Going it alone or YouCanDoProbate?

How we compare against applying on your own.

The same forms either way. The difference is knowing which ones you need and how to complete them.

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The reality

If you are thinking of going it alone these are the realities most people only discover when they start on their own

Most people who attempt probate alone do not know what they do not know until something goes wrong. These are the issues people wish someone had told them about before they started.

Which forms do you actually need to apply

PA1P or PA1A for the probate application. IHT400 and stacks of supplementary schedules when inheritance tax forms are involved. Identifying the wrong forms delays your application significantly.

How to calculate the estate correctly

Every asset, every liability, every deduction, calculated at the right date in the right way. One error throws the entire estate calculation and can result in the application being returned.

Which exemptions apply to your estate

The Transferable Nil Rate Band and Residence Nil Rate Band can eliminate or significantly reduce an inheritance tax liability. Most people applying alone miss one or both and overpay as a result.

The documentation is difficult to understand

Even when you find the right instructions, they are written for professionals, not ordinary people. Dense, ambiguous and easily misread. A small misinterpretation at this stage can affect the whole application.

How do you know if you've done it correctly?

There is no built-in check and no one reviewing your work. If something is wrong you will only find out when the application is returned weeks later. By which point you may need to start that section again from scratch.

There's limited to no help available

If you have ever tried to contact HMCTS or HMRC you will know how difficult it is to get through, let alone get a useful answer. Official support for people applying alone is extremely limited.

Everything
done for you

YouCanDoProbate solves every one of those problems.

You still provide the estate information. The platform does everything else that going it alone would leave entirely up to you.

You don't need to know what forms you need

No working out which of the dozens of probate and inheritance tax forms your estate needs. The platform identifies them all automatically from your answers.

Calculates the whole estate automatically

Total assets, total liabilities, net estate value and any inheritance tax liability. All calculated automatically at the correct dates.

Applies every available exemption for you

You don't even need to know what exemptions can be used. Transferable and Residence Nil Rate Bands and every other available exemption, identified and applied so you do not overpay.

Completes every form for you ready to submit

Every form filled from your answers, accurately and compliantly. You never face a blank government form or wonder what goes in each box.

Everything correct and compliant

The platform will not generate your forms until every section is finished. Nothing can be left blank or incomplete. Your forms are generated only when everything is in place.

Unlimited support and guidance every step

Plain-English questions with built-in guidance, video instruction and unlimited support from our experts. You always know what is being asked and why.

The easiest way
to do it yourself

Applying for probate yourself is entirely possible, but YouCanDoProbate is the best way to do it.

There is no legal requirement to use a solicitor to apply for probate. Thousands of people apply themselves every year. The challenge is not the concept. It is the execution.

Without guidance, without automatic calculations and without anyone checking your work, applying alone means carrying all the risk of getting it wrong. YouCanDoProbate removes that risk. You are still the executor. You are still the one making the application. The platform just makes sure it is done properly.

How we compare

Applying alone vs YouCanDoProbate.

Here is how the two routes compare on every measure that matters to someone applying for probate themselves.

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How we compare

YouCanDoProbate

Doing it yourself

Cost

£499 fixed

Free forms

Step-by-step guidance

None provided

Forms completed for you

No, you complete them

Right forms chosen

Often confusing

Estate calculations done

Yours to work out

Inheritance tax worked out

Complex and risky

Exemptions applied correctly

Easy to miss

TNRB and RNRB handled

Often missed entirely

Risk of errors or rejection

Significantly reduced

Higher

Support if you get stuck

Unlimited expert support

Online forums and guesswork

Save progress anytime

Not applicable

Typical Grant timeline

3 to 6 weeks from posting

Variable, higher error risk

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Still not sure about something? Call us on 0800 689 1447 · Monday to Saturday, 9am to 6pm

We are always completely transparent

Sometimes applying yourself could be the wrong choice. For some estates solicitors are exactly right.

We will say this clearly before anything else. There are situations where a solicitor’s involvement is genuinely the right call and we would always recommend one if that is the case.

