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Level 6 · CLC Regulated

Probate

14 credits · 68 GLH

3-hour exam

The Administration of Estates Module — CLC Level 6 Diploma in Probate Law and Practice

Study the law and practice of estate administration — the powers and duties of personal representatives, the realisation and distribution of assets, the settlement of liabilities, trust and property law issues arising during administration, the protection available to personal representatives, and the calculation and payment of inheritance tax, income tax and capital gains tax. The module that takes you from the grant to the final distribution and estate accounts.

Approved & Regulated by

Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) — Access Law Online is a CLC Approved Training Provider delivering CLC-regulated Diplomas in Conveyancing and Probate Law and Practice
Department for Education Apprenticeships — Access Law Online is a registered apprenticeship training provider on the Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers (RoATP)
Ofqual — Access Law Online's Level 4 and Level 6 Diplomas in Conveyancing and Probate are Ofqual Regulated qualifications on the Regulated Qualifications Framework
Apprenticeship standards — Access Law Online delivers against approved apprenticeship standards ST1311 (Licensed Conveyancer and Licensed Probate Practitioner) and ST1312 (Conveyancing Technician and Probate Technician)
Qualifications Scotland Approved Centre — Access Law Online is an Approved Centre regulated by Qualifications Scotland, which co-awards the CLC Diplomas alongside the Council for Licensed Conveyancers
89% first-time pass rate for the CLC Level 6 Administration of Estates module, Mar 2025–Mar 2026

89% of Administration of Estates students pass first time
Mar 2025 – Mar 2026
Source: Access Law Online student data.

Key facts at a glance

Last verified 23 May 2026 · All figures inclusive of VAT

Module
The Administration of Estates
Level
6 (RQF)SCQF Level 9 equivalent
Credits
14
Guided learning hours
68 hours140 hours total qualification time
Price
£745VAT inc. — or 3 × £248.33 — or 5 × £149 (interest-free)
Assessment
3-hour supervised examPlus 15 min reading time · Open-book · Free first reassessment included
First-time pass rate
89%Mar 2025 – Mar 2026 · Source: Access Law Online student data
Routes
Probate only
Awarding body
CLC & Qualifications ScotlandUnit code HG1C 86
Regulator
CLCCouncil for Licensed Conveyancers
Tutor
Mark SmithModule Leader · unlimited tutor support
Provider
Access Law OnlineOnline, self-paced

All facts on this page are verified against the current CLC and Qualifications Scotland records. View accreditation evidence.

On this Page: 
Syllabus
Practical skills
What's included? 
Assessment
Duration
Diploma structure
Upgrade path
Who it's for
Entry Requirements
Exemptions
FAQs

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Level 6 Probate Diploma 

What is the Level 6 Administration of Estates module?

Short answer
The Administration of Estates is the second of three modules in the Level 6 Diploma in Probate Law and Practice. It picks up where the Wills, Succession and Grants of Representation module leaves off — once the grant has been obtained, this module covers what happens next: getting in the assets, settling the liabilities, dealing with trust and property law issues that arise during administration, protecting the personal representatives, distributing the estate, preparing the estate accounts, and attending to the tax obligations (inheritance tax, income tax, and capital gains tax) that run through the entire process. 14 credits, 68 guided learning hours, assessed by a 3-hour supervised open-book exam. £745 VAT inc. 

The module covers five distinct areas of law and practice, each tested within the exam. Learning Outcome 1 deals with the procedure for getting in the estate assets and making claims on behalf of the estate — vesting of property in executors and administrators, defining and collecting the assets, classifying legacies and devises, identifying lapsed or adeemed gifts, dealing with foreign assets, ascertaining and paying debts and liabilities, and raising money to pay inheritance tax and debts. It also covers claims against the estate under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. Learning Outcome 2 covers the trust and property law issues that arise during estate administration — constructive trusts, proprietary estoppel, secret and half-secret trusts, problems with jointly owned property (including severance of joint tenancies), and the use of assents to transfer legal title. Learning Outcome 3 addresses the accounting and distribution process — ascertaining the beneficiaries, the rights and remedies available to beneficiaries pending distribution, the payment of legacies, the transfer of estate assets, the calculation of the residuary estate, the resolution of creditor claims, the preparation of estate accounts, and the rules of apportionment. Learning Outcome 4 covers the protection available to personal representatives — statutory advertisements under section 27 of the Trustee Act 1925, Benjamin Orders, orders under section 48 of the Administration of Justice Act 1985, and the statutory power to insure under section 23 of the Trustee Act 2000. Learning Outcome 5 deals with the calculation and payment of inheritance tax, income tax, and capital gains tax — including lifetime dispositions, partially exempt transfers, transfers on death and mitigation after death, post-death variations and disclaimers, the valuation and calculation of chargeable estates, IHT exemptions and reliefs (including agricultural property relief and business property relief), settlements, pre- and post-death income tax liability, and the CGT rules on chargeable gains, allowable losses, exemptions, reliefs, and disposals during the administration.

