Where can I find information on Probate?
A 'Grant of Probate' is the process of officially 'proving' the validity of a will. The Grant is proof that the person or persons named in the will are entitled to collect and distribute monies or other assets owned by the deceased and may be produced to those organisations holding such assets ie. banks and building societies. 'Letters of Administration' is granted where the deceased died without leaving a will.
A Grant of Probate is not needed in all cases. For example:
- where a home is held in joint names and is passing by survivorship to the other joint owner, it may not be necessary to obtain a grant
- where a joint bank or building society account is held, production of a death certificate may be sufficient for the monies to be transferred to the joint holder
- certain institutions may release monies without a grant being produced if the amount held by the deceased was small.
In all circumstances, contact the relevant financial institution for clarification. For a more detailed explanation of what Probate is, click here on the
Directgov website.
Applying for a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration In most cases, your solicitor will apply for you, but if you would rather act without a solicitor, you can obtain application forms and more detailed information by clicking on the
HM Court Service website.
The local Probate Office is located at:
Lancaster Probate Sub-Registry
Room 111
Mitre House
Church Street
LANCASTER
LA1 1HE
Tel: 01524 36625
Fax: 01524 35561
DX 145883 Lancaster 2
Click here for more information, including directions for the
Lancaster Probate Sub-Registry.
Probate and Inheritance TaxYou can also contact the Probate and Inheritance Tax Helpline on 0845 302 0900. The line is open Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm. Calls are charged at local rates. This advice can also be found on the HM Revenue and Customs website for
Probate and Inheritance Tax enquiries.