Caveats and Probate

Contact the team today on freephone 0800 0931336, or email willdisputes@ashfords.co.uk.

Advising on how to prevent the grant of probate and the administration of the deceased’s estate by lodging a caveat.

If you have concerns about a will or want to make a claim, a caveat can be a first step to stopping the Executor from administering the estate.

The caveat is entered by lodging the prescribed application (PA8A) form at the Probate Registry and you can do this by post or by submitting the online application form and paying the fee. Once lodged at the Probate Registry the caveat prevents the issue of a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration - a caveat remains in place for six months, but it can be renewed on expiry.

Once a caveat is in place, the Executor will not be able to administer the estate until it has been removed. The Executor can take steps to try and have the caveat removed by lodging a "Warning" at the Probate Registry. The Warning is then served on the person who entered the caveat, who then has 14 days to "enter an Appearance" at the Probate Registry should they wish to keep the caveat in place. It will then remain in place until the issues are resolved and the caveat is removed by consent or by Court Order.

If you wish to lodge a caveat it is essential that you do so as soon as possible to avoid a grant of representation being obtained. We recommend that you seek legal advice as soon as you are able to, to try to resolve any issues by consent and avoid court proceedings if possible.

Get in touch

Whether you need to dispute a will or defend your inheritance, our expert team will work with you to achieve the best result. Contact us on freephone 0800 0931336 or by email at willdisputes@ashfords.co.uk for a no obligation chat to see how we can help.

You can also click below to complete our caveat instruction form with details on the caveat you wish to enter.

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