Probate timescales

JPRIV225

Just wondered how long people are finding it to get a grant of probate at the moment. We applied 7 weeks ago and not heard a thing back apart from the acknowledgement that Inheritance tax has been paid. Would be interested to know your experiences

blobbyrob

There's already a few posts regarding this. One example below.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6198558/timescale-for-probate#latest

JPRIV225

Thank you. Was mainly interested in whether the 8 weeks estimate is from date of sending  off the paperwork or from confirmation of HMTCs acknowledging receipt which appears to be 2 weeks after getting the paperwork. Hope that makes sense!

turquoisespiff

I submitted probate application online on a Saturday and then posted off the will on the following Monday. 9 days later got an email to say it had arrived and they'd be in touch within 8 weeks. 1 minute after that, got an email to say it had been approved! Form arrived in the normal post about 5 days after the email. Shockingly straightforward but Dad's was a simple case as he was below IHT threshold and had no real physical assets barring a few bits of Mum's jewellery and a watch of his. 

SevenOfNine

I did HMRC & probate application on-line on 17th Nov & posted the Will same afternoon for next day delivery.  Rec'd email notification of receipt of that today, 26 Nov at 11:22 & at 11:25 I got a "Grant approved" email!  Hard copy is in the post & may take up to 10 working days to arrive.  Estate is about £50k under IHT threshold.

7 working days, I'm gobsmacked!  

badmemory

Probably done by someone sitting in their pyjamas in their kitchen, but still awesome.

ic

I'm buying a house and have been waiting on my vendors to get a replacement probate.  It finally arrived after a four and a half month wait. 

Mark7799

Have stumbled across this thread looking to find out others' experiences. I was aware of the eight week timescale on the gov.uk website so didn't contact them until 8 weeks after I received the acknowledgment email. Was told it was in the system and would be another week or two. Called again yesterday to be advised it could be at least another six weeks. I am fuming - have sent a formal email of complaint (an earlier email not even acknowledged within a week). Any suggestions how I can push this further? I have a house sale pending on this.

lisyloo

My experience (and reading the other threads) is either a couple of weeks or 4-5 months.

lisyloo

Mark7799 said:

Have stumbled across this thread looking to find out others' experiences. I was aware of the eight week timescale on the gov.uk website so didn't contact them until 8 weeks after I received the acknowledgment email. Was told it was in the system and would be another week or two. Called again yesterday to be advised it could be at least another six weeks. I am fuming - have sent a formal email of complaint (an earlier email not even acknowledged within a week). Any suggestions how I can push this further? I have a house sale pending on this.

Did you ask them where is was is the process and what the hold up was.
I was able to get mine pushed along a little.

Mark7799

lisyloo said:

Mark7799 said:

Have stumbled across this thread looking to find out others' experiences. I was aware of the eight week timescale on the gov.uk website so didn't contact them until 8 weeks after I received the acknowledgment email. Was told it was in the system and would be another week or two. Called again yesterday to be advised it could be at least another six weeks. I am fuming - have sent a formal email of complaint (an earlier email not even acknowledged within a week). Any suggestions how I can push this further? I have a house sale pending on this.

Did you ask them where is was is the process and what the hold up was.
I was able to get mine pushed along a little.

I asked but was just told it was a backlog.  As I am an only child and sole inheritor (my mother was also an only child) I would have thought it would be a straightforward case. Have sent an email of complaint and am tempted to write to my MP if I get no response.