Probate application - ID Returned, any idea how long now?

jjmcay

Hi all,
We have a probate application in and have just had all the ID we sent with the application returned to us. Just wondering if anyone has any information on the timescale in being granted probate after having their ID returned please? The solicitor dealing with this says it should be imminent however one thing I have learned throughout the process is nothing is quick with probate. Any information on your experiences would be much appreciated, good or bad.

Thank you 🙏 

ratechaser

I got the docs returned within a few weeks, but online, the application still said 'you need to send docs to us' plus I got an email chasing me for them. It took me ages to finally get hold of someone, finally got lucky with their online chat option - turns out that there was a backlog of documents to be scanned into their system but they apparently put a not on the file to chase it up - it took another couple of weeks after that then I got the grant.

Probably 10 weeks from original submission. Might have been longer if I'd not escalated...

(this, by the way, was a very simple Will/estate - single beneficiary, no IHT, no solicitor involved)

jjmcay

Thanks very much for replying
We do have a solicitor dealing with this and while they are helpful they are also very non committal (typically) so we are still pretty much in the dark with timescales. They did see the return of the documents as towards the final step so hopefully we are in a shorter queue now, we haven't been advised that anything else is needed so I am staying positive.
Thanks again for taking the time to reply

SouthCoastBoy

I don't recall sending any documents other than the will? I did apply online.

ratechaser

SouthCoastBoy said:

I don't recall sending any documents other than the will? I did apply online.

Death Certificate?

SouthCoastBoy

ratechaser said:

SouthCoastBoy said:

I don't recall sending any documents other than the will? I did apply online.

Death Certificate?

If my memory serves me correctly,I did phone them and ask about that and they said they didn't need it as could check it online. I could be wrong about that, my memory isn't what it used to be.

JGB1955

SouthCoastBoy said:

ratechaser said:

SouthCoastBoy said:

I don't recall sending any documents other than the will? I did apply online.

Death Certificate?

If my memory serves me correctly,I did phone them and ask about that and they said they didn't need it as could check it online. I could be wrong about that, my memory isn't what it used to be.

I only sent the will - no death certificate, no ID. I guess my Government Gateway, alongside the Tell Us Once service, was enough.

jjmcay

We had to send accompanying ID, they returned my birth certificate which is what I sent to them. The solicitor said they applied online but they also had to send documents for ID purposes. I guess not all applications/circumstances are the same? Hopefully this post will help others if they have ID returned, I will update again once we hear back, which hopefully won’t be too long 🙏

BooJewels

I had a little panic then, we sent off the probate application by post and they got it a month ago today.  I didn't send any ID and don't remember seeing anything about needing to.  So it sounds like different formats of application may have different requirements.

I got the death certificate back a few days ago, so I hope that means it is progressing as expected.  I'm in no rush, as it happens (just need it to sell the house, which isn't ready yet), more concerned that we've actually done it right.

I'll update when I hear back.

poppystar

BooJewels said:

I had a little panic then, we sent off the probate application by post and they got it a month ago today.  I didn't send any ID and don't remember seeing anything about needing to.  So it sounds like different formats of application may have different requirements.

I got the death certificate back a few days ago, so I hope that means it is progressing as expected.  I'm in no rush, as it happens (just need it to sell the house, which isn't ready yet), more concerned that we've actually done it right.

I'll update when I hear back.

I applied by post too and couldn’t remember ever being asked for ID either. I’m pretty sure though that they never sent back the death certificate. It is extra confusing when the different forms of application have different requirements, as you say. Adds to the little moments of panic.

BooJewels

Indeed @poppystar - the process is difficult enough without questioning yourself that you did it wrong.  The brief letter with it said that it had been scanned onto their system, so could be returned.  

I didn't get the Will back though - but I presume that the original is now lodged somewhere in a Government archive, should there be any sort of legal challenge?