Certified Copy of Grant of Probate for Overseas Use

A foreign bank, lawyer or inheritance authority may ask for certified UK probate documents.

For example, you may need to prove who can manage a deceased person’s estate. You may also need to show who can receive an inheritance.

Common requests include a certified Grant of Probate, Will, death certificate and executor’s passport. A beneficiary may also need certified identification and proof of address.

A certified copy of a Grant of Probate for overseas use confirms that the copy matches the document checked by the solicitor.

However, a certified copy does not always meet every foreign requirement. Some authorities want an official court copy instead. Others also request an apostille, translation or notarial certificate.

Ginkgo Advisory provides a same-day express remote solicitor certification and certified copy service for suitable probate and inheritance documents.

We can also certify executor, administrator and beneficiary identity documents. In addition, we can arrange UK apostille support where required.

Can a UK solicitor certify a Grant of Probate?

Yes. A UK solicitor can certify a suitable copy of a Grant of Probate when the overseas recipient accepts solicitor certification.

The solicitor must check the source document before signing the copy. They should also use wording that accurately describes the document they inspected.

GOV.UK lists solicitors among the professionals who may certify true copies. Its standard process requires the certifier to compare the original and copy. The certifier then signs, dates and adds their professional details.

However, you must first confirm what the foreign recipient needs. It may ask for:

• A solicitor-certified copy
• An official probate copy
• A court-sealed copy
• A notarised copy
• A paper apostille
• An e-Apostille
• Embassy legalisation
• A certified translation

These services do not mean the same thing.

Probate document certification at a glance

Requirement	Suitable route
The recipient accepts a UK solicitor-certified copy	Solicitor certification may meet the request
The recipient wants an official probate document	Obtain the correct copy from the Probate Registry
The recipient asks for a court-sealed document	Use an official court-issued copy with the required seal
The recipient wants a notarised document	Use a UK notary public
The recipient asks for legalisation	Check the correct apostille route
The recipient accepts a certified PDF	Electronic solicitor certification may work
The recipient wants an original paper document	Use wet-ink certification and postal delivery
The document came from another country	Follow the legalisation process in that country

Therefore, send us the full request before ordering certification.

What is a Grant of Probate?

Probate gives a personal representative the legal authority to deal with a deceased person’s estate.

The estate may include:

• Bank accounts
• Property
• Shares
• Investments
• Pensions
• Insurance payments
• Business assets
• Personal possessions
• Money owed to the deceased

An executor or administrator may need probate before dealing with some of these assets.

Grant of Probate and Letters of Administration

The correct probate document depends on the estate.

Grant of Probate

The Probate Registry issues a Grant of Probate when the deceased left a Will and an executor can apply.

The grant confirms the executor’s authority to deal with the estate.

Letters of Administration with Will annexed

The court may issue this document when a Will exists but no named executor can apply.

For example, the Will may not name an executor. Alternatively, the named executor may have died or declined to act.

Letters of Administration

The court normally issues Letters of Administration when the deceased did not leave a valid Will.

An administrator then deals with the estate.

GOV.UK identifies these three documents as the main forms of grant that allow someone to start managing an estate.

When do you need certified probate documents?

A certified probate document can support many cross-border inheritance matters.

Common situations include:

• Releasing money from a foreign bank
• Closing an overseas bank account
• Claiming an overseas pension
• Collecting life insurance proceeds
• Selling inherited property abroad
• Transferring foreign property to beneficiaries
• Dealing with overseas shares
• Transferring a foreign investment account
• Claiming money from a dormant account
• Registering an executor with a foreign authority
• Proving inheritance rights to an overseas notary
• Completing foreign inheritance tax forms
• Managing a company owned by the deceased
• Collecting funds from an overseas estate
• Claiming an unclaimed UK estate
• Completing foreign succession procedures

The overseas organisation may request documents from both the estate and the people involved.

Who may ask for certified probate documents?

Several organisations may need the same probate evidence.

Overseas bank

A foreign bank may need proof that an executor or administrator has authority to act.

