Stop an application for probate

Use this service to stop an application for a grant of representation for up to 6 months. This is also known as ‘entering a caveat’.

Legal representatives

If you are a legal representative with a MyHMCTS account applying on behalf of someone else use this service for legal professional's probate and caveat service (opens in a new window).

If you are a legal representative without a MyHMCTS account, register with MyHMCTS (opens in a new window) before you make an online application.

Personal applicants

You may want to stop an application when:

  • you think the person who made the will was being influenced by someone else or was not able to make their own decisions
  • you think someone interfered with the will or forged it
  • there is a more recent will
  • the will was not properly signed and witnessed
  • the person applying for probate refuses to share a copy of the will with you
  • you are in dispute with the person applying or you think they are not suitable to carry out the instructions in the will
  • you think the person applying is not eligible to apply if there is no will (see who inherits if there is no will (opens in a new window))
  • you are entitled to apply but have not been included in the application
  • the person who died got married or entered into a civil partnership after the will was signed

These are the most common reasons, but there may be others too.

You should always try to come to an agreement with the person applying for probate before you stop their application.

You may want to talk to a solicitor or contact Citizens Advice for legal advice.

Warning You may have to pay legal costs if you stop an application without a good reason.

It takes one working day for your request to stop applications in progress.

If an application is approved on the same day you make the request, it will not be stopped. But you will stop any future applications for probate made on the estate for 6 months.

You will need:

  • an address in England or Wales where legal papers can be sent to you
  • the full name of the person who died (and any other names they were known by)
  • the exact date they died

Fees

It costs £3 to stop an application for 6 months.

You’ll need to pay online by debit or credit card.