If you've completed the Wills, Succession and Grants of Representation module, you already understand the procedural foundations — how to identify the type of succession, obtain the correct form of grant, and complete the HMRC inheritance tax accounts. This module goes to the next stage. Where Wills, Succession and Grants covers what happens before and up to the issue of the grant, Administration of Estates covers the detailed work that follows: collecting the assets, dealing with the complications that arise (trusts created by the will, disputes between beneficiaries, jointly owned property, foreign assets), protecting the personal representatives from personal liability, distributing the estate correctly, and completing the tax compliance — not just IHT, but income tax and CGT as well. The exam tests application, not recall — you'll be given case study scenarios and asked to advise a client, with your Course Manual and a relevant Probate textbook available for reference throughout.

You can study The Administration of Estates on its own as a standalone module (£745), or as part of the Level 6 Diploma in Probate Law and Practice (£1,920). It's the second module most students tackle at Level 6, because it builds directly on the grant procedure and succession law covered in Wills, Succession and Grants — you need to understand how the grant was obtained and what tax accounts were submitted before you can deal with the post-grant administration that this module covers.

What does the Administration of Estates module cover?

Short answer
Five learning outcomes covering getting in estate assets and claims, trust and property law issues, accounting and distribution, protection of personal representatives, and the calculation and payment of IHT, income tax and CGT. The module is structured around the statutory frameworks that govern each area — the Administration of Estates Act 1925, the Trustee Act 1925, the Trustee Act 2000, the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, the Inheritance Tax Act 1984, the Administration of Justice Act 1985, and the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992.

Getting in the estate assets and making claims on behalf of the estate (Learning Outcome 1)

The starting point of estate administration proper. Once the grant has been obtained, the personal representatives must collect the assets, identify the liabilities, and begin the process of administration. You'll study the vesting of property in executors and administrators — both statutory powers and any express powers conferred by the will — and the practical process of defining and getting in the assets, including real property, personal property, and intangible assets.

You'll learn to classify the legacies in the will (specific, general, demonstrative, pecuniary, and residuary) and identify devises of real property, because the classification determines the order in which assets are used to pay debts and the priority of abatement if the estate is insufficient. You'll cover ademption (where a specific gift has been disposed of or no longer exists at the date of death) and lapse (where a beneficiary predeceases the testator), including the statutory exceptions under section 33 of the Wills Act 1837. Claims against the estate under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 are covered here too — because the personal representatives need to know what claims may be made before they can safely distribute. You'll also deal with the practical issues of ascertaining and paying debts and liabilities, the means by which money may be raised to pay inheritance tax and debts (including the direct payment scheme and the ability to pay IHT by instalments on qualifying property), and the administration of foreign assets.

Trust and property law issues arising during administration (Learning Outcome 2)

The area where estate administration meets equity and trusts. You'll study constructive trusts and how they arise in the context of estate administration — particularly where someone has contributed to property owned by the deceased and claims a beneficial interest that isn't reflected in the will or the intestacy rules. You'll cover the doctrine of proprietary estoppel (where someone has acted to their detriment in reliance on a promise made by the deceased), which can give rise to claims against the estate that the personal representatives must deal with before they can distribute.

Secret trusts and half-secret trusts present particular risks during administration. A secret trust arises where the testator leaves property to a person on the understanding that they will hold it for someone else — but the trust doesn't appear on the face of the will. A half-secret trust is similar, but the will shows that the legatee holds as trustee without identifying the beneficiary or the terms. You'll learn to recognise both, understand the evidential difficulties they create, and advise the personal representatives on their obligations.

You'll also cover the problems that arise where property is left to co-owners — including the distinction between joint tenancies and tenancies in common, the circumstances in which severance may have occurred before death, and the effect on the administration where the deceased held property as a joint tenant (which passes by survivorship outside the estate) versus as a tenant in common (which forms part of the estate and passes under the will or intestacy rules). Finally, you'll study when an assent is required to vest legal title in a beneficiary or trustee — the formal requirements, the effect of a written assent, and the protection it gives the beneficiary.

The accounting and distribution process (Learning Outcome 3)

The procedural core of estate administration. You'll study the process of ascertaining the beneficiaries — which requires more than simply reading the will, because beneficiaries may have predeceased, disclaimed their interest, assigned their entitlement, or become subject to a court order under the 1975 Act. You'll cover the rights and remedies available to beneficiaries pending distribution, including their right to information about the estate, their right to compel the personal representatives to administer properly, and the court's power to intervene if the administration is being conducted improperly.

The practical skills in this learning outcome are the payment of legacies and the transfer of estate assets to beneficiaries — including the order of payment, the effect of abatement where the estate is insufficient to meet all legacies, and the formal requirements for transferring different types of asset (real property by assent, shares by stock transfer form, money by distribution). You'll calculate the residuary estate — which requires a complete account of all assets collected, all liabilities paid, all legacies satisfied, and all administration expenses deducted. You'll prepare estate accounts — the formal record of the administration that the personal representatives present to the residuary beneficiaries. And you'll study the rules of apportionment — the principles that determine how income arising during the administration period is allocated between capital and income beneficiaries, and between beneficiaries entitled to different shares of the residue.

