Online Probate Portal Northern Ireland: Applying for a Grant of Probate Digitally

Until relatively recently, applying for probate in Northern Ireland required an executor to physically attend an appointment at the Probate Office in Belfast or the district registry in Londonderry. They had to swear a formal oath in front of a solicitor before the application could proceed. For executors living outside Northern Ireland — or for anyone simply trying to administer an estate efficiently — this was a significant barrier.

The Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service (NICTS) has replaced that process with an online probate portal. Executors can now apply digitally, submit documents electronically, and confirm their declaration through a Statement of Truth rather than a sworn oath. This article explains how the portal works, what has changed, and what you still need to do in person or by post.

What the Online Probate Portal Replaces

The old system required:

• Completing paper probate forms
• Attending the Probate Office in person to swear an oath (or attending in front of a local solicitor and paying their fee)
• Physically submitting the original Will and death certificate

The new system replaces the oath with a Statement of Truth — a declaration made online that you are providing accurate information. This is legally equivalent to the sworn oath but does not require physical attendance or a solicitor to witness it.

The portal is accessible through the nidirect website and the NICTS online services section.

What Changed for Deaths After 1 January 2022

A significant procedural shift applies to estates where the deceased died on or after 1 January 2022. For these cases, executors applying for probate of "excepted estates" (estates that do not require Inheritance Tax to be paid because they fall below the £325,000 nil-rate band or qualify for spouse or charity exemptions) no longer need to complete the old HMRC IHT205 tax form.

Instead, they complete the Northern Ireland Probate Estate Summary Form — NIPF7. This shorter form is uploaded directly to the NICTS probate portal as part of the application. It is specific to Northern Ireland — England and Wales use a different equivalent form.

For deaths before 1 January 2022, the old IHT205 form was still required. If you are dealing with a probate application for a death in late 2021 or earlier, confirm with the Probate Office which form applies.

For complex estates where Inheritance Tax is actually due (estate value above the threshold without exemptions), the full HMRC IHT400 form is still mandatory. The IHT400 must be processed and any tax paid to HMRC before the probate application can be approved. The online portal does not eliminate this requirement — it is only simplified for excepted estates.

What Documents Are Submitted Through the Portal

When applying for a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration through the NICTS portal, you will need to submit:

1. The original Will (if there is one) — this must be posted or delivered to the Probate Office, not uploaded electronically. The Probate Office retains the original Will permanently once probate is granted.
2. The official death certificate — the certified copy issued by GRONI. Again, the original certified copy must typically be submitted rather than a scanned version.
3. The NIPF7 Estate Summary Form (for deaths from January 2022, excepted estates) — this can be completed and submitted electronically through the portal
4. The Statement of Truth — completed online within the portal
5. The court fee payment — paid online at the point of submission

Court Fees for Probate in Northern Ireland

The probate application fee in Northern Ireland changed significantly in April 2026. The fees now in effect (per Statutory Rule 2026/35) are:

• £310 for an estate valued over £10,000 (the standard application fee for most estates)
• No fee for estates valued at £10,000 or less

Certified copy grants of probate are now £16 per copy. Each bank, building society, investment account, pension, or property registry will typically require its own certified copy. Order several — you need one per institution you plan to approach, and copies ordered later cost the same amount but delay the estate administration.

These fees apply to all applications regardless of whether the application is made through the online portal or through a solicitor.

How to Apply: Step-by-Step Summary

1. Register for a nidirect account if you do not already have one. NICTS online services are accessed through nidirect.

2. Confirm whether a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration is needed. If there is a Will, the named executor applies for a Grant of Probate. If there is no Will, or if the executor named in the Will is unable or unwilling to act, the administrator applies for Letters of Administration.

3. Complete the NIPF7 form (for deaths from January 2022, excepted estates). The form asks for a summary of the estate's assets and liabilities. It is not the same as HMRC IHT forms and does not go to HMRC — it goes to the NICTS Probate Office.

4. Post the original Will and certified death certificate to the Probate Office. The application cannot proceed without physical receipt of these documents.

5. Complete the online Statement of Truth within the portal. This is your legal declaration that the information provided is accurate.

6. Pay the court fee online. Payment is by credit or debit card through the portal.

7. Await correspondence from the Probate Office. The Probate Office will review the application. If they have queries, they will contact you. Once approved, the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration will be issued.

How Long Does the Portal Application Take?

Current processing times at the NICTS Probate Office vary. Straightforward applications for excepted estates with complete documentation are typically processed within several weeks to a few months. Applications that are missing documents, where the Will requires verification, or where the estate involves complexities will take longer.

If the estate is time-sensitive — for example, a property is at risk of being lost, or a grant-of-probate-required bank account is needed to pay urgent bills — solicitors can sometimes accelerate the process through direct communication with the Probate Office. This is one reason some executors choose to use a solicitor even when the estate is straightforward.

When You Can Act Before Probate Is Granted

Some actions do not require a Grant of Probate, which means executors can begin while the portal application is pending:

• Banks will often release funds up to their internal threshold (typically £5,000 to £30,000, varying by institution) without a grant — confirm with each bank
• Joint accounts and assets held in joint tenancy pass automatically to the surviving joint owner without probate
• Life insurance policies and nominated pensions may pay directly to named beneficiaries without going through the estate

Only sole ownership assets — property held in the deceased's name only, large sole bank accounts, shares, and similar — require the grant before they can be transferred or liquidated.

Renouncing or Reserving Executor Power

If you are named as executor but do not wish to act, Northern Ireland law gives you two options. You can renounce your power entirely, giving up all rights to administer the estate. Or you can reserve your power, stepping aside for the current application while retaining the right to step in later if required.

Both options are handled within the NICTS probate process. The Probate Office can provide the relevant forms for renunciation.

The Northern Ireland Funeral Laws & Consumer Rights Guide includes a complete guide to the probate portal process, the NIPF7 completion steps, how to calculate the assets to declare, and what to do if the Probate Office raises a query on your application.

See more Northern Ireland guides →