If you've lost someone, there's a lot to take in.

You should not have to piece probate together while everything else is already heavy. Settling turns the process in England and Wales into a calm, ordered checklist for managing an estate. Answer a few questions and we will show you what to do next, with the official forms and guidance linked at each step.

Question 1 of 4

Is there a valid will?

This decides which route the checklist follows. If there is a will, you usually apply for probate. If there is not, the process becomes letters of administration instead.

Free. No card, no pressure. Come back whenever you need to.

Wherever you're starting from

  • There is no will

    If you're not sure who applies, or how the estate is shared out, we'll steer the checklist toward the intestacy process and the official guidance that explains it.

  • You're not the only executor

    When two or three of you are named, it's easy for everyone to assume someone else has it in hand. Settling adds the conversations and paperwork that keep you aligned.

  • You don't know where to start

    Registration, banks, probate, tax, beneficiaries: it can all arrive at once. We put it into the order you would actually deal with it.

  • You want to keep a record

    When people ask where things stand, you have somewhere to look. Settling keeps the answers, dates, figures and ticked-off steps together.

How we turn the muddle into a list

What you'd see

  • Register the death GOV.UK
  • Get the death certificate copies you need GOV.UK
  • Value the estate HMRC
  • Apply for the grant of probate GOV.UK
  • Report and pay any Inheritance Tax due HMRC

How it helps

  • Only the steps you need

    Four questions shape the list, so you are not left reading around things that do not apply while trying to work out what matters.

  • The source is always close

    Every step links straight to the GOV.UK, HMRC or Gazette page you need, so you can check the official wording before you act.

  • A place to put it all down

    Ticked steps, dates and estate figures stay in one place, ready for beneficiaries, co-executors or a solicitor who joins later.

Clear help, with honest limits

  • Free. No card, no trial, no upgrade prompt — for as long as probate takes.
  • England & Wales only. Scotland and Northern Ireland have different processes and aren't covered.
  • Sourced, not invented. We organise the official guidance; we do not ask you to trust a private summary.
  • Not a filing service. Settling doesn't file or submit anything for you — you do that yourself, using the links it gives you.
  • Not legal advice. For estates that are large, contested or unusual, take advice from a solicitor. See About Settling for the full picture.

Common questions

  • Does it cost anything?

    No. Settling is free to use and never asks for card details.

  • Is this legal advice?

    No. It's a checklist built from public guidance, not a solicitor's judgement on your case.

  • What happens to my data?

    Stored securely, used only to run your checklist, never sold.

Read the full FAQ →