Protection of personal representatives (Learning Outcome 4)

The safeguards that allow personal representatives to distribute without incurring personal liability. You'll study the statutory advertisement procedure under section 27 of the Trustee Act 1925 — the requirement to advertise in the London Gazette and in a newspaper circulating in the district where the deceased's land is situated, giving notice to creditors and beneficiaries to come forward within a specified period. If the personal representatives distribute after complying with section 27, they are protected from personal liability to unknown creditors and beneficiaries — but not from claims by those persons against the beneficiaries who received the assets.

You'll cover Benjamin Orders — orders of the court that authorise the personal representatives to distribute on the assumption that a particular event has or has not occurred (typically that a missing beneficiary has predeceased), protecting them from personal liability if that assumption turns out to be wrong. You'll also study orders under section 48 of the Administration of Justice Act 1985, which allow the court to authorise the personal representatives to distribute even where a claim under the 1975 Act may be outstanding. Finally, you'll cover the statutory power to insure under section 23 of the Trustee Act 2000, which allows personal representatives to take out missing beneficiary insurance as an alternative to a Benjamin Order — a faster and less expensive option in many cases.

Calculation and payment of inheritance tax, income tax and capital gains tax (Learning Outcome 5)

The tax compliance element that runs through the entire administration. Where the Wills, Succession and Grants module covers the completion of the IHT400 (the pre-grant tax account), this module deals with the ongoing and post-grant tax obligations — the continuing IHT liability (including corrective accounts where asset values change), the income tax position of the estate during the administration period, and the capital gains tax consequences of disposing of estate assets.

You'll study inheritance tax in depth: the nature and incidence of the charge, lifetime dispositions (gifts made by the deceased within seven years of death that are brought into account as potentially exempt transfers or chargeable lifetime transfers), partially exempt transfers (where the estate is divided between exempt and non-exempt beneficiaries, requiring the grossing-up calculation), transfers on death and the options for mitigation after death. Post-death alterations — deeds of variation and disclaimers — are covered here because they can redirect the destination of estate assets and change the IHT position retrospectively (provided the requirements of section 142 of the Inheritance Tax Act 1984 are met). You'll cover the principles of valuation and calculation, the available exemptions and reliefs (including the spouse/civil partner exemption, the charity exemption, agricultural property relief, and business property relief), and the taxation of assets held in settlements.

Income tax during the administration requires the personal representatives to deal with both pre-death liability (the deceased's income tax position up to the date of death, which may require a return to HMRC) and post-death liability (income arising on estate assets during the administration period, which is taxed on the personal representatives at the basic rate and accounted for to beneficiaries with a certificate of tax deduction — form R185).

Capital gains tax covers the nature of the charge, the identification of chargeable gains and allowable losses, the available exemptions and reliefs (including the annual exempt amount for the tax year of death and the following two tax years), the treatment of the deceased's pre-death disposals (which may give rise to a CGT liability that the personal representatives must discharge), and disposals during the administration — where the personal representatives sell or transfer estate assets and must calculate any gain arising by reference to the probate value as the base cost.

Note: The unit specification was published in September 2016. Several areas of tax law covered by the module have changed materially since then. The IHT domicile regime was replaced from 6 April 2025 by a residence-based test ("long-term UK residence"), which affects the treatment of foreign assets and cross-border estates. The IHT400 form was last updated in December 2025 to reflect these changes. From 6 April 2027, unused pension funds and death benefits will be brought into the estate for IHT purposes under Finance Act 2026. The course materials reflect the current law.

What will I be able to do after completing the Administration of Estates module?

Short answer
Get in the estate assets, settle the liabilities, deal with trust and property law complications, protect yourself as a personal representative from personal liability, distribute the estate, prepare estate accounts, and calculate and pay the IHT, income tax and CGT arising during the administration. This is the module that equips you to take an estate from the issue of the grant through to the final distribution and closure.

Advise clients on getting in estate assets and dealing with claims

After completing the module, you'll be able to identify all the assets comprising the estate, classify the legacies in the will, determine whether any gifts have adeemed or lapsed, ascertain and pay the debts and liabilities of the estate (in the correct statutory order), deal with foreign assets, and advise the personal representatives on claims that may be made against the estate under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 — including the interaction between family provision claims and the timing of distribution. In practice, the ability to manage the asset collection process efficiently while keeping sight of potential claims is what separates competent estate administration from risky administration.

Deal with trust and property law issues that arise during administration

You'll be able to recognise when a constructive trust or proprietary estoppel claim arises in the context of an estate, advise on the implications of secret and half-secret trusts, determine the correct treatment of jointly owned property (including whether severance has occurred), and prepare the assent documentation needed to vest legal title in beneficiaries. These issues arise more frequently than many students expect — jointly owned property in particular is a feature of the majority of estates, and getting the legal analysis right determines whether property passes inside or outside the estate.

Distribute the estate and prepare accounts

You'll be able to calculate the residuary estate, determine the correct order of payment of legacies, apply the rules of abatement, resolve creditor claims, and prepare estate accounts that accurately record every step of the administration. The estate accounts are the formal closing document of the administration — they demonstrate to the residuary beneficiaries that the personal representatives have administered the estate properly, and they provide the basis for the final distribution. Getting them wrong exposes the personal representatives to challenge.

