# England and Wales probate and estate route

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    ---
    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.