Receiving the Grant of Probate (or Letters of Administration) is an important milestone in administering a deceased person’s estate. However, it marks the start of a new phase of work, not the end of the process. As the executor or administrator, you now have the legal authority to deal with the estate, and with that authority comes real responsibility.
This guide explains what to do once probate has been granted, covering each practical step in order. It also applies to administrators who have received Letters of Administration after someone died without a will (dying intestate, which means without a valid will).
Understanding your role as executor or administrator
The role of an executor carries significant legal duties. By law, executors and administrators must act in the best interests of the estate and its beneficiaries. These are known as fiduciary duties, a legal obligation to act with loyalty, care and honesty on behalf of others.
In practice, this means keeping accurate records, maintaining full transparency, paying taxes correctly, and complying with all legal requirements. Failing to do so can result in personal liability. If you are unsure about any aspect of the administration, seek professional advice promptly.
A brief recap: the probate application
Before looking at next steps, it helps to understand what the probate application involved. Executors named in a will apply for a grant of probate. Where there is no will, an administrator applies for letters of administration instead.
Both applications required you to:
- identify and value the deceased’s assets
- complete the relevant inheritance tax (IHT) forms for HMRC
- submit the application to the Probate Registry
As of 13 July 2026, the HMCTS probate application fee in England and Wales is a flat £526. There is no fee where the estate is £5,000 or less, and that threshold is tested against the net value of the estate rather than the gross, so substantial debts can bring an estate under it. Copies of the grant cost £2 each when ordered with the application, or £16 each afterwards.
Once probate has been granted: the key steps
Once the court-issued document is in your hands, the following steps apply to most estates. Every estate is different, but this sequence gives a clear framework.
Notify beneficiaries
Inform the beneficiaries that probate has been granted. Being open at this stage helps prevent misunderstanding and sets a clear expectation of what happens next. Beneficiaries wondering how long it takes to receive inheritance money will usually be waiting on the later distribution stage.
Advertise for creditors
If you are unsure of all the debts the deceased owed, consider placing a statutory advertisement in The Gazette, the UK’s official public record. Personal representatives in England and Wales who place a notice are protected against personal liability to creditors they had no notice of, under section 27 of the Trustee Act 1925. The statutory minimum is two months; notices are commonly set at two months and one day, which is a publishing convention rather than a requirement of the Act.
Without such notices, the executor remains personally liable to any creditor whose claim is missed. Where the estate includes land, section 27 also requires a notice in a newspaper circulating in the district where that land is situated. It is the location of the property that decides which paper, not where the deceased lived. The fees are a legitimate estate expense and come out of the estate before distribution, not out of the executor’s own pocket.
Open an estate bank account
It is good practice to open a separate bank account in the name of the estate. This keeps estate money separate from your personal finances, simplifies record-keeping, and makes it straightforward to track all incoming assets and outgoing payments.
Gather in and realise the assets
With the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration to hand, you can approach banks, financial institutions, share registrars and other organisations to collect in the estate’s assets. Each institution sets its own threshold for releasing funds without a grant. Those limits are not published centrally, they differ widely between providers and they change, so ask each one directly. The only statutory figure is £5,000, under the Administration of Estates (Small Payments) Act 1965, and it applies to specified funds rather than ordinary bank accounts. Where a grant is needed, or where property is involved, you will need to produce the sealed grant along with proof of identity.
Depending on the composition of the estate, gathering in assets may involve:
- Closing bank accounts
- Claiming life policies and pension benefits that form part of the estate. Note that policies written in trust, and most discretionary pension death benefits, pass outside the estate directly to the nominated beneficiary and are not yours to collect
- Selling or transferring property
- Instructing share registrars to transfer or sell shareholdings
- Realising other investments
Settle debts and expenses
Before distributing anything to beneficiaries, you must pay all outstanding debts. These include funeral expenses, utility bills, loans, and any taxes deferred pending the grant.
Order matters here, and paying whoever asks first is a trap. There is a statutory order governing which assets are used and which creditors are paid first, and it tightens considerably if the estate turns out to be insolvent. An executor who pays the wrong person first becomes personally liable for the shortfall, so if there is any doubt that the estate can meet its debts in full, take advice before paying anyone.
Two waiting periods before you distribute
The Gazette notice is not the only clock running, and stopping at two months is where executors get caught out.
The Inheritance Act six months. Certain people can bring a claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 if the will or the intestacy rules fail to make reasonable financial provision for them. Section 20 of that Act protects a personal representative who distributes once six months have passed from the date representation was first taken out, meaning the date of the grant, not the date of death. Distribute after the two-month Gazette period and you remain personally exposed to such a claim for another four months.