Protect personal representatives from personal liability

You'll understand and be able to apply the statutory protection mechanisms — section 27 advertisements, Benjamin Orders, section 48 orders, and missing beneficiary insurance. Knowing when and how to use each one is a practical skill that directly affects whether the personal representatives can distribute safely. Distributing without adequate protection is one of the most significant risks in estate administration — it can leave the personal representatives personally liable to unknown creditors or missing beneficiaries.

Calculate and pay IHT, income tax and CGT

You'll be able to deal with the full range of tax obligations arising during estate administration — not just the initial IHT position (which is covered in Wills, Succession and Grants), but the ongoing IHT adjustments (corrective accounts, instalment payments, relief claims), the income tax liability of the estate during the administration period, and the CGT consequences of disposing of estate assets. You'll also be able to advise on post-death variations and disclaimers and their tax effect. The tax compliance element of estate administration is often the most time-consuming part of the process — and the area where errors have the most significant financial consequences.

What's included in the £745 module price?

Short answer
The full Diploma support package: Knowledge Mapping Assessment, unlimited tutor support, video lectures, downloadable materials, live recorded webinars, eBook Central access, a dedicated Revision & Mock Exam Module, a tutor-marked mock exam with written feedback, your final exam, and a free first resit.

Knowledge Mapping Assessment

Personalised diagnostic that maps your existing knowledge so you focus where it matters.

Unlimited tutor support

Named practising solicitor or licensed conveyancer — response within one working day.

24/7 student advisor support

For admin, technical, and scheduling queries any time.

All course materials

Video lectures, downloadable PDFs, interactive modules, and resources.

Dedicated webinar series

Live sessions with your tutor — all recorded and available on the VLE.

eBook Central access

Legal textbook library, included for the duration of your study.

Revision & Mock Exam Module

Practice questions on each examined area — all with model answers, plus a full mock exam . This is a dedicated VLE module that sits alongside the main course materials, designed specifically for exam preparation.

Tutor-marked mock exam

Submit your mock and receive personalised written feedback from the module leader before you sit the real exam. This is the diagnostic — the point where your tutor advises whether you're ready to book.

Final exam

Booked on demand, 6 days a week. Three delivery options: online with remote invigilation, at your workplace (if your employer is a CLC- or SRA-regulated practice), or at one of our 15 UK assessment centres.

First resit included

At no extra cost if you don't pass first time.

Certificate and credits

From Qualifications Scotland on successful completion.

What our students say about The Administration of Estates

Feedback from Level 6 Administration of Estates students, 2025–2026.

"Really enjoyed this module. Everything was explained clearly and the Quizzes were a fantastic way of me testing my knowledge and deciding where I need to improve."

Olivia
Administration of Estates student

"The video lecture together with the notes works really well. It is useful to have points explained and confirmed."

Meena
Administration of Estates student

"The lectures and notes provided by the tutor, very informative, works well when completing the quiz."

Leah
Administration of Estates student

How is the Administration of Estates module assessed?

Short answer
One 3-hour supervised open-book exam (plus 15 minutes reading time). The exam is booked on demand — no fixed sittings — and scheduled within 14 days of your application, 6 days a week. Three delivery options: online with remote invigilation, at your workplace, or at one of our 15 UK assessment centres. Two attempts are permitted (first sit plus one free resit). 89% of students pass first time (Mar 2025 – Mar 2026).

The exam is open-book: you're permitted to bring the current Property Law Statute Book and one relevant Probate textbook into the exam room and refer to them throughout. You may also use a silent, non-programmable calculator — and you will need it: Learning Outcome 5 requires you to calculate inheritance tax, income tax and capital gains tax, and the case study scenarios include detailed figures.

The exam carries 100 marks in total, structured around two case study scenarios. The first case study covers Learning Outcomes 1, 2 and 4 (getting in the assets, trust and property law, and protection of personal representatives) and is worth 60 marks. You'll be presented with a client scenario involving estate administration after the grant has been obtained — the personal representatives need to collect the assets, deal with claims against the estate, resolve trust and property law issues, and protect themselves before distributing. The case study scenario is pre-seen: you receive it one week before the exam (without the questions), giving you time to familiarise yourself with the facts, identify the applicable law, and prepare your reference materials.

The case study will include real and personal property owned by the deceased, at least one property subject to CGT, tangible and intangible assets that have been destroyed since the will was made (testing ademption), at least one foreign asset, a full and a half secret trust, a legacy which has failed (testing lapse), a lifetime promise constituting proprietary estoppel, the devolution of jointly owned property including an analysis of possible severance, claims against the estate (which may include the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 or constructive/resulting trusts), and a post-death alteration (either a deed of variation or a disclaimer).

The second case study covers Learning Outcomes 3 and 5 (accounting and distribution, and tax) and is worth 40 marks. You'll be presented with an estate and asked to explain the distribution to the personal representative as client — setting out the accounting and distribution process, preparing estate accounts, completing an IHT400 form, and calculating CGT due. The case study will include inheritance tax implications where assets are held in settlements, at least one matter making the estate complex (such as agricultural property relief, business property relief, lifetime gifts, foreign assets, or cross-border and domicile issues), at least one secured and one unsecured creditor, at least three beneficiaries (including both pecuniary and residuary legatees, at least one of whom is disputing their entitlement), property owned by more than one person, information stating income tax due, and an asset subject to CGT.