The bank may request:

• Grant of Probate
• Will
• Death certificate
• Executor passport
• Executor proof of address
• Bank forms
• Tax documents
• Information about each beneficiary

Once probate has been granted, GOV.UK advises personal representatives to send copies of the probate document to organisations holding estate assets, such as banks.

Foreign notary

A civil-law notary may need probate documents before transferring an inherited property.

The notary may also ask for:

• An apostilled death certificate
• An apostilled Grant of Probate
• The Will and codicils
• Birth or marriage certificates
• Beneficiary identification
• Certified translations
• A declaration of inheritance

Overseas land registry

A foreign land registry may need proof of the executor’s authority.

However, it may also require a local inheritance order or succession certificate. Solicitor certification does not replace those local procedures.

Pension or insurance provider

A pension administrator or insurer may request the death certificate and probate document.

In addition, it may ask for certified identification from the executor or beneficiary.

Foreign tax authority

An overseas tax office may need documents that identify:

• The deceased
• The estate representative
• Each beneficiary
• The inherited assets
• The value of the inheritance
• The relationship between the deceased and beneficiary

The authority may also ask for apostilles and certified translations.

Which probate and inheritance documents can a solicitor certify?

A UK solicitor may certify suitable copies of many documents.

The exact list depends on the recipient’s instructions.

Grant of Probate

A solicitor can certify a Grant of Probate copy after checking a suitable original or official source document.

However, the wording must reflect the actual check. The solicitor should not say they saw a physical original if they only checked an official electronic record.

Letters of Administration

The same principle applies to Letters of Administration.

The solicitor checks the document and prepares a certified copy where the overseas recipient accepts that route.

Will and codicils

The Will explains how the deceased wanted the estate distributed.

A codicil changes or adds to the Will. Therefore, the recipient may need every Will and codicil connected to the grant.

After the Probate Registry approves an application, it keeps the Will and codicils. They then become public records.

Death certificate

A death certificate confirms the registered death.

For overseas use, the recipient may want:

• An original registry-issued certificate
• An official replacement certificate
• A solicitor-certified copy
• A paper apostille
• A certified translation

Do not assume that a solicitor-certified photocopy will replace an official certificate.

Executor or administrator passport

A foreign bank or lawyer often needs certified identity from the estate representative.

The solicitor may certify:

• Passport photograph page
• National identity card
• Driving licence
• Residence permit

Where required, the certification can also confirm that the photograph matches the person seen.

Beneficiary identification

A beneficiary may need to prove their identity before receiving money or property.

The recipient may request:

• Certified passport
• Certified identity card
• Certified proof of address
• Tax number
• Bank account evidence
• Relationship documents

Each beneficiary may need a separate document set.

Proof of address

A foreign bank or lawyer may ask for a recent residential address document.

Common examples include:

• Bank statement
• Utility bill
• Council tax bill
• Mortgage statement
• Government letter
• Tax document
• Tenancy agreement
• Current driving licence

GOV.UK lists bank statements, utility bills and council tax bills among documents that a professional may certify.

Birth and marriage certificates

These documents can prove the relationship between the deceased and beneficiary.

For example, a child may need a birth certificate. A surviving spouse may need a marriage certificate.

The recipient may require an official registry copy rather than a solicitor-certified photocopy.

Change-of-name documents

A name difference may cause delays.

For example, the Will may use a beneficiary’s maiden name. Their passport may show a married name.

Supporting documents may include:

• Marriage certificate
• Deed poll
• Civil partnership certificate
• Divorce order
• Statutory declaration

Therefore, review every name before certification.

Company documents

The estate may contain shares in a private company.

In that situation, the recipient may request:

• Certificate of Incorporation
• Articles of Association
• Share certificate
• Register of members
• Director details
• Confirmation statement
• Company structure chart
• Board resolution
• Beneficial-owner information

Each document may need a separate certification or legalisation route.

Official probate copy or solicitor-certified copy?

These documents serve different purposes.

