Free Probate Check
7 in 10 families need probate after a bereavement. Our free 1-minute check tells you where you stand.
Ready to speak to someone? A free, no-obligation call can help you understand the next steps.
If anything has changed, a quick call with a specialist can confirm.
A quick call with a specialist can help you figure out what applies.
Most families don't realise until weeks after the funeral. A 1-minute check now can save you weeks of worry.
Free. Takes 1 minute. No sign-up needed.
Question of 3
Did the person who died own a property?
Were there savings, investments, or other assets?
Was there a will?
This can feel overwhelming, but you don't have to figure it out alone. A probate specialist can walk you through the next steps — no obligation, no pressure.
That's one less thing to worry about. If anything changes or you'd like a quick confirmation, a specialist can put your mind at rest.
Many families don't have all the information straight away — that's completely normal. A quick chat with a specialist can help you understand what applies to your situation.
What the probate process looks like
Apply for Grant of Probate
Collect assets & close accounts
Pay debts & tax
Distribute the estate
A specialist handles all of this for you.
Trusted by thousands of families across the UK
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Free, no-obligation advice from Sail Probate
What happens next
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If you need help later, call Sail Probate free:
Lines open now Lines open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · 0808 196 0258
Takes 1 minute
Three simple yes/no questions — no paperwork needed
Completely free
No account needed, no credit card, no catch
Expert support available
If needed, a specialist from Sail Probate can call you free of charge
Probate is the legal process of dealing with someone's money, property, and belongings after they've died. It involves applying for a Grant of Probate — the legal document that gives authority to handle the estate.
Not every estate needs probate. It depends on what the person owned and how those assets were held. Our free check helps you understand which side of that line you're likely to be on.
Answers to the questions families ask us most.
No. Probate is not always required. If the person's estate was small, if assets were held jointly, or if there was no property in their sole name, probate may not be needed. Banks and organisations set their own thresholds — typically between £5,000 and £50,000 — below which they may release funds without probate. Our free check gives you an indication of where you're likely to stand.
The probate process typically takes between 6 and 12 months for a straightforward estate, though complex estates with multiple properties, overseas assets, or tax issues can take longer. Applying for the Grant of Probate itself usually takes 4–8 weeks once the application is submitted to the Probate Registry. A specialist can help speed things up by ensuring applications are complete first time.
The court fee for applying for a Grant of Probate is £273 for estates worth more than £5,000 (as of 2026). If you use a solicitor or probate specialist, their fees typically range from 1–3% of the estate's value, or a fixed fee depending on the complexity. Some estates can be administered without professional help, but for larger or more complex estates most families choose to use a specialist.
Yes, it is possible to handle probate yourself. Many people do so successfully for straightforward estates with no property, no inheritance tax to pay, and no disputes between beneficiaries. However, mistakes can be costly and lead to personal liability. Most families with property or larger estates find that the time and stress saved by using a specialist is well worth the cost. A free consultation can help you decide which route makes sense for your situation.
If probate is required but not applied for, the estate cannot be formally administered. Banks and financial institutions will refuse to release funds, property cannot be sold or transferred, and beneficiaries may not receive their inheritance. There is no strict time limit for applying, but delays can complicate matters — particularly if property needs to be sold or tax needs to be paid. It's better to find out early so nothing important gets missed.
Free, takes 1 minute, no sign-up needed.
While you're here...
Contacting the funeral director is step one. But there are 4 other things you'll need to deal with — and most people don't know about them until it's too late.
We'll send you a simple checklist so nothing gets missed.
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