The pass mark is 50% overall for each case study.

Preparation support includes the Revision & Mock Exam Module on the VLE (practice questions on each examined area, a full mock exam with model answers) and the tutor-marked mock. The tutor-marked mock is the key preparation step: you submit it under exam-like conditions, the module leader marks it and provides written feedback, and that feedback tells you whether you're ready to book the exam or whether specific areas need more work.

Booking the exam. When you feel ready, you apply through the Assessment Information section of the module on the VLE and choose your delivery option: online (remote invigilation via webcam), at your workplace (if it's a CLC- or SRA-regulated practice), or at one of our 15 designated UK assessment centres (Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Guildford, Halifax, Hendon, Ipswich, Leeds, Leicester, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Sheffield, Watford). Access Law arranges the exam within 14 days. Six days a week of availability means the date is rarely the constraint — your own readiness usually is.

Online exam requirements. If you choose to sit online, you'll need a webcam, a microphone, and a stable broadband connection (recommended 5 Mbps download / 2 Mbps upload minimum).

How long does the Administration of Estates module take to complete?

Short answer
It depends on what you already know — and whether you've dealt with estate distribution, trust issues, and post-grant tax compliance before. The module carries 68 guided learning hours and 140 hours total qualification time — the same weighting as the Wills, Succession and Grants of Representation module (14 credits). A typical student studying alongside full-time work takes 3–5 months. An experienced probate practitioner or estate administrator who completes the Knowledge Mapping Assessment can finish in as little as 6–8 weeks.

If you're new to estate administration

It depends on what you already know — and whether you've dealt with estate distribution, trust issues, and post-grant tax compliance before. The module carries 68 guided learning hours and 140 hours total qualification time — the same weighting as the Wills, Succession and Grants of Representation module (14 credits). A typical student studying alongside full-time work takes 3–5 months. An experienced probate practitioner or estate administrator who completes the Knowledge Mapping Assessment can finish in as little as 6–8 weeks.

If you're new to estate administration

Most students studying The Administration of Estates for the first time complete the module in 3–5 months alongside full-time work. The module covers five distinct areas — collecting assets and dealing with claims, trust and property law, accounting and distribution, protection of personal representatives, and tax (IHT, income tax, and CGT) — which means the volume of material is substantial. The tax learning outcome in particular requires you to be comfortable with numerical calculations under exam conditions. You'll work through the video lectures and course manual, practise with the Revision & Mock Exam Module, submit your tutor-marked mock, and then book the exam when your tutor confirms you're ready.

There are no fixed terms, no cohort start dates, and no scheduled sessions you need to attend at a set time. You study at your own pace and book the exam when you're prepared.

If you already work in probate

If you work in a probate department and already deal with estate distribution, beneficiary enquiries, and the tax compliance that follows the grant, you're familiar with much of what the module covers. The KMA identifies that existing competence and focuses your study on the areas where formal knowledge is needed: the precise statutory provisions for personal representative protection (section 27 advertisements, Benjamin Orders — you may use them in practice without knowing the legal basis), the trust law issues (constructive trusts, proprietary estoppel, secret trusts — which arise less frequently but carry disproportionate marks in the exam), and the CGT and income tax calculations (where the detail required goes beyond what most practitioners handle day-to-day, since these are often delegated to accountants in practice).

For experienced practitioners, the effective study time can shrink to 6–8 weeks — focused primarily on exam technique and the Revision & Mock Exam Module rather than learning the underlying law from scratch.

Learn how the Knowledge Mapping Assessment works 

How does The Administration of Estates fit into the full Diploma?

Short answer
The Administration of Estates is the second of three modules in the Level 6 Diploma in Probate Law and Practice (£1,920). It's a Probate-only module — it doesn't count toward the Level 6 Conveyancing Diploma.

The Level 6 Diploma is the final academic stage for those wishing to become Licensed Probate Practitioners. Completing it, together with 1,200 hours of practical experience, makes you eligible to apply to the CLC for your first qualifying licence.

Most students study The Administration of Estates second — after Wills, Succession and Grants of Representation. The subject matter builds directly on the grant procedure and succession law covered in that first module. Where Wills, Succession and Grants covers the process up to and including the issue of the grant, Administration of Estates covers everything that follows. Managing Client and Office Accounts is typically studied last, because it builds on the transaction knowledge from the other two modules.

You can study the three modules in any order. There are no formal prerequisites between them.

Module

Assessment

Price

Routes

Wills, Succession and Grants of Representation

3-hour exam

£745

Probate only

The Administration of Estates (this module)

3-hour exam

£745

Probate only

Managing Client and Office Accounts

2-hour exam

£745

Conveyancing and Probate

The full Level 6 Diploma price is £1,920 — less than the sum of the individual module prices (£2,235) — and includes the same support package across all three modules. If you start with The Administration of Estates as a standalone module (£745) and upgrade to the full Diploma within 30 days of passing, you pay the difference (£1,175) and your total spend is identical to enrolling on the Diploma from day one.