Document	What it shows
Ordinary photocopy	A simple reproduction of the probate document
Online probate-record copy	A copy obtained through the official probate search service
Solicitor-certified copy	The solicitor confirms that the copy matches the document checked
Official probate copy	A copy supplied through the Probate Registry process
Court-sealed copy	A court document carrying the relevant official seal
Apostilled probate document	The FCDO authenticates the relevant UK signature, stamp or seal
Notarised copy	A notary completes a notarial act or certificate

Therefore, the phrase “certified Grant of Probate” may not tell you enough.

Ask the foreign recipient who must issue or sign the document.

How can I obtain another copy of a Grant of Probate?

GOV.UK provides an online service for probate records in England and Wales.

The service allows users to:

• Check whether probate has been issued
• Check the type of grant
• Order a probate record
• Order the Will where the record includes one

A new probate record normally appears online around 14 days after the grant has been issued. As of 3 August 2026, an online probate-record copy costs £16.

However, an online record may not meet an overseas request for an official sealed copy.

Therefore, show the recipient exactly what the service supplies before relying on it.

Does every probate record include a Will?

No.

A probate record may include a Will when the record appears as:

• Probate
• Grant and Will
• Administration with Will
• Admon with Will

By contrast, a standard administration grant does not include a Will.

Consequently, you should check the grant type before ordering the record.

Can a solicitor certify a copy downloaded online?

Possibly.

First, the solicitor must identify the source of the file. A document downloaded from the official probate-record service provides a stronger source than an unexplained email attachment.

Next, the solicitor reviews:

• The deceased person’s name
• Date of death
• Grant type
• Grant date
• Executor or administrator details
• Court or registry details
• Number of pages
• Will and codicil pages
• Any seal or security feature
• The recipient’s requirements

The certification wording should then explain that the solicitor checked the copy against the official record or source document.

However, a foreign authority may still insist on an official paper copy.

Sample wording for a probate document

Where the solicitor checks a paper original, suitable wording may state:

“Certified to be a true copy of the original seen by me.”

GOV.UK uses this wording for general document certification. The certifier should also sign, date and add their professional details.

For an official electronic probate record, different wording may provide greater accuracy.

For example:

I certify that this is a true copy of the probate document obtained from and checked against the official probate record on the date stated below.

The solicitor can then add:

• Signature
• Certification date
• Full professional name
• Solicitor, England and Wales
• Professional address
• Telephone number
• Email address
• SRA details
• Professional stamp, where suitable

However, the foreign recipient may provide its own wording.

Does the solicitor need to see the original Grant of Probate?

The answer depends on the type of document.

For a paper Grant of Probate, the solicitor normally needs to inspect the original or an official court copy before certifying a photocopy.

By contrast, an official electronic record may allow the solicitor to check the source online.

An ordinary scan does not always provide enough evidence. Therefore, we may ask for:

• The physical grant
• An official probate copy
• The original electronic file
• Evidence of the download source
• Access to the official record
• Confirmation from the Probate Registry
• A clearer or complete copy

The recipient must also accept the resulting certification.

Can probate document certification take place remotely?

Yes, in suitable cases.

Remote certification works especially well for executor or beneficiary identity documents. It may also work for reliable digital probate records.

During a remote appointment, the solicitor may:

• Inspect the original passport by live video
• Compare the original with the supplied scan
• Check the passport holder’s face
• Review proof of address
• Inspect a paper probate document
• Review an official digital probate record
• Complete further identity checks
• Prepare the certified PDF

However, remote certification may not suit every document.

For example, a foreign authority may require:

• A court-sealed original
• A physical notarial act
• An original registry certificate
• A wet-ink solicitor signature
• A paper apostille
• An in-person identity check

Therefore, remote certification does not guarantee overseas acceptance.

Same-day express remote solicitor certification

Ginkgo Advisory offers a same-day express remote solicitor certification service for suitable probate and inheritance documents.

