Probate timescales - Oct 21, any recent experience?

RociCap

Interesting - it does seem as though they're moving quicker (or for more simple ones, anyway). I read somewhere they try and get the simple ones signed off ASAP, although I've no idea if that's true.

We're at 5 weeks since they confirmed receipt of documents now, and seven since we submitted online, so we just mustn't be one of the lucky ones that get confirmed quickly as ours is relatively simple... fingers crossed it's soon

t2havock

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1032394/CSV_20211109_Sept20toSept21_MI.csv/preview

Last 4 columns  (timeline up to Sept 21) 5 - 8 weeks (non -stoped cases) 13 - 15 weeks (stopped cases) for digital and upload cases respectively. 

RociCap

DancingBadger said:

An update:
Yesterday I realised I'd not received an email confirming receipt of my documents within the 14-day timescale the Probate Office allow themselves, so I rang them and a very pleasant woman stated they'd been