All three Level 6 modules are assessed by supervised open-book exam. The Wills, Succession and Grants of Representation and Administration of Estates exams are each 3 hours (plus 15 minutes reading time). The Managing Client and Office Accounts exam is 2 hours (plus 15 minutes reading time). All exams carry 100 marks and a 50% overall pass mark.

Can I upgrade to the full Diploma after passing The Administration of Estates?

Short answer
Yes — but only if The Administration of Estates is the first standalone module you've purchased with us. The upgrade path is available once, within 30 days of being notified you've passed your first module. If you've already completed other standalone modules before this one, you've chosen the modular route and the upgrade option is no longer available.

In practice, The Administration of Estates is less commonly the first standalone purchase than Wills, Succession and Grants — most students start with WSG because it covers the foundational procedural knowledge. But if you're an experienced probate practitioner who already has strong grant and succession knowledge and chose to start with the module that challenges you most, the 30-day upgrade window applies in the same way.

The upgrade mechanics: within 30 days of passing, you can transfer onto the Level 6 Probate Diploma. You pay the difference between what you've already paid (£745) and the Diploma price (£1,920) — so £1,175 extra.

 

Upgrade route

Modular route

When it applies

AoE is your first standalone module

You've already completed other standalone modules

Diploma price

£1,920

N/A (buy remaining modules individually)

Less: Land Law already paid

- £745

-

You pay to upgrade

£1,175

Remaining modules at individual prices

Total cost for all 5 modules

£1,920

£2,235 (£315 more)

Not sure which route is right for you? If you're fairly confident you'll want the full Diploma, enrolling on it from the start saves £315 and gives you 2 years of VLE access (versus 12 months per standalone module). If you're genuinely unsure — perhaps you want to test the VLE and tutor support, or you're waiting for an exemption decision on one of the other modules — starting with The Administration of Estates and keeping the upgrade window open is the lower-risk option.

View Level 6 Diploma in Probate

Who is the Administration of Estates module for?

Short answer
Anyone completing the Level 6 Diploma in Probate Law and Practice — whether as the next step after Level 4, as a fast-track route for law graduates, or as the final academic requirement before applying for a CLC licence. It's also available as a standalone module for experienced practitioners who want formal recognition of their estate administration expertise, or for candidates with exemptions from the other two Level 6 modules who only need Administration of Estates (and possibly Accounts) to complete their Diploma.

Level 4 Diploma graduates progressing to Level 6

This is the most common scenario. You've completed (or been exempted from) the Level 4 Diploma in Probate Law and Practice, and the Level 6 Diploma is your next step toward becoming a Licensed Probate Practitioner. Most students study Wills, Succession and Grants of Representation first and then move to Administration of Estates — the subject matter assumes familiarity with the grant process and the types of succession covered in that module, and the exam scenarios are set after the grant has been obtained. The exam format is the same (supervised, timed, scenario-based, open-book), but the case studies are more numerically demanding — Learning Outcome 5 requires detailed IHT, income tax and CGT calculations.

Law graduates and LPC holders entering the CLC route

If you hold a qualifying law degree (LLB, BA in Law, or GDL), you'll typically have been exempted from the entire Level 4 Diploma and can enrol directly on Level 6. You may have studied equity and trusts at degree level, which gives you a head start on Learning Outcome 2 (constructive trusts, proprietary estoppel, secret trusts) — but the module goes substantially beyond undergraduate coverage on the practical administration and tax elements. If you also hold a relevant LPC elective, you may be eligible for exemption from this module — see the exemptions section below.

Professional Experience Exemption candidates

If you've entered Level 6 via the CLC's Professional Experience Exemption (for fee-earners with 4+ years of continuous probate practice and no prior legal qualifications), you'll need to complete all three Level 6 modules. Administration of Estates is often the module where PEE candidates feel most at home — you've been distributing estates, preparing accounts, and dealing with beneficiary queries for years — but the exam requires you to articulate the legal principles, cite the statutory provisions, and produce detailed tax calculations in a way that goes beyond practical know-how. The KMA will identify which areas need formal study and which you can move through quickly.

Employers funding targeted training

Some firms enrol individual staff on Administration of Estates to develop post-grant expertise in a team member who currently handles only the pre-grant stages, or to formalise the knowledge of someone who already manages estate distribution. The module carries the same support package as the full Diploma — it's a fair trial of everything we offer.

Do I need any prior qualifications to study The Administration of Estates?

Short answer
Yes — this is a Level 6 module. To enrol, you must have either completed the Level 4 Diploma in Probate Law and Practice or hold a recognised exemption from it. Exemptions from the Level 4 Diploma are available for holders of a qualifying law degree (LLB, BA in Law, or GDL), and for candidates who have entered the CLC route via the Professional Experience Exemption. There are no additional entry requirements beyond the Level 4 prerequisite.

If you haven't completed Level 4, you'll need to do so first — or apply for an exemption. Our Exemptions Calculator can tell you in minutes whether your existing qualifications exempt you from Level 4.

The Knowledge Mapping Assessment at the start of the module will tailor your study plan regardless of your background. If you're new to estate administration (perhaps you completed Level 4 with exemptions and haven't practised in this area), the KMA maps out the full syllabus. If you already work in probate and have practical familiarity with estate distribution, tax compliance, and beneficiary management, it identifies your gaps and focuses your study time there.

