The Probate Registry: how to apply for a grant of probate in 2026
A UK guide to the Probate Registry - online vs paper application, the £273 fee, processing times, common rejection reasons, and DIY vs solicitor probate.
Insights & guides
Plain-English guides to writing your will
Articles on choosing executors, leaving a legacy, inheritance tax, blended families and the practical nuts and bolts of probate.
Can you update your will online?
Yes — most online will builders let you re-issue your will whenever life changes. Here is how online updates work, when an update is enough, and when you need a fresh will.
How long should UK executors keep estate records?
A UK guide to executor record-keeping - what records to keep, retention periods (12 years for most, 20 for IHT), the filing structure, and why it protects executors personally.
Can beneficiaries see a will before probate? UK rules
A UK guide to when beneficiaries can see a will - private before probate, public after, and the practical etiquette for executors and family in the in-between period.
Why DIY wills often fail
The recurring failure modes of UK DIY wills — bad witnessing, missing residual clauses, ambiguous gifts, no substitute beneficiaries — and how to avoid them.
Deed of variation: changing a will after death (UK 2026 guide)
A UK guide to deeds of variation - how beneficiaries can redirect inheritance after death, the 2-year deadline, the IHT and CGT read-back rules, and common uses.
10 common mistakes that can invalidate a UK will
From beneficiary witnesses to vague gifts and missed residual clauses, the avoidable errors that ruin a will - and how to spot them before signing.
What happens if a will is lost? UK probate guide
A UK guide to lost wills - the legal presumption of revocation, how a copy can sometimes be admitted to probate, the search steps after death, and how to avoid the problem.
Residence Nil Rate Band (RNRB): the £175,000 IHT allowance explained
A UK guide to the Residence Nil Rate Band - the additional £175,000 IHT allowance for family homes passing to direct descendants, the downsizing rules, and the taper for large estates.
The hidden risks of cheap will-writing services
Not all cheap UK will services are the same. The seven warning signs of a risky service, what you actually lose at the bottom of the market, and where to draw the line.
Can you disinherit a child in the UK? The 1975 Act explained
A UK guide to disinheriting children - the lack of forced heirship, the Inheritance Act 1975 risk, and the practical steps to make a disinheritance stick.
How long does probate take in the UK? Realistic timelines for 2026
A stage-by-stage view of the UK probate process - from death registration to final estate distribution - with realistic 2026 timeframes.