The service may cover:

• Grant of Probate certification
• Letters of Administration certification
• Will-copy certification
• Executor passport certification
• Administrator passport certification
• Beneficiary passport certification
• National identity card certification
• Proof-of-address certification
• Birth certificate copy certification
• Marriage certificate copy certification
• Name-change document certification
• Bank statement certification
• Company-document certification
• True-copy wording
• True-likeness wording
• Same-day certified PDF delivery
• Wet-ink certified copies
• Direct delivery to a foreign lawyer
• UK apostille support

We may complete a straightforward case on the same UK business day when:

• The recipient accepts a UK solicitor
• The recipient accepts remote certification
• You provide clear written instructions
• You supply the complete documents
• The source documents remain suitable
• You attend the video appointment
• The solicitor completes all checks
• You make payment
• No further verification issue arises

Same-day service covers the solicitor-certification stage. It does not mean that the Probate Registry, FCDO, foreign bank or overseas authority will act on the same day.

How our probate certification service works

1. Send the overseas request

First, send the foreign bank’s, lawyer’s or authority’s email.

The request should explain:

• Which documents it needs
• Who may certify them
• Whether it needs an official court copy
• Whether it requires an apostille
• Whether it accepts a digital copy
• Whether it needs a translation
• Whether it requires a notary

This review reduces the risk of ordering the wrong service.

2. Send the full probate document

Next, provide every page of the grant, Will or Letters of Administration.

Do not remove:

• The cover page
• Court details
• Seals
• Executor information
• Will pages
• Codicils
• Continuation sheets
• Blank pages that form part of the document
• Page numbers

An incomplete document may not meet the foreign requirement.

3. Provide identity and address documents

Where required, send clear colour scans of the executor’s or beneficiary’s passport.

The passport copy should show:

• Every edge
• Full name
• Photograph
• Date of birth
• Passport number
• Issue date
• Expiry date
• Issuing authority
• Machine-readable zone
• Signature, where shown

Please also provide the full proof-of-address document.

4. We confirm the correct route

The solicitor then decides whether the case needs:

• Simple copy certification
• Remote original-document inspection
• An official probate copy
• A court-sealed copy
• Wet-ink certification
• Electronic certification
• A notary
• An apostille
• Embassy legalisation
• A certified translation

We explain any problem before preparing the final document.

5. Complete the remote appointment

During the video call, show your face and original identity documents clearly.

The solicitor may ask you to:

• Hold the passport beside your face
• Show the passport cover
• Open the photograph page
• Move the document closer
• Tilt it under the light
• Show the complete page
• Confirm selected information
• Display the probate document
• Show the source of a digital record

Additional electronic checks may also apply.

6. Receive the certified PDF

After completing the checks, the solicitor prepares the certification.

Where the recipient accepts digital submission, we can send the certified PDF on the same business day.

With your authority, we can also send it directly to the overseas lawyer, bank or estate representative.

7. Receive wet-ink copies

Some authorities need an original solicitor signature.

In that case, we prepare wet-ink hard copies. We can then send them by tracked post or international courier.

8. Arrange legalisation where required

Finally, we can review the apostille and legalisation route.

The route depends on:

• The type of document
• The available seal or signature
• The destination country
• The recipient’s requirements
• Whether the recipient accepts an e-Apostille
• Whether it wants separate apostilles

Does a Grant of Probate need an apostille?

Only when the overseas recipient asks for legalisation.

The FCDO Legalisation Office checks the relevant UK signature, stamp or seal. If the details match its records, it attaches an apostille.

For a court document, the clearest paper route often uses an official document with the required court seal.

Current FCDO guidance confirms that court-issued documents with a wet-ink court seal may qualify for legalisation.

However, the foreign recipient must first confirm whether it wants:

• The original grant
• An official probate copy
• A court-sealed copy
• A solicitor-certified copy
• A notarial copy
• A paper apostille
• An e-Apostille

Do not order an apostille before checking those points.

What does an apostille confirm?

An apostille confirms the relevant UK signature, stamp or seal.