Am I exempt from the Administration of Estates module?

Short answer
You might be — but exemptions from this specific module at Level 6 are relatively uncommon. Most candidates entering the Level 6 Probate Diploma need to complete Administration of Estates. The main exceptions are candidates who hold a law degree plus an LPC (awarded within the last 6 years) with the Wills and Administration of Estates core unit AND the Private Client (Wills, Probate and Estate Planning) elective, STEP members who hold the Will Preparation certificate alongside either the Administration of Estates or Administration of Trusts certificate, Solicitors and FCILEx Practitioners with a current licence, and CILEX Level 6 candidates who passed Unit 14 (Law of Wills and Succession) and Unit 21 (Probate Practice). Use our Exemptions Calculator for a personalised assessment in minutes.

You may be exempt from The Administration of Estates if you fall into one of these categories:

LPC holders (Probate route). You hold a law degree (LLB, BA in Law, or GDL) AND passed the LPC within the last 6 years AND passed the Wills and Administration of Estates core unit AND the Private Client (Wills, Probate and Estate Planning) non-core elective AND Solicitors Accounts. If all of these are satisfied, you're exempt from the entire Level 6 Probate Diploma — no modules required, including Administration of Estates. If you passed the LPC but did not take the Private Client elective, or if you took Property Law and Practice as your core unit instead of Wills and Administration of Estates, you must complete the equivalent Level 6 units. LPC candidates with missing or failed units will have this verified at the point of First Licence Application.

Solicitors and FCILEx Practitioners. If you hold a current and valid practising certificate issued by the SRA, or a current licence from CILEx Regulation (FCILEx), you're exempt from all Level 6 units except Managing Client and Office Accounts. Solicitors qualified via the pre-SQE route who passed Solicitors Accounts on the LPC are also exempt from Accounts — meaning no SQA units are required. If your licence or practising certificate has expired, the CLC's requirements for lawyers with an expired licence apply.

CILEX Level 6 Law and Practice holders. If you passed Unit 2 (Contract Law) AND Unit 14 (Law of Wills and Succession) AND Unit 21 (Probate Practice), you're exempt from the Level 4 Diploma and from the Probate-specific Level 6 units — including Administration of Estates — leaving only Managing Client and Office Accounts (and Landlord and Tenant if you're also pursuing the Conveyancing route). If any of these units were not passed, the equivalent SQA Level 6 unit must be completed. Chartered Legal Executives follow the same pattern.

STEP Advanced Certificate holders. If you hold the STEP Advanced Certificate in Will Preparation AND either the Administration of Estates or Administration of Trusts certificate, you're exempt from both Probate-specific Level 6 units (Wills, Succession and Grants of Representation AND Administration of Estates) — you only need to complete Managing Client and Office Accounts (Probate). However, if you hold Administration of Estates or Administration of Trusts WITHOUT Will Preparation, you're exempt from Administration of Estates but must still complete Wills, Succession and Grants of Representation AND Accounts.

Principal Fellows of NALP. Principal Fellows who completed the Probate elective may progress directly to Level 6 and are exempt from the Grants of Representation unit. However, the Administration of Estates unit must still be completed. All remaining Level 6 units must be completed.

You're not exempt from The Administration of Estates if you hold a law degree only (without the LPC), or if your LPC is more than 6 years old, or if you hold an incomplete CILEX qualification without the relevant probate units, or if you entered Level 6 via the Professional Experience Exemption. Candidates with aged LPC, CLC, CILEX, or other Level 6 or above professional qualifications must pass the full Level 6 Diploma without exemption from any unit — this is the CLC's policy to ensure that your academic knowledge meets the current minimum standard for a First Qualifying Licence.

The aged qualification rule. Legal qualifications awarded more than 6 years prior to the date of a licence application are deemed aged and cannot be used to support exemption from the Level 6 Diploma. This means that even if you passed the LPC with the Private Client elective, if it was awarded more than 6 years ago you'll need to complete The Administration of Estates (and the rest of the Level 6 Diploma) without exemption. The aged qualification policy does not apply to law degrees or other professional legal qualifications used to claim exemption from the Level 4 Diploma, nor to applicants who hold a current and valid licence from the CLC, SRA, or CILEx Regulation.

SQE candidates. If you passed SQE1 FLK1 only, you must complete specific Level 4 units (including Law of Wills, Succession and Grants of Representation) plus all Level 6 units — including Administration of Estates. If you passed both SQE1 FLK1 and FLK2, you only need to complete Managing Client and Office Accounts at Level 6 — you're exempt from The Administration of Estates.

The Accounts module overlap rule. Managing Client and Office Accounts is a shared module — if you're completing both the Probate and Conveyancing Level 6 Diplomas, you only need to pass one Accounts module at Level 6. An exemption will be granted for the other. However, The Administration of Estates is Probate-only and cannot be shared with the Conveyancing route.

Not sure? Use the Exemptions Calculator or contact our team on 0333 052 3844. We can assess your transcripts and confirm your position within 48 hours.

Check your exemptions now

Other common questions

Is The Administration of Estates harder than Wills, Succession and Grants of Representation?

