---
type: "Public Service Route"
title: "England and Wales probate and estate route"
description: "Official England and Wales probate guidance with HMRC valuation, tax, debt and administration boundaries."
status: "observed"
assertion_status: "official"
service_family: "administer-an-estate"
jurisdiction: "england-and-wales"
providers: ["hm-courts-and-tribunals-service", "hm-revenue-and-customs"]
observed_at: "2026-08-07"
sources:
  - id: "govuk-applying-for-probate"
    title: "Applying for probate"
    resource: "https://www.gov.uk/applying-for-probate"
    author: "organisation:hm-courts-and-tribunals-service"
    observed_at: "2026-08-07"
  - id: "govuk-value-estate"
    title: "How to value an estate for Inheritance Tax and report its value"
    resource: "https://www.gov.uk/valuing-estate-of-someone-who-died"
    author: "organisation:hm-revenue-and-customs"
    observed_at: "2026-08-07"
  - id: "govuk-probate-estate"
    title: "Dealing with the estate of someone who's died"
    resource: "https://www.gov.uk/probate-estate"
    author: "organisation:hm-revenue-and-customs"
    observed_at: "2026-08-07"
  - id: "govuk-inheritance-tax"
    title: "Inheritance Tax"
    resource: "https://www.gov.uk/inheritance-tax"
    author: "organisation:hm-revenue-and-customs"
    observed_at: "2026-08-07"
---

# England and Wales probate and estate route

HMCTS describes probate as the legal right to deal with an estate in England
and Wales and separates will and no-will applicants. HMRC guidance provides
the valuation, tax, debt and administration boundaries that can precede or
follow a grant.

[HMCTS](../organisations/hm-courts-and-tribunals-service.md) and
[HMRC](../organisations/hm-revenue-and-customs.md) retain their distinct roles.
The current organisations holding assets decide whether they require a grant;
the bundle makes no legal or tax decision.
