In a postal probate application, which form is typically required to start the process?

• A. PA1P form
• B. IHT421 form
• C. Will
• D. Affidavit

Answer: (A)

The starting point for a postal probate application is the PA1P form. This official application to the Probate Registry gathers all the essentials to begin the grant of probate (or letters of administration if there’s no will): who died, when and where, whether there is a will, who the executors are, and details of the estate’s assets and liabilities. It sets out whether inheritance tax is due and what information the court needs to issue the grant. You typically accompany it with the death certificate, the will, and any supporting statements, then send everything to the Probate Registry. The other items have different roles: IHT421 is for reporting inheritance tax to HMRC, the will is the document naming executors and directions but isn’t a starting form, and an affidavit may be used to support specific statements but isn’t the initiation form itself.