What is a grant of representation?

A grant of representation is an A4 document with an official stamp in the lower right-hand corner. It shows the deceased’s name, address and date of death, the total value of his or her estate and the names and addresses of the personal representatives.

The grant is proof that the personal representatives have authority to deal with the estate. Typically, it is required before the personal representatives can collect funds, sell property and so on.

Three types of grant

There are three common types of grant of representation:

1. Grant of probate, if the applicants are executors appointed in the deceased's will;
2. Grant of letters of administration, if there is no will, or a will but no executors are willing or able to act (this is the applicable grant if the deceased died "intestate", without a valid will); and
3. Grant of letters of administration with will annexed, if there is a will but none of the executors is willing or able to act.

Together, all three grants are known as grants of representation. They serve the same purpose: to prove the personal representatives have authority to deal with the estate.

Why is a grant of representation required?

The grant is usually a vital part of the probate process. Without it, the personal representatives may not have authority to collect funds from banks, sell property and perform other crucial tasks.

A bank or building society will often not release funds without an official stamped copy of the grant. The Land Registry inevitably requires a grant to authorise sale or transfer of land (unless the land is held as joint tenants, see our guide "Do joint tenants need a grant of representation?").

Is a grant always required?

If an estate is worth less than £5,000, a grant will normally not be required. Sometimes, a grant will not be required for estates larger than £5,000, for example if there is no house, no shares and no more than £5,000 in any one bank account.

A grant of representation will not be required if all houses, bank accounts and other assets were jointly owned as "joint tenants". See our guide "Do joint tenants need a grant of representation?".

In any event, if just one institution (such as a bank or the Land Registry) asks to see a grant, then a grant must be obtained.

See our guide "Is a grant of representation required?".

How do I get a grant of representation?

See our guide "How do I apply for a grant of representation?"

Can anything be done before obtaining the grant?

Even if a grant is required, the personal representatives can conduct parts of the probate process before the grant is obtained.

The personal representatives can contact banks, building societies and so on in order to request details and compile a valuation of the estate. The house can be placed on the market, but not sold.

It may also be possible to clear the house and sell or transfer the car. See our guides "How to sell, transfer, MOT and insure a car" and "Can a houes be cleared without a grant of representation?".