It does not decide:

• Who should inherit
• Whether the Will is fair
• Whether the estate has enough money
• Whether the executor acted correctly
• Whether foreign succession law applies
• Whether a beneficiary owes tax
• Whether the foreign authority must accept the document

Therefore, an apostille does not replace foreign probate or inheritance advice.

Paper apostille or e-Apostille?

The FCDO provides paper apostilles and e-Apostilles.

Paper apostille

A paper apostille attaches to a physical document.

This route may suit:

• Court-sealed probate copies
• Official death certificates
• Wet-ink solicitor certifications
• Paper Wills
• Documents that the foreign authority wants by post

e-Apostille

An e-Apostille attaches to an eligible PDF.

The PDF must carry an electronic signature from a UK solicitor or notary. However, the receiving organisation must also accept electronic legalisation.

A solicitor-certified probate PDF may suit this route in some cases. Nevertheless, the FCDO decides whether the document qualifies.

Can a death certificate receive an e-Apostille?

No, not under the current FCDO rules.

The FCDO excludes General Register Office documents from the e-Apostille service. This exclusion covers birth, death, marriage, civil partnership and adoption certificates.

Therefore, a UK death certificate normally needs the paper apostille route when the foreign recipient requires legalisation.

Can one apostille cover the Grant and Will?

Possibly.

The correct approach depends on how the documents connect and what the recipient needs.

For example, the foreign authority may ask for:

• One apostille on the Grant of Probate
• Separate apostilles on the Grant and Will
• One apostille on a court-bound grant-and-Will set
• An apostille on the death certificate only
• Apostilles on the grant, death certificate and executor passport

The FCDO tells applicants to check whether the recipient wants one apostille for a group or separate apostilles for each document.

Therefore, obtain written confirmation before joining the documents.

Does the document need embassy legalisation?

Some countries require more than an apostille.

For a country outside the relevant Hague Apostille process, the route may include:

1. UK apostille
2. Embassy or consular legalisation
3. Approval from the destination country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs

GOV.UK describes this three-step route for countries that do not use the Hague Apostille system.

However, country rules can change. Always obtain a current checklist.

Do I need a notary?

Not always.

Use a notary when the foreign instructions expressly ask for:

• A notary public
• A notarised Grant of Probate
• A notarial certificate
• A notarial copy
• A notarial act
• A notarial seal

By contrast, a UK solicitor may meet a request for:

• Solicitor-certified copy
• Lawyer-certified copy
• Certified true copy
• Certification by a legal professional
• Solicitor-certified passport

The FCDO also advises applicants to check whether the recipient requires a particular professional, such as a solicitor or notary.

Solicitor certification, notarisation and apostille compared

Service	Main purpose
Solicitor-certified copy	Confirms that the copy matches the document checked
True-likeness certification	Confirms that the ID photograph matches the person seen
Official probate copy	Provides a copy through the official probate process
Court-sealed copy	Carries the relevant court seal
Notarisation	A notary completes a formal notarial act
Apostille	The FCDO authenticates the relevant UK signature, stamp or seal
Embassy legalisation	A diplomatic mission completes another country-specific check
Certified translation	A translator confirms the accuracy of the translation

These services may work together. However, one does not automatically replace another.

Do probate documents need certified translations?

A foreign authority may require a translation into its official language.

The translator should confirm that the translation accurately reflects the source document. GOV.UK says the translator should also add the date, full name and contact details.

However, the recipient may apply extra rules.

It may require:

• A sworn translator
• A court-approved translator
• A translator in the destination country
• Translation before the apostille
• Translation after the apostille
• Translation of the apostille itself
• Notarisation of the translation

Therefore, confirm the order before arranging any translation.

What if the death certificate came from another country?

The UK Legalisation Office cannot legalise a document issued outside the UK.

Instead, you normally arrange legalisation in the country that issued the document.

For example, a Spanish death certificate usually follows the Spanish apostille route.

A UK solicitor may still certify a copy for a limited purpose where the recipient accepts it. However, UK certification does not convert the certificate into a UK public document.

