What is the difference between probate and letters of administration?

Probate applies when there is a will and names an executor. Letters of administration are granted when someone dies without a will.

Who inherits if there is no will in the UK?

Under UK intestacy rules, the estate passes first to a spouse or civil partner, then to children, then to other relatives in a set order.

How long do letters of administration take?

Letters of administration typically take 3 to 6 months, similar to a grant of probate.

Letters of Administration UK

When someone dies without leaving a will – known as dying intestate – you need letters of administration rather than probate. This guide explains what they are, who can apply, and how the process works.

What are letters of administration

Letters of administration is a legal document granted by the Probate Registry that gives you authority to deal with a deceased person's estate when there is no will. The person granted letters of administration is called the administrator (rather than executor).

Who can apply

The right to apply follows a strict order of priority under intestacy rules:

1. Spouse or civil partner
2. Children (or grandchildren if children have died)
3. Parents
4. Siblings
5. Half-siblings
6. Grandparents
7. Aunts and uncles

The intestacy rules

Without a will, the estate is distributed according to intestacy rules. If the deceased was married or in a civil partnership, the spouse typically inherits everything up to £322,000 plus half of the remainder (the other half goes to children). Unmarried partners have no automatic right to inherit.

How to apply

The application process is similar to probate. Apply online through the HMCTS probate service or by post using form PA1A. The fee is £273 for estates over £5,000.

How SafeKept helps

SafeKept works the same way whether you have probate or letters of administration. Upload your grant, notify institutions, and track responses all from one dashboard.