APPLYING FOR A GRANT OF REPRESENTATION

Before any payments can be made from the estate the personal representatives need to obtain a legal document called a Grant of Representation. (If you are employing a solicitor, they will do this.) This is a five stage process:

1.Obtaining the forms

You will need two forms:

• the Probate Application Form (PA1): see Figure 13.
• the Return of Estate Information Form (IHT 205): see Figure 15.

These are available from your local probate registry, the address of which you will find in the telephone directory or on the website www.courtservice. You could also call the Probate Helpline: 08453 020900.

2.Completing the forms

The Return of Estate Information Form (IHT205) has to be returned at the same time as the probate application form.

When completing the probate information form you should refer to the accompanying notes. If in section C there is more than one person applying for the Grant of Representation, the Grant will be sent to the first of the applicants. There is a helpline you can ring if you have any problems.

3.Returning the forms

The two forms need to be returned to the Probate Registry of the area where you wish to be interviewed. You will need to enclose:

• The original will.
• An official copy of the death certificate.
• Any other documents requested in Form PAL
• A cheque to cover the cost of the grant and any official copies you require. In 2005 the fee was £130 plus £1 per copy. If the net estate is under £5,000 the £130 fee is waved but fees for the copies are payable.

4.Attending an interview

Assuming there are no complications with your application, within two weeks you should receive an invitation to attend an interview at the Probate Office, or one of its outposts. This is a fairly short process at which you are required to swear or affirm that the information you have given is correct. You will also have an opportunity to ask questions. If there is more than one executor it is only necessary for one of them to attend.

5.Receiving the Grant of Representation

After a few weeks you will receive a Grant of Representation through the post, together with any extra copies ordered and a copy of the will. The original will is retained by the Probate Registry for official records.

Now you are in a position to contact organisations holding the deceased’s money or property which will release these assets when they have seen an official copy of the Grant.