Can a solicitor certify a foreign Grant of Probate?

Possibly.

A UK solicitor may certify that a copy matches the foreign probate document shown.

However, several separate questions remain:

• Does the overseas recipient accept a UK solicitor?
• Does the issuing country require its own apostille?
• Does the foreign grant need recognition in another country?
• Does the document need resealing?
• Is an official court copy required?
• Does the grant need translation?

A certified copy does not make a foreign grant legally effective in England and Wales.

Foreign grants may need a separate recognition, resealing or UK probate process. Therefore, obtain probate advice for the relevant estate.

Claiming an unclaimed estate

A relative may need certified identity and family documents when claiming an unclaimed estate.

For example, the Bona Vacantia Division may request evidence of:

• Identity
• Current address
• Birth
• Marriage
• Name changes
• Relationship to the deceased

Its current guidance accepts good-quality true copies for an initial claim. However, the copies must not contain cropping or redactions. The Division may also request the originals later.

Therefore, provide full and clear documents.

Can a solicitor certify family-tree evidence?

A solicitor may certify copies of source documents used to support a family link.

These records may include:

• Birth certificates
• Marriage certificates
• Death certificates
• Adoption documents
• Deed polls
• Divorce orders
• Census records
• Probate records
• Official archive records

However, copy certification does not prove that the family tree is correct.

A genealogist, heir-tracing company or estate lawyer may need to prepare a separate report.

Does certification prove that I am the beneficiary?

No.

Certification only confirms the copy or identity document.

The Will, intestacy rules, grant and foreign law determine who can inherit.

In addition, the overseas bank or authority may conduct its own checks.

Therefore, solicitor certification does not amount to a legal opinion on entitlement.

Can a solicitor certify an online bank statement for an inheritance claim?

Yes, in a suitable case.

First, download the complete PDF from the bank.

The statement should show:

• Your full name
• Current address
• Bank name
• Statement date
• Account details
• Every page

Next, the solicitor may ask you to show the statement inside your online banking account.

However, the recipient must accept an electronic statement.

A cropped screenshot may not provide enough information.

Common probate certification mistakes

Small errors can delay an inheritance claim.

Common problems include:

• Using an ordinary photocopy when the recipient wants an official court copy
• Using an online probate record when the authority requires a sealed grant
• Certifying only the first page
• Leaving out the Will
• Leaving out a codicil
• Providing the wrong grant type
• Using unclear certification wording
• Saying “original seen” when only a digital record was checked
• Cropping a passport
• Hiding the machine-readable zone
• Using an expired passport
• Providing old proof of address
• Leaving out the solicitor’s professional details
• Failing to explain a name difference
• Using a solicitor when the recipient requires a notary
• Ordering an apostille before checking the document format
• Requesting an e-Apostille for a death certificate
• Using one apostille when the recipient wants separate apostilles
• Legalising a copy when the authority wants the original
• Using the UK legalisation route for a foreign-issued document
• Translating the documents at the wrong stage
• Assuming an apostille proves inheritance rights
• Assuming same-day certification means same-day release of funds

An early document review can prevent many of these problems.

Frequently asked questions

Can KH LAM certify a Grant of Probate?

Yes, in a suitable case.

The recipient must accept certification by a practising solicitor in England and Wales. We must also inspect a suitable original or official source document.

Can you provide same-day probate document certification?

Yes, subject to the document type, recipient requirements and completion of all checks.

Same-day service normally covers the certified PDF. Apostille processing and courier delivery require extra time.

Can I complete the process remotely?

Remote certification may work for suitable probate documents, passports and proof of address.

However, a recipient may still require a paper original, court-sealed copy or notarial act.

Do I need to post the original Grant of Probate?

Not always.

An official digital record or live inspection may support certification where the recipient accepts that process.

However, physical inspection may remain necessary for a paper grant or court seal.

Can you certify an online probate-record copy?

Possibly.

