HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) — Probate Registry, High Court Family Division Edition PA11 Power of attorney (Will) (05.22) 8 pages

Form PA11 — Apply for power of attorney (will)

The HMCTS Probate form an executor or beneficiary uses to appoint someone else, such as a solicitor or relative, to apply for the grant on their behalf when there is a will.

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PA11 Power of attorney (will) · Apply for power of attorney (will): Form PA11
The official HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) — Probate Registry, High Court Family Division form, edition PA11 Power of attorney (Will) (05.22) — blank
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PA11 Power of attorney (will) (2022) Apply for power of attorney (will): Form PA11 — page 1 of 8
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Fill this form online Blank PDF from HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) — Probate Registry, High Court Family Division

What is PA11 Power of attorney (will)?

If you're an executor or beneficiary under a will in England and Wales but can't or don't want to apply for the grant yourself, perhaps because you live abroad or are unwell, form PA11 lets you appoint an attorney to do it for you. The attorney applies for letters of administration with will annexed for your use and benefit, and you promise to ratify and confirm whatever they lawfully do.

The form asks for the name and last address of the person who died, the date of death, the date of the will and of any codicil, your own name and address, whether you're an executor or a beneficiary, and the names and addresses of up to four attorneys. It's signed as a deed in front of an independent witness.

FileIt asks each question once, fills the letter-by-letter name boxes for you (including names with letters such as Ł or Ș), checks that the dates are in a sensible order, and prints everything into HMCTS's own PA11 PDF (05.22 edition). You sign it by hand with your witness. FileIt never sends it anywhere.

Who fills it
An executor or beneficiary named in the will
Appoints
Up to four attorneys to apply for the grant for you
Where
England and Wales (Probate Registry)
Signing
As a deed, by hand, in front of an independent witness
Edition
PA11 Power of attorney (Will) (05.22)
Help
Probate helpline 0300 303 0648

Who needs to fill out PA11 Power of attorney (will)?

  • An executor who lives abroad and wants someone in England or Wales to apply for the grant.
  • An executor or beneficiary who is unwell or simply too busy to deal with the application.
  • A beneficiary entitled to apply under the will who wants a solicitor or family member to act.
  • Anyone who wants more than one person to act together as their attorney.
  • Not for an executor giving up their rights for good: that's form PA15.

When to use PA11 Power of attorney (will)

  • After the death, once you've decided someone else should apply for the grant on your behalf.
  • Before your attorney sends the probate application, which they'll need this form for.
  • When there is a will. The form's own note says an attorney of one executor can not apply with another executor.

What you need before you start

  • The full name and last address of the person who died, as on the death certificate.
  • The date of death, the date of the will and the date of any codicil.
  • Your title, full name and address, and whether you're an executor or a beneficiary.
  • The full name, title and address of each person you're appointing as attorney.
  • An independent witness: someone not related to you who has no interest in the estate.

What’s on PA11 Power of attorney (will)

The 2022 edition has 8 pages. FileIt asks for it in 8 parts:

  1. The person who has died (1-4)Executor or beneficiary appointing the attorney
  2. You, the executor or beneficiary appointing an attorney (5-6)Executor or beneficiary appointing the attorney
  3. 7. Your 1st attorneyExecutor or beneficiary appointing the attorney
  4. Your 2nd attorney (if applicable)Executor or beneficiary appointing the attorney
  5. Your 3rd attorney (if applicable)Executor or beneficiary appointing the attorney
  6. Your 4th attorney (if applicable)Executor or beneficiary appointing the attorney
  7. Signing as a deedExecutor or beneficiary appointing the attorney
  8. Independent witnessIndependent witness

How to fill out PA11 Power of attorney (will), step by step

1 The person who died (questions 1 to 4)

Give their title, first, middle and last names, their address, and the dates of death, the will and any codicil. A codicil is an addition to the will signed by the person who died and two witnesses.

2 You (questions 5 and 6)

Give your own title, names and address, then tick whether you're one of the executors (or a sole executor) or one of the beneficiaries (or the sole beneficiary).

3 Your attorneys (question 7)

Name your first attorney with their address. If more than one person will act, switch on the parts for the second, third and fourth attorneys.

4 Signing as a deed

Print the form and sign it in front of your independent witness, who then signs, prints their name in the boxes and the form is dated.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Using PA11 when you mean to give up your role completely. Renouncing uses PA15 instead.
  • Spelling the name of the person who died differently from the death certificate.
  • Choosing a relative or a beneficiary as the witness. The witness must be independent.
  • Getting the will and codicil dates the wrong way round.
  • Appointing your own witness as your attorney.

After you fill it out

Print the filled PDF, check each page, and sign it as a deed in front of your independent witness.

Give the signed form to your attorney, who includes it with the probate application. FileIt doesn't send it.

Keep a copy in your FileIt vault with the will and death certificate.

Fill out PA11 Power of attorney (will) online with FileIt

  1. Pick the person. Choose someone from People and FileIt fills in their name, date of birth, address and other details it already knows.
  2. Answer plain-language questions. One part of the form at a time, with the official help text beside each question — 148 fields in all. Your answers save as you go.
  3. Check the live preview. Watch your answers land on the real HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) — Probate Registry, High Court Family Division form, and let FileIt do any worksheet arithmetic.
  4. Generate the official PDF. FileIt prints your answers into the agency’s own PDF and files it in that person’s folder in your vault.

FileIt fills the form — it never files or submits anything for you. Deliver the finished form to whoever asked for it, the way the form’s instructions say.

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PA11 Power of attorney (will): frequently asked questions

What does an attorney do under PA11?

They apply for letters of administration with will annexed of the estate, to be granted to them for your use and benefit, and deal lawfully with the estate. You promise to ratify and confirm what they lawfully do.

How many attorneys can I appoint?

The form has room for up to four.

Who can be my witness?

Someone who is not related to you and has no interest in the estate. They watch you sign, then sign and print their name.

Is this the same as a lasting power of attorney?

No. PA11 only covers applying for the grant and dealing with one estate. A lasting power of attorney is a separate document made with the Office of the Public Guardian.

Can I sign it electronically?

FileIt prepares it for signing by hand, because it is signed as a deed in front of an independent witness.

Does FileIt submit the form?

No. FileIt fills in the official PA11 PDF. You sign it and give it to your attorney.

Official sources

FileIt is not affiliated with or endorsed by HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) — Probate Registry, High Court Family Division or any government. This page explains the form in general terms and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Always read the official instructions, and check that you are using the edition the recipient accepts. Page last reviewed 2026-10-19.

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