Entering a probate caveat
Last reviewed 18 August 2026
The caveat is the cheapest and quickest step in any inheritance dispute — a modest notice that holds the whole estate still while the truth is looked into.
How to enter one
Anyone over 18 with an interest in the estate can enter a caveat, online or by post on form PA8A, for a fee of £3. Once recorded, it prevents any grant of probate or letters of administration being issued. It lasts six months and can be renewed for further six-month periods (form PA8B) for £3 each time, with no limit on renewals.
A note on the fee: it has stood at £3 for some years, but was among the court fees reviewed in the July 2026 changes; one source records a rise to £4. Confirm the current figure with the Probate Registry before relying on it.
When not to use one
A caveat is the wrong tool for an Inheritance Act 1975 claim — there you should use a standing search instead. And it is not a step to take lightly: enter one without proper cause and you can be ordered to pay costs when the executors “warn it off”.
Questions
How much does a caveat cost?+
How long does a caveat last?+
Sources. GOV.UK, Applying for probate (caveats); forms PA8A/PA8B. Caveat fee £3 confirmed across multiple 2026 sources; a rise to £4 from 13 July 2026 cited by one source — verify current figure.