutions:
| Institution | Typical threshold |
|---|---|
| HSBC | £50,000 |
| Barclays | £50,000 |
| Lloyds | £50,000 |
| Nationwide | £50,000 |
| Santander | £50,000 |
| NatWest | £25,000 |
| Smaller building societies | £15,000-£25,000 |
| NS&I (Premium Bonds) | £5,000 |
Important: These thresholds are guidelines only. Banks can change them at any time and may require probate at their discretion even for smaller amounts. Always contact the specific institution to confirm their current requirements.
Property is the most common reason people need probate. Here's how it works:
If the deceased owned property in their name alone, you always need probate—even if the property is worth very little or heavily mortgaged.
How property was owned matters enormously:
Check the property deeds or Land Registry documents to see which applies. Most married couples own as joint tenants; siblings or business partners often own as tenants in common.
Leasehold flats follow the same rules as freehold property. If owned solely, you need probate. The freeholder or management company will require sight of the grant before updating their records.
Joint ownership is a simple way to avoid probate for specific assets.
Most joint accounts operate on a "right of survivorship" basis—the account automatically belongs to the surviving account holder when one person dies. Learn more about what happens to joint bank accounts when a spouse dies.
The bank will typically:
No probate needed.
Tax warning: While joint accounts avoid probate, they don't avoid inheritance tax. The deceased's share of a joint account is still part of their estate for tax purposes. HMRC usually assumes a 50/50 split unless you can prove otherwise.
Joint ISAs, Premium Bonds, and investment accounts generally follow the same principle—they pass to the survivor without probate.
Work through this checklist to determine if you need probate:
If you're still unsure, contact each bank and institution directly to ask their specific requirements.
Yes—if probate would have been required with a will, it's still required without one. The same thresholds and rules apply.
The differences are:
The application process is similar, but you'll need to provide additional documentation proving your relationship to the deceased and your right to administer the estate.
If you've determined you need probate, here's what's involved:
Contact every institution to get valuations as of the date of death. You'll need professional valuations for property. Our guide to valuing an estate for probate explains this process in detail.
Even if no tax is due, you must report the estate's value to HMRC. Most estates use the simpler IHT205 form. Larger estates need the 17-page IHT400.
You can apply:
The Probate Registry typically takes 4-8 weeks to issue the grant for straightforward cases. Complex estates or those with inheritance tax can take several months.
Once you have the grant, you can close accounts, sell property, pay debts and taxes, and distribute the estate to beneficiaries.
Reality check: The probate application itself is just one step. Valuing the estate, completing tax forms, gathering documents, and administering everything takes most executors 9-12 months on average. It's a significant administrative burden.
Should you do probate yourself or use a solicitor? Complete cost comparison: DIY £273-£800 vs Solicitor £1,500-£10,000+. Time, risk, and decision framework.
Ultimate step-by-step probate guide: 10-stage process, realistic timelines (6-18 months), complete costs (DIY vs solicitor), IHT forms, executor duties, common problems & solutions.
How to value an estate for probate: property valuation, bank accounts, investments, personal belongings, debts, IHT205 vs IHT400, excepted estates, HMRC requirements.
Probate timeline UK: how long from death to grant of probate to distributing estate. Average 3-12 months. Delays, speeding up probate, what affects timeline.
Probate needed if estate has property or over £50K. Joint accounts exempt. Check bank thresholds: HSBC £50K, smaller banks £15K.
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