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How to give up your right as an executor (probate practitioners)

Updated 14 March 2025

Applies to England and Wales

漏 Crown copyright 2025

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This publication is available at /government/publications/form-pa17-give-up-probate-executor-rights-for-probate-practitioners/how-to-give-up-your-right-as-an-executor-probate-practitioners

1. Before you start聽

You must only complete form PA17 if:聽

  • the partners are not named individually in the will聽
  • each partner wants to give up their probate executor rights聽

If the partners are named individually, or only some of them want to give up their executor rights, each partner will need to complete form PA15 颈苍蝉迟别补诲.听听

This form may not be suitable for all cases, and you may need to produce your own legal document instead.

2. Who can give up their executor rights

Probate practitioners can give up their executor rights if they鈥檙e working in a firm as a:聽

  • profit sharing partner聽
  • salaried partner (only if the will appoints salaried partners)聽
  • 尘别尘产别谤听
  • 蝉丑补谤别丑辞濒诲别谤听
  • director

3. How to give up your executor rights

  1. Download form PA17.鈥�
  2. Fill in all sections.鈥�
  3. Hand sign and date the application.鈥�
  4. Get your witness to hand sign and date the application.鈥�
  5. Give the completed form to the鈥�executor who鈥檚 applying for probate.

4. Contact us

If you need help completing this form, you can contact us.鈥�

Probate helpline鈥�
Telephone: 0300 303 0648鈥�
Monday to Friday, 9am to 1pm鈥�
Closed on weekends and bank holidays

Find out about call charges

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