Letters of administration
Last checked September 2026 by Naomi Jackson
Short answer
Letters of administration are the grant that gives you legal authority to deal with someone's estate when there is no valid will, or when the named executors cannot act. The closest relative applies, under a fixed order of priority set by law. The fee in England and Wales is £526 for estates over £5,000.
- Used when
- There is no valid will, or no executor who can act
- Who applies
- The closest relative, in a legal order of priority
- Fee, England and Wales
- £526 for estates over £5,000, free below
- Scotland
- Called confirmation, applied for through the sheriff court
- Typical wait
- Weeks from the probate registry, once the application is complete
Same job as probate, different name, because there is no will naming anyone to do it.
What is the difference between probate and letters of administration?
Both are grants of representation: a court document proving who has authority to deal with the estate. A grant of probate is issued to an executor named in a will. Letters of administration are issued when there is no will, or when the will names no one who is able and willing to act. Banks, the Land Registry and share registrars treat the two the same once issued.
If there is a valid will but the executors have died or renounced, you apply for letters of administration with will annexed, which follows the will's instructions on who inherits.
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Get my checklistWho can apply for letters of administration?
The law sets an order of priority. The first person in the list who is able and willing to act may apply.
- The husband, wife or civil partner (an unmarried partner is not on the list)
- Children of the deceased, including adopted children, once they are 18
- Parents
- Brothers and sisters
- Grandparents
- Uncles and aunts
- More distant relatives, and finally the Crown if there is nobody
Do you always need them?
No. Many estates with no will never need a grant at all, because each bank has its own threshold, often between £5,000 and £50,000, below which it will release the balance on sight of a death certificate and an indemnity form. You normally need letters of administration where there is a property in the sole name of the deceased, or a balance above a bank's threshold, or shares and investments to transfer.
How to apply
Value the estate first, then report to HMRC if inheritance tax is due, then apply. In England and Wales it is one application either online or on form PA1A, with the death certificate and the fee.
- List everything owned and owed, and value it at the date of death
- Work out whether inheritance tax is due, and settle or arrange to pay it before applying
- Apply online or on form PA1A, paying the £526 fee for estates over £5,000
- Order extra official copies of the grant, £2 each with the application and £16 each afterwards
- Swear or sign the statement of truth as the administrator
- Use the grant to collect in the estate, pay debts, then distribute under the intestacy rules
Who inherits when there is no will?
Not the administrator's choice. The intestacy rules fix it: the spouse or civil partner takes the first share, then children, then parents, then siblings, and so on down the same order. Unmarried partners and stepchildren inherit nothing under the rules, however long the relationship. The administrator is legally responsible for distributing it correctly, which is the main reason people take advice on an intestate estate.
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Frequently asked questions
What are letters of administration?
A grant from the probate registry giving someone legal authority to deal with an estate where there is no valid will, or where no executor can act. They do the same job as a grant of probate.
Who can apply for letters of administration?
The closest surviving relative, in the order set by law: spouse or civil partner, then children, parents, siblings, grandparents and more distant relatives. An unmarried partner cannot apply.
How much do letters of administration cost?
£526 in England and Wales for estates over £5,000, with nothing to pay at or below £5,000. Extra official copies are £2 each with the application and £16 each afterwards.
How long do letters of administration take?
Weeks from the probate registry once a complete application is submitted, but the valuation and any inheritance tax beforehand are usually the longer part. Allow several months overall.
Can two people apply together?
Yes, and up to four administrators can be appointed. Where a beneficiary is under 18 or a life interest is involved, at least two administrators are usually required.
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Check if you need a grantMore guides in this series
Executor vs family: who can do what
Next of kin has almost no legal power over an estate. What an executor, an administrator, the next of kin and a beneficiary can each actually do.
Probate without a will: letters of administration
Who can apply when there's no will, how letters of administration work, and who inherits under the intestacy rules in each UK nation.
What happens if there's no will (intestacy) in the UK
If someone dies without a will in the UK, the intestacy rules decide who inherits. Here's the order, and where it differs in Scotland.
What is estate administration?
Estate administration explained: what it involves, how it differs from probate, who does it, how long it takes and what you can hand over.
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