Probate

monkey78_2

Hi my mother died six weeks ago, she left a will and her partner is executor to the estate. Me and my sister are in the will be are not very close to our mothers partner.
He applied for probate about a month ago. could anybody give me some idea of how long probate takes and a idea of the process involved.
Many Thanks

cabbage

it depends really. You have to do a fair bit of work before you get granted Probate. When probate is granted it is on a public register and you can search the register for your mum's name. From this you can get a copy of the Probate and the Will. Find out your local Probate Registry on the following link. You can then phone up to find out how to search the register

http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/infoabout/civil/probate/index.htm

thorsoak

First of all, the executor has to inform the various bodies - employer, DWP, mortgage co, insurance companies etc of the death of your mother. S/he then has to gather in details of all moneys in the estate - wages/pensions, income tax due and bank, building society, ISAs etc at the date of death, plus the value of any vehicles owned and possessions - jewellery etc. If there is a property in the estate, the value of the property, at the date of death. Then he has to gather in details of all moneys owed at the date of death - from utility bills to credit card bills.

Once these figures are to hand, s/he has to fill in the probate form and the tax form - and it is only
after all these steps have been taken that there can be a distribution of the sssets. It would be reasonable to allow three months

Caroline_a

You also have to issue notices. These go in and have to be left for 2 months and a day - I know about this, having only just found out about it. Our solicitor is useless.... we are now nearly 12 months on with me having sorted all paperwork for him, plus the will was relatively simple. I had the copy of the Grant of Probate about 6 weeks ago, and when I chased yesterday was told 'oh yes, the notices have gone in now, will be another 2 months'!!!:eek:

SmlSave

Probate generally takes a couple of months. But just getting Probate doesn't mean that the estate has been administered, this can take ages!

It depends what assets there are in the estate, if there's a property to deal with, if there's any family problems and a host of other things.

Caroline_a is talking about Section 27 Notices which get placed in the local newspapers at the almost end of the adminsitration. They give an indemity to the Executors that should an liability turn up after the 2 month period, its too late and the Executors don't have to pay it.

Also an R27 tax form has to be completed and the Inland Revenue can easily take 3 months plus to deal with it - delaying things further.