Probate is a sort of Court Order that confirms the appointment of the executors named in a Will. You do not need to apply for Probate unless the value of the deceased's free estate is over £5,000. Jointly owned assets of a husband and wife generally (but not always) pass to the surviving co-owner by survivorship and not under the deceased's Will and so do not form part of the free estate. Most financial institutions will need to see a copy of a grant of Probate before they will pay the executors money owing to the estate. The application for Probate is made by the executors named in the deceased person's Will. If it is made by lay-executors this is done in person at one of the regional Probate Registries around the country. If the application is made by solicitors as professional executors or on behalf of a client who is an executor, the application is made by post. Before probate can be granted it is, subject to certain exemptions, necessary to give a detailed inventory of the deceased's estate for inheritance tax purposes. Any inheritance tax due must be paid before the Grant of Probate can be issued.