Probate - What do we receive?

Garf1234

Hi,

My brother and I applied for probate with a will, earlier this year.

When we applied (direct on gov website) for "Grant of Probate" we paid the fee (£300), and also purchased 5 additional copies at the same time. We received the 5 "Grant of Probate" copies with the seal (hologram) on the paper, but we have not received anything else.

Should we have received a Grant of Probate from the fee (£300) that we paid?
Also should be have received a sealed (or annexed) copy of the will back at the same time?

If someone who has done this recently can confirm what they received that would be helpful.

I did an online chat (via webchat on the gov website), one reply was "read the website" and they closed the session so did not get any further - which was a waste of time.

[When my dad died approx 17yrs ago we got sent a Grant of Probate with a copy of the will attached?]

Thanks :-)

kipsterno1

You don't get the will back.

Newly_retired

i seem to recall I received five identical copies of the Grant of Probate, each with the seal. The will is not returned.

Gonk1967

We did probate for my father-in-law a few weeks ago, you should get the Grant of Probate letter and however many copies you asked for. They keep the will as it becomes a matter of public record.

Flugelhorn

I remember being sent a copy of the will and the grants of probate (in an unaddressed envelope ) - think i varied what people got but mist got a copy of the will -

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5826039/copies-of-probate-an-will/p1

lohr500

I applied for Probate online in December last year.

I only received the Grant of Probate and extra copies. No copy of the will was provided.

p00hsticks

To reiterate what others have said, you don't get a copy of the will, just however many grant of probate certificates you requested.

You (and anyone else) can now go onto the Probate website and buy one if you wish.

far

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81986130#Comment_81986130

It has changed over the years. In 2017, when I applied for probate for my mum's estate, we got certified copies of the will back. In 2023. when applying for dad's, I just got the grants.

Flugelhorn

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81986997#Comment_81986997

sounded like it was changing - when I did probate I got a certified copy of the will (cost about £5) from solicitor - at least I then had a copy if the probate office had lost it