Later Life GuideSee what you can claim

Wills, power of attorney and probate

Most of this is paperwork that only has to be done once, and most of it can be done without a solicitor. What trips people up is rarely the law — it is a form filled in the wrong order, or a right that turns out not to exist. These guides cover both.

Guides in this section

Letters of administration: applying for probate when there is no will
Who can apply to administer an estate when someone dies without a will, in what order, and the two exclusions that catch families out.
Updated 4 September 2026

Guides on lasting power of attorney forms, how long probate takes, and making a will are being written now.