The executor’s year. Under section 44 of the Administration of Estates Act 1925 you cannot be compelled to distribute before a year has passed from the date of death. That is a protection for you, not a deadline, and it gives you room to get the position right.
Cautious executors therefore wait out the six months from the grant, and longer where a claim looks likely.
Distribute to beneficiaries
Once all debts and taxes are settled, you can distribute the estate to the beneficiaries as set out in the will. This typically means making specific gifts first: cash, personal belongings, properties or business assets, before paying the residue (whatever is left) to the residuary beneficiaries. Sometimes beneficiaries cannot be located, and tracing agents need to be instructed to find them.
Consider applying for inheritance tax clearance
Where inheritance tax was payable, executors who want certainty before distributing can apply for a clearance certificate on form IHT30. It confirms HMRC has no further claim on the figures reported, which closes off one of the larger sources of personal exposure.
Keep full records and prepare estate accounts
Throughout the administration, keep detailed records of every transaction: assets received, payments made, and distributions to beneficiaries. Accurate estate accounts allow beneficiaries to review the administration, demonstrate transparency, and help avoid disputes later.
When professional support is essential
Many estates are straightforward. Others involve complications that make professional help not just helpful but necessary. The following situations are ones where specialist advice from an experienced probate professional is strongly recommended.
Trusts created by the will. Where a will creates a trust, the executor often also becomes a trustee. As trustee, your role is to collect assets, pay debts and taxes, and distribute what remains to beneficiaries under the will, while also managing the trust according to its terms. Trusts can run for many years and involve complex financial decisions. For more on this, see our guide to probate and the will trust.
International assets. If the estate includes assets in more than one country, you face multiple sets of inheritance and tax laws. Legal experts with cross-border experience are important in these situations. They help avoid missed deadlines and unnecessary costs.
Complex financial portfolios. Estates that include business assets, commercial property or sophisticated investment portfolios benefit from specialist knowledge to administer correctly and efficiently.
Disputes among beneficiaries. Executors must treat all beneficiaries fairly. Where conflicts arise, whether between existing beneficiaries or from those who feel excluded from the will and wish to bring a claim, probate professionals experienced in contentious matters can help resolve the position while protecting the estate.
Summary: what happens after probate is granted
Obtaining the Grant of Probate is essential, but it is the starting point for the administration work, not the finish line. The responsibilities on executors and administrators are real, and the consequences of errors can be serious.
For complex estates involving trusts, overseas assets or potential disputes, engaging professional support is not simply prudent: it is often essential. It protects you personally, protects the estate, and protects the beneficiaries.
It is also worth understanding how much probate solicitors charge so you can plan the administration budget realistically. You can compare quotes from three probate solicitors to find the right support.
Frequently asked questions
How long does estate administration take after probate is granted?
There is no fixed timescale. After the grant is received, collecting assets and distributing the estate typically takes between three and nine months, though straightforward estates with cooperative beneficiaries can complete more quickly. Complex estates involving property sales, IHT complications, or disputes can take considerably longer.
Do I have to advertise for creditors in The Gazette?
It is not a legal obligation, but it is strongly advisable. Section 27 of the Trustee Act 1925 gives executors a formal shield against personal liability for unknown creditors. By placing statutory notices and waiting the statutory period, executors are protected against claims from creditors they had no notice of. Two limits matter: the test is notice, not discoverability, and section 27 expressly does not remove the duty to make the searches a prospective buyer would be advised to make. It also gives no protection against an Inheritance Act claim, and none against tax on income arising after the death.
What is the current probate application fee in England and Wales?
HMCTS increased it from £300 to £526 on 13 July 2026, a 75% rise. There is no fee where the net value of the estate is £5,000 or less. Copies of the grant cost £2 each if ordered at the same time as your application, or £16 each afterwards. Note that the £5,000 threshold applies to the net value, after debts, not the gross.
What happens if the deceased died without a will?
Where someone dies without a valid will (intestate), there is no named executor. In that case, the court grants Letters of Administration rather than a Grant of Probate. The administrator must be identified and agree to act. Administration bonds were abolished in 1971, so despite what older guidance says, a guarantee is now required only in limited circumstances where the court directs it. The estate is then distributed according to the intestacy rules under the Administration of Estates Act 1925. The statutory legacy is £322,000, which is the amount a surviving spouse or civil partner takes off the top before any sharing with children. It only comes into play where the deceased left children or other direct descendants; where there are none, the spouse or civil partner takes the whole estate.
This article is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal, tax or financial advice. Rules and thresholds can change and every estate is different. For advice on your own circumstances, speak to a qualified professional. You can book a free legal consultation through The Probate Network.