When you cannot use the platform

Domiciled outside of England or Wales

A surviving spouse domiciled outside of England or Wales

Contested probate or disputed Wills

The deceased made gifts with reservation of benefit.

You need to claim Business Asset Relief

You need to claim Agricultural Relief

Heritage Assets Conditional Exemption

Assets held in trust for the deceased.

See full eligibility details

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Request a Callback

Still not sure about something? Call us on 0800 689 1447 · Monday to Saturday, 9am to 6pm

See all our reviews

This made a very difficult time and…

This made a very difficult time and task painless. I had a few queries which were answered very efficiently. The whole process from start to finish and obtaining probate was 6 weeks.

LCc

Made probate very easy

DAVID LAMSDALE

A compass for navigating a difficult journey

Probate is a tricky (and potentially expensive) area for most people to navigate. YouCanDoProbate really does make it possible for anyone who is moderately computer literate to successfully put in an application themselves. The website is arguably the best of its kind that I have ever used. I needed to have four phone consultations to reassure me on various points. The calls were prompt, unrushed, and with someone who really knew what they were talking about. Brilliant.

David Moseley

The experience and the ease plus the…

The experience and the ease plus the excellent help from Tom and his team

William Grice

Makes everything really simple

Makes everything really simple. Got probate granted in 2 weeks!

Andre

EASY TO USE AND AFFORDABLE PROBATE SITE

It is an excellent, easy to use site and refreshingly dispenses with having to use a solicitor and avoids their unnecessary high fees.

Mr Crighton

You Can Do Probate has saved me thousands

You Can Do Probate has saved me thousands of pounds. The system is incredibly easy to use. You do need to do your research so that you can answer the questions honestly and accurately, but everything you need is either included in the guidance in the system itself or readily available on the gov.uk website. The system also does a “sanity check” before you commit to paying for the license, to check that the system is suitable for your specific needs. So, you know before you commit whether the system is suitable for your specific circumstances. I submitted the forms prepared for me by You Can Do Probate and received my grant of probate 7 weeks later. Very happy.

JEH Executors

When the solicitors quoted me £9,000 I…

When the solicitors quoted me £9,000 I decided to look for help elsewhere. I’m so glad I did as this company was brilliant and was a great help when I called them when I got a bit stuck with a question. Definitely highly recommend and this saved me a great deal of money.!

Pringo

Straightforward and easy to use

Straightforward and easy to use, I’d recommend this to anyone. I’ve had to apply for probate on an estate with various investments, property and outstanding tax. I entered all information over a couple of days, prompted by they software. I think it would be hard to go wrong. I had questions answered very quickly either by phone or email. There was a slight glitch which resulted in incorrect tax form generation. I sent a query in on a service ticket and got a phone call over a weekend that resolved everything. My IHT400 and Probate were accepted and granted straight away. Providing you have all information about the estate to hand, this makes it very easy. Well worth the money. Thanks.

David Glover

Excellent service

I can’t thank my Advisor, Tom, more for all his patience and help. He has guided me every step of the way and I’m thrilled with the results of this excellent service.

Rona Lamont

Easier to complete than I initially…

Easier to complete than I initially thought.

Lynn Wasnidge

Excellent service, guaranteed peace of mind

From my first call to YouCanDoProbate I felt confident in the help I would receive throughout the process of applying for grant of probate for my mum’s estate. The HMRC forms are not complicated but having access to support and having confirmation that no tax is due and that you have declared everything correctly, is very reassuring. It is worth the money for peace of mind and cost much less than hiring a solicitor

MISS RACHEL NAYLOR

AFFORDABLE FIXED PRICE

Forms filled in for you

No expertise needed

Unlimited UK support

Save money, time and stress with YouCanDoProbate

One time payment

£499

including VAT

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Additional costs: The probate registry fee of £526 (for all estates over £5,000) and any additional official copies at £2 each. (Payable directly to HM Courts and Tribunals Service by cheque or postal order, enclosed with your application forms).