Lee Dawkins, a solicitor who specialises in contesting wills, deals with a commonly asked question, ‘What is a standing search at the Probate Registry?’
If you are considering or intending to make a probate claim against an estate but have not yet been able to see the will then you may wish to consider entering a standing search. This is a formal request to receive a copy of the Grant of Representation (commonly known as a Grant of Probate) along with the will when the Grant is issued by the Probate Registry. This is possible because a will becomes a public document once probate has been issued.
The application for a standing search must be made to the Probate Registry by completing a PA1S form. The information required will include the name of the deceased, their last permanent address, date of birth and the date of death.
Upon making the application you will receive written confirmation that the search has been entered and it will remain in force for six months. During that time if a Grant of Representation is issued you will be automatically sent a copy of the Grant and the will in the post by the Probate Registry.
You can renew your standing search in the last month before it is due to expire, so we would recommend that you make a diary entry to avoid missing the date.
When you make the application, a search will also be made of all the Grants of Representation which were issued in the twelve months period before the standing search was entered to make sure that Probate has not already been granted.