Students' experiences vary, but Administration of Estates is the module most students describe as the most technically demanding at Level 6 Probate. The first case study (60 marks) requires you to deal with a complex estate involving trust issues, property law, failed gifts, foreign assets, claims under the 1975 Act, and post-death alterations — all in one scenario. The second case study (40 marks) requires detailed numerical work: calculating the residuary estate, preparing estate accounts, completing the IHT400, and calculating CGT. By contrast, Wills, Succession and Grants is broader in scope but less numerically intense, and the three shorter case studies mean you're not working on a single complex set of facts for as long.

What students typically find most challenging about this module is the combination of legal analysis and arithmetic under timed conditions. You need to apply trust law principles, identify claims against the estate, and advise on protection mechanisms — and then switch to calculating tax liabilities with precision. The open-book format helps with the legal analysis (you can look up statutory provisions), but the numerical work requires practice under exam conditions. The 89% first-time pass rate (Mar 2025 – Mar 2026) is the highest of the three Probate modules, which suggests that students who reach this point in the Diploma are well prepared.

The Revision & Mock Exam Module and tutor-marked mock are designed specifically to build fluency with the calculations — the more you practise the IHT, CGT and estate account calculations before the exam, the more confident you'll be on the day.

Do I need to have completed Wills, Succession and Grants of Representation before studying this module?

There's no formal prerequisite between the Level 6 modules — you can study them in any order. However, most students study Wills, Succession and Grants of Representation first, and with good reason: the Administration of Estates module assumes that the grant has been obtained and the initial IHT account has been submitted, and the case study scenarios are set at that stage of the process. If you study Administration of Estates without understanding the grant procedure, the succession rules, and the IHT400, you'll be working without the foundational context that the module builds on. For most students, the recommended order is WSG → AoE → Accounts.

What reference materials can I bring into the exam?

The current Property Law Statute Book and one relevant Probate textbook — this is the open-book provision. You may annotate both, highlight passages, and add tabs or bookmarks. No other notes or materials are permitted. You may also use a silent, non-programmable calculator. Note that the permitted materials for this exam differ slightly from the Wills, Succession and Grants exam — the AoE exam permits the Property Law Statute Book (rather than the Course Manual), reflecting the emphasis on statutory provisions and trust/property law in Learning Outcomes 1, 2, and 4.

How long does the module typically take?

See 'How long does the Administration of Estates module take to complete?' above for the full answer — it depends on your background, and can range from 6–8 weeks (experienced probate practitioners using KMA) to 3–5 months (new to estate administration, studying alongside work). The module carries 68 GLH and 14 credits — the same weighting as Wills, Succession and Grants of Representation.

Is The Administration of Estates also part of the Conveyancing Diploma?

No. The Administration of Estates is a Probate-only module. The Level 6 Diploma in Conveyancing Law and Practice has its own distinct modules. The only module shared between the Conveyancing and Probate Level 6 Diplomas is Managing Client and Office Accounts — if you complete one Diploma route and later add the other, you won't need to re-sit the Accounts module.

Can I pay in instalments?

Yes. We offer interest-free payment in 3 instalments of £248.33 or 5 instalments of £149. Select the option in the enrolment widget.

What happens if I don't pass first time?

Your first resit is included at no extra cost. You book the resit through the same process as the first sit — on demand, 6 days a week, at your choice of delivery location. Your tutor will provide written feedback on your first attempt before you re-sit, so you know exactly where to focus your revision.

Where can I sit the exam?

Three options: online with remote invigilation (you'll need a webcam, microphone, and stable broadband), at your workplace (if your employer is a CLC- or SRA-regulated practice), or at one of our 15 UK assessment centres — Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Guildford, Halifax, Hendon (London), Ipswich, Leeds, Leicester, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Sheffield, or Watford. Access Law books the centre on your behalf.

Will I receive a certificate for completing The Administration of Estates?

It depends on how you're enrolled.

Standalone module students receive a formal certificate and 14 formal credits from Qualifications Scotland (unit code HG1C 86) for the Administration of Estates unit when you pass the exam. This is a bankable qualification credit that sits on your record permanently, whether or not you go on to complete the full Diploma.

Full Diploma students won't receive a separate certificate each time you pass a module. When you complete all three modules and pass all assessments, you'll receive your Diploma certificate together with a transcript detailing the individual modules you completed and your results in each. That transcript is issued by Qualifications Scotland and is the formal record of your achievement at module level.

If you've passed the Administration of Estates module (or any other module) but decide to withdraw from the full Diploma programme, you'll receive a certificate for each module you passed. You don't lose the credit for work you've already completed — the modules are yours. If you later decide to return and complete the remaining modules, your passed modules carry forward.

The full Level 6 Diploma in Probate

The Administration of Estates is module 2 of 3

Module 1

Wills, Succession and Grants of Representation

3-hour exam

£745

You are here

Module 2

Administration of Estates

3-hour exam

£745

Module 3

Managing Client and Office Accounts

2-hour exam

£745

Still have questions?

Talk to our team on 0333 052 3844 or email support@alo-email.com. We can help you work out which route is right for you, check your exemptions, or walk you through the enrolment process.

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