Professional probate applications to be mandated to an online process

The government recently published the result of its consultation to mandate online probate applications.

• Non-contentious probate: mandating online professional applications

The government has decided to:

• mandate the use of the online service for grant of probate applications by professional users, with a number of exceptions for more specialised applications
• continue to allow professional user applications for grants of letters of administration to be made via either the online process or the traditional method of applying via paper.

The new rules come into force on 2 November 2020. There will be a grace period until 11 January 2021 when paper applications will still be accepted.

All probate firms, if they haven't already done so, will need to register for HMCTS online services.