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Probate business in Northern Ireland is assigned to the Chancery Office within the Chancery Division of the High Court of Justice. About 6,000 probate applications each year are processed through two registry locations –
the Principal Registry in Belfast - which can deal with probate of the estate of any deceased person; and
the District Registry in Londonderry - which can deal with probate of the estates of deceased people who lived in County Fermanagh, Londonderry or Tyrone.
This page provides links to some of the key information sources needed during the preparation of documents for probate business.
IntroductionThe Probate process - an overview by HM Revenue & Customs
Inheritance Tax - by HM Revenue & Customs
Probate Business CategoriesApplications for Grant
Applications to Master
Caveats, Warnings, Appearances, Citations
Contentious Probate (Writs)
Important ChangesIHT205 Return of Estate Information - required for an excepted estate when death is on or after 6 April 2004
Civil Partnership Act 2004 - in respect of deaths on or after 5 December 2005
IHT205(2006) Return of Estate Information - new version of form to be used for deaths on or after 1 September 2006
Probate fees changed - with effect from 24 September 2007
IHT400 Inheritance Tax account replaces IHT200 - from 17 November 2008
Probate business transferred – change of probate document headings - with effect from 16 January 2009
Non-Contentious Probate Rules - Order 97Refer to Order 97 in "Rules of the Supreme Court (Northern Ireland) 1980"
Rule 18 - Order of priority for a grant where the deceased left a will
Rule 20 - Order of priority for a grant in a case of intestacy
Oath for Administrator Intestate - examples of entitlement wording
Contentious Probate Rules - Order 76Refer to Order 76 in "Rules of the Supreme Court (Northern Ireland) 1980"
Practice Directions and Practice Guidance NotesPoints in Practice (Practice Note 4/2007)
Preparation of Affidavits and Exhibits (Practice Direction 5/2005)
Engrossments of Wills and Codicils (Practice Note 4/2006)
Oaths for Grants and Inheritance Tax Accounts (Practice Note 3/2006)
Unique Solicitor's Reference (Practice Direction 9/2006)
Civil Partnership Act 2004 (Practice Note 1/2007)
Transfer of Probate Business to Chancery Division (Practice Direction 1/2009)
Applications for Grants: Lodgment of Copy Wills (Practice Direction 4/2009)
Probate Textbooks“Probate Practice Notes” by Margaret Aiken - published 1981(out of print)
“Succession Law in Northern Ireland” by Sheena Grattan - published 1996
“Tristram & Coote’s Probate Practice” by J Winegarten, R D’Costa & T Synak - 30th edition published 2008
Probate FeesNon-Contentious Probate Fees Order 2007
One-page reference sheet for probate fees
Supreme Court Fees Amendment Order 2007
All fees should be made payable to "Northern Ireland Court Service"
Personal Applications"Dealing with a deceased person's estate" - an information booklet for personal applicants
Tax form information
Appointment Request Form
Executor's Rights Reservation Form
HM Revenue and Customs IHT FormsTax form IHT205 for an excepted estate
Tax form IHT205(2006) for an excepted estate - with on-screen preparation facility
Tax form IHT400 - Inheritance Tax account - (additional Schedules in the IHT400 series may be needed)
Tax form IHT421 - Probate Summary
List of IHT400 Series forms, worksheets, schedules and notes
Probate and IHT Helpline - 0845 30 20 900
Probate and IHT Webpage - www.hmrc.gov.uk/inheritancetax/
HMRC IHT Postal Address - HMRC IHT, Ferrers House, PO Box 38, Castle Meadow Road, Nottingham NG2 1BB
HMRC IHT DX Address - DX 701201 Nottingham 4
Probate SearchesProbate search options
ICOS On-line Searching Modules
Other search resources at PRONI
Useful FormsCaveat Form 4
Warning to Caveator Form 5
Appearance to Warning Form 6
Document Requisition Form
Probate Search Form
Probate in other JurisdictionsEngland and Wales - HM Courts Service
Probate Registries in England and Wales
Scotland (Confirmation) – Scottish Courts
Republic of Ireland – Courts Service
Court of Judicature Daily Law Listis updated on weekdays around 4 pm and gives the details of the listings in the Royal Courts of Justice for the next day. This link will take you to the Court of Judicature Listings page.
Probate Registry LocationsBelfast (Principal Registry) Probate Office, 2nd Floor, Royal Courts of Justice, Chichester Street, Belfast
For further information & map of the Royal Courts of Justice please use this link
Londonderry (District Registry)
The Courthouse, Bishop Street, Londonderry
For further information & map of Londonderry Courthouse please use this link
How to Contact the Probate OfficeTel: Belfast - 028 9072 4678 Londonderry - 028 7126 1832
Fax: Belfast - 028 9023 5186
Email: probate@courtsni.gov.uk
DX: Probate Office, DX 456 NR, Belfast
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