We first review the source, file and recipient’s instructions. The recipient must accept solicitor certification of that record.

Is an online probate copy an official sealed copy?

Do not assume that it is.

The overseas recipient may distinguish between an online record, official probate copy and court-sealed document.

Can you obtain a copy of the Grant of Probate?

The official probate-record service allows users to search for and order probate records in England and Wales.

We can review the resulting document and confirm the likely certification route.

Can you certify the Will?

Yes, where we can check a suitable source document and the recipient accepts solicitor certification.

Please provide every page and codicil.

Can you certify Letters of Administration?

Yes.

The same source-document and recipient-acceptance rules apply.

Can you certify a death certificate?

A solicitor can certify a suitable copy where the recipient accepts that service.

However, a foreign public authority may require an official registry-issued certificate instead.

Does a death certificate need a paper apostille?

A UK General Register Office death certificate cannot receive an e-Apostille under current FCDO rules. Therefore, use the paper route when legalisation is required.

Can you certify the executor’s passport?

Yes.

The executor must show the original passport through the agreed inspection process.

Can you certify a beneficiary’s passport?

Yes, in a suitable case.

Each beneficiary must complete their own identity check.

Can you add true-likeness wording?

Yes, after the solicitor sees the passport holder clearly.

The statement can confirm that the passport photograph resembles the person seen.

Can you certify proof of address?

Yes.

The recipient must accept the proposed bank statement, bill or official letter.

Can you certify an electronic bank statement?

Yes, in a suitable case.

We may ask you to show the original PDF inside your banking account.

Do I need a notary?

Use a notary where the foreign request expressly requires notarisation or a notarial certificate.

Do not assume that solicitor certification and notarisation are interchangeable.

Does the Grant of Probate need an apostille?

Only when the foreign bank, lawyer, notary or authority asks for legalisation.

Can you arrange the apostille?

Yes, where the document qualifies and the recipient accepts the proposed route.

We can support paper and electronic apostille applications.

Can a Grant of Probate receive an e-Apostille?

Possibly.

The PDF must meet FCDO requirements, and the recipient must accept an e-Apostille.

Can one apostille cover the Grant and Will?

Possibly.

However, both the FCDO route and the recipient’s instructions affect the answer.

Can you certify foreign probate documents?

Possibly.

However, the UK cannot apostille the underlying foreign public document. Legalisation normally takes place in the issuing country.

Can you confirm that I am legally entitled to inherit?

Not through a certified-copy service.

A certified copy confirms the document. It does not provide a legal opinion on inheritance rights.

Can you deal with the full probate administration?

This service covers document certification and legalisation support.

It does not include applying for probate, administering the estate or advising on foreign succession law unless separately agreed with an appropriately authorised adviser.

Can you send the documents directly overseas?

Yes, with your authority.

We can send the certified PDF or wet-ink documents to a foreign lawyer, bank, notary or estate representative.

Does certification guarantee acceptance?

No.

The receiving bank, court, notary, registry or authority makes the final decision.

Arrange a certified copy of a Grant of Probate for overseas use

Ginkgo Advisory provides same-day express remote solicitor certification for suitable UK probate and inheritance documents.

Our service may include:

• Grant of Probate certification
• Letters of Administration certification
• Will and codicil certification
• Executor passport certification
• Administrator passport certification
• Beneficiary passport certification
• Proof-of-address certification
• Birth and marriage certificate copy certification
• Name-change document certification
• Bank statement certification
• True-copy certification
• True-likeness certification
• Live remote document inspection
• Same-day certified PDF delivery
• Wet-ink certified copies
• Direct delivery to overseas recipients
• Paper apostille support
• e-Apostille support
• Embassy legalisation coordination
• International courier delivery

KH LAM completes the certification as a practising Solicitor, England and Wales.

Ginkgo Advisory provides independent document-certification and legalisation support. We do not act for the Probate Registry, FCDO or any overseas authority.

Moreover, final acceptance always rests with the receiving organisation. Therefore, please send its latest written requirements before we prepare the documents.