Probate tech issues on government website

AnAnonUser

Posting  in case anyone else is thinking its their computer or firewall etc

For anyone doing probate online, note that there are technical issues with the website (eg it fails at random points).

Cryptic and useless error messages, strings of random digits 50 characters long and text "connection refused" or "Microsoft Error".

Webchat said they have no date for a resolution, "its been like this for a few days"  -  "try later" 

Brought to you by HMG, also building a new NHS Covid tracking App that ignores the Apple and Google APIs and as a consequence is less secure and uses more battery.

7thwave

Yes, I was having the same random errors last year when applying for a grant of probate. I did find that persevering did pay off - just keep refreshing/resubmitting and it would eventually work.

AnAnonUser

Thanks, I've downloaded the form and thats quite good because you can fill it in on the computer so its "almost" online.

Also, I have not checked but as you need to send documents off with it, am i right in thinking that when done with the online form you print it off and post in any case? I'm presuming visiting a probate office is out of the question currently (not keen entrusting those docs to the post), though again haven't checked.

I have some time for this anyway since only just put the estates valuation in and realised it might take 2 months (and I suppose thats in normal times) for them to say yes (or no )

7thwave

The online process ended up with me needing to print out just a single A4 coversheet pdf. The coversheet accompanied the original will and photocopies, which were was the only things I seem to rememer needing to post to HMCTS - the coversheet had a unique reference number on it to link the will to the online application we'd made. Was anxious about posting the will and photocopies, but we used a 'signed for' service and took multiple photocopies for ourselves... In our case the grant of probate came back after 3 weeks, though i guess right now might take quite a bit longer . Apart from the random errors, I thought the online process worked well.

AnAnonUser

Thanks 7th.

Think what I'll do then is complete the PDF locally and when ready to submit which could be weeks away have another crack at the online process using my filled in PDF form as a guide.

DTT880

Wow, three weeks seems awfully quick 7thwave.  Which office did you apply to for the Grant. We are waiting for Grant of Probate from the Oxford office - been almost a month so far and can't even chase.  Need the probate ASAP to complete a property sale so hoping it comes through quickly

AnAnonUser

Just logged on to estates valuation, thinking it might have gone from "submitted" to "being checked" or whatever, amazed to see its been completed and I can now apply for probate.

I only did it about a week ago.

AnAnonUser

Did the online probate entry, only failed once, uploaded death cert,  printed cover sheet as per 7thwave, so only original will and cover sheet needed to be posted, did that this morning. 

Let's see how long it takes. I'll update when it's done,  as a guide to time. 

AnAnonUser

Goodness. Just got an email from Probate, i posted the form on Saturday, its been granted, i should get the probate certs within "5 working days." That will be less than 2 weeks.

badger09

AnAnonUser said:

Goodness. Just got an email from Probate, i posted the form on Saturday, its been granted, i should get the probate certs within "5 working days." That will be less than 2 weeks.

That's incredible. Assume it was a very straightforward estate & nowhere near IHT level?

AnAnonUser

Correct. All left to me (husband) and below IHT.