Probate & Executors: Do You Need an ID1 Form?

Registering a property after someone has died can feel like one more thing to get right at a hard time. HM Land Registry still needs to update the title. So the identity rules apply here too. But the process is simpler than it first looks. Not sure this is your situation? Browse our full set of guides instead.

Joint or sole ownership: it changes what you need

Was the property owned jointly? Then the surviving owner is usually already on the title. They just send form DJP with a death certificate, and an ID1 form is not normally needed.

But if the person who died was the sole owner, the property has to pass through their estate first. That is where probate and identity checks come in. Our guide to changing house deeds after death walks through each route and the forms it uses.

Do executors and beneficiaries need an ID1 form?

First, you need a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration. Then the executor can act. They pass the property to the beneficiary using form AS1, known as an assent. Or they sell it using form TR1.

If no solicitor is handling the application, HM Land Registry will ask for an ID1 for each person involved. The ID1 goes in with your AS1 or TR1 and your AP1 form. It does not replace them.

This changed on 4 September 2023. Before then, executors were usually exempt from identity checks, because their grant proved who they were. However, HM Land Registry removed that exemption from Practice Guide 67 to guard against fraud. So executors now need an ID1 like anyone else.

In practice, both sides of the transfer are usually checked. The executor needs an ID1 because they sign the AS1 or TR1. The beneficiary needs one too, unless they are already a registered owner of that property.

There is one exception. HM Land Registry does not ask for an ID1 where the property is worth £6,000 or less.

Each ID1 verification is a fixed £79 per person, which includes the ID5 video verification. Customers living overseas pay £99. So if more than one executor or beneficiary needs to be verified, each books their own appointment. See our pricing page for the full breakdown, or read more about our online ID1 form verification.

What you’ll need for your appointment

• A passport or full photocard driving licence, which covers it for most people
• If you have neither, two other documents from the ID1 lists instead
• Your grant is not needed for the ID1 itself, but you will send it with your wider application

Our guide to what ID documents you need lists exactly what counts. Your ID1 must reach HM Land Registry within three months of your verification. So it is best to book once your grant has come through, not before. Our guide to how long an ID1 lasts explains the timing.

Common questions

Do executors need an ID1 form now?

Yes. Since 4 September 2023, an executor who transfers a property without a solicitor must prove their identity, usually with an ID1. Before that, they were normally exempt.

How much does it cost if there’s more than one executor?

Each ID1 verification is a fixed £79 per person, which includes the ID5 video verification. Customers living overseas pay £99. So each executor or beneficiary who needs checking books their own appointment.

Do all executors need to be verified, or just one?

If more than one executor is named on the application and no solicitor is acting, each one needs their own ID1. HM Land Registry treats every person on the application individually.

What if the executor is also the beneficiary?

Then you are one person acting in two roles, so a single ID1 appointment covers you. However, if there are other executors or beneficiaries too, each of them still needs their own.

Is an ID1 needed if the property was owned jointly?

Not normally. The surviving owner usually just sends form DJP with an official copy of the death certificate. So no ID1 is needed.

Do I need the Grant of Probate before booking my appointment?

Not for the ID1 itself. Still, it is best to wait until your grant has come through. That is because your ID1 must reach HM Land Registry within three months of your verification.

How your video verification works

1. Book a time. Book online and pay securely, or message us on WhatsApp first if you have a question. Same-day, evening and weekend appointments are often available.
2. Verify by video call. A solicitor checks your ID on a short, secure video call. Because the check is by video, the solicitor also completes form ID5.
3. Get your forms. You get your ID1 and the solicitor’s signed ID5 back, usually the same day.
4. Send to Land Registry. Send your ID1 and ID5 with your AS1 or TR1 and your AP1 application.