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First Time Buyers - Grant of Probate

Hi

We are buying a house and have been told the sellers have to obtain grant of probate. Any ideas how long this can take?

We understood from the EA that the sellers have applied for a Grant of Probate weeks ago, however we don't have a precise date.

Anyone any experience of this?
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Comments

  • AnotherJoe
    AnotherJoe Posts: 19,622 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Fifth Anniversary Name Dropper Photogenic
    I could take 6 weeks to a year or longer.
  • nik_k
    nik_k Posts: 301 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Probate is a minefield. It could take weeks, months or years. Yes, years is true, as I know someone who is caught up in a complex probate case involving businesses, which has dragged on for SIX years so far :eek:
  • LandyAndy
    LandyAndy Posts: 26,377 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts
    AndreeaG wrote: »
    Hi

    We are buying a house and have been told the sellers have to obtain grant of probate. Any ideas how long this can take?

    We understood from the EA that the sellers have applied for a Grant of Probate weeks ago, however we don't have a precise date.

    Anyone any experience of this?

    Don't bet on it. :cool:

    If I were you I'd carry on looking while waiting for news on the probate.
  • G_M
    G_M Posts: 51,977 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I heard yestersay from a friend, who has a friend whose mother died over a year ago.


    The Probate Office have queried the will - suggesting it was not signed on the same date that it is dated. 9 months as passed since this was raised and meanwhile the entire Estate is in limbo........
  • Catti
    Catti Posts: 372 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    But all of those cases are unusual. If Probate has been applied for it will usually take around 8-12 weeks. The administration of an estate might take years, but not obtaining the Grant and being able to deal with the sale of property.
  • babyblade41
    babyblade41 Posts: 3,968 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    look elsewhere... it can take from a few weeks to months ..no one can tell you

    If it's relatively quick you can come back to it, but certainly wouldn't bank on it
  • Just for information.....
    My Grandad died back in June. Everything was straightforward, Will and so on.
    21 weeks later, we are still awaiting probate, despite chasing most days.


    Apparently, there is a 40,000 backlog at the moment.


    We have a house sitting empty, with a buyer....
    The smaller the monkey the more it looks like it would kill you at the first given opportunity.
  • AndreeaG
    AndreeaG Posts: 12 Forumite
    Hi all,

    Thank you for your messages.

    From what we understood the seller's have applied for the Grant of Probate on the 1st August 2019. So it's been like 12 weeks since they applied would there be an answer soon?
  • G_M
    G_M Posts: 51,977 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    AndreeaG wrote: »
    From what we understood the seller's have applied for the Grant of Probate on the 1st August 2019. So it's been like 12 weeks since they applied would there be an answer soon?
    See the replies above.


    No one can know. Do you want us to just say "Don't worry - it will all be sorted by the end of the week"?
  • babyblade41
    babyblade41 Posts: 3,968 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    As GM stated above... there is a huge backlog I believe so taking longer than it used to but no one can say..it depends on so many things
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