Probate - Do I need to send a death certificate with the original will ?

Ziggy_2020

I have completed the probate application online and now need to send off the original will. I have 2 questions that I hope someone knows the answer to.

1) I uploaded a scanned copy of the death certificate and assumed I would need to send the original copy with the will but on completing the online process it only mentioned sending in the will. Should I send the death certificate as well ?

2) The online process just mentions sending the original will but several websites suggest we need to also send 3 copies of the will ? Is that correct ?

Thanks in advance to anyone who can answer my questions.

xylophone

Relative went through the process six months ago (not on line) and had to submit will and three copies and a death certificate. I note that the mse guide says

NOTE. If you are completing the process online, the only thing left to submit to the probate registry at this stage is the original will and three copies of it. The application fee, death certificate and inheritance tax form will have already been paid and submitted while filling in the initial probate application form online.

PeterE17

I applied for probate online 3 or 4 months ago and sent only the original will; I confirmed this with the probate helpline. The MSE advice is incorrect. I did not need to send the death certificate either, the scanned copy was sufficient. 

Ziggy_2020

PeterE17 said:

I applied for probate online 3 or 4 months ago and sent only the original will; I confirmed this with the probate helpline. The MSE advice is incorrect. I did not need to send the death certificate either, the scanned copy was sufficient. 

Thank you. I will do the same in that case.

PeterE17

Ziggy_2020 said:
Thank you. I will do the same in that case.

Keep a copy of the will for yourself though, HMCTS will only send you the Grants of Probate (but I think you can buy extra copies of the Grant and Will from an online Government service www.gov.uk/search-will-probate). 
The link is plain text because I'm not allowed to post URLs yet. 

Ziggy_2020

I sent off the will without the death certificate and today (a week later)I have received an email asking for the certificate to be sent  

They said that the scanned copy wasn't clear enough or not in colour, which is ridiculous as I checked and it was very clear and in colour. 

So if anyone else reads this then you are best to send the certificate, as we have now lost a week. 

PeterE17

Ziggy_2020 said:

I sent off the will without the death certificate and today (a week later)I have received an email asking for the certificate to be sent. 

I'm sorry to hear this Ziggy_2020, I had no trouble sending a scanned certificate. Unfortunately there is no guarantee that what you send using the online process is what HMCTS will receive; a simple glitch anywhere along the line could lead to loss of clarity or colour. It's not like an envelope where what goes in is what comes out.