Form

Give up probate administrator rights: Form PA16

If you’re a spouse or civil partner you can use this form to give up your rights as an administrator if there is no will.

Applies to England and Wales

Documents

Give up your right as an administrator: PA16

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email hmctsforms@justice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Ildio eich hawl fel gweinyddwr: PA16

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email hmctsforms@justice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

If the person who died did not leave a will, the ‘administrator’ deals with the estate. If you’re a spouse or civil partner use this form to give up your rights as an administrator. This means that a child of the person who died who is over 18 can be the administrator instead.

If you’re a spouse or civil partner giving up your right as an administrator

This does not give up your claim to the estate if you’re a named beneficiary.

  1. Download form PA16.
  2. Fill in all sections.
  3. Hand sign and date the application.
  4. Get your witness to hand sign and date the application.
  5. Send it with your probate application to:

HMCTS Probate
PO Box 12625
Harlow
CM20 9QE

Contact us

If you need help with completing this form, you can contact us.

Probate helpline
Telephone: 0300 303 0648
Monday to Friday, 9am to 1pm
Closed on weekends and bank holidays

Find out about call charges

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If the form still does not open, contact hmctsforms@justice.gov.uk.

If you need a printed version contact your local court.

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Updates to this page

Published 19 July 2018
Last updated 14 February 2024 + show all updates
  1. Updated the probate helpline opening times.

  2. Updated phone line opening times

  3. Updated phone line opening times

  4. Updated April's bank holiday week opening times

  5. Updated opening times for the CTSC helpline

  6. Edited the contact us section - The Probate helpline is closed on Saturdays.

  7. Replaced form and added Welsh version of form.

  8. Helpline information updated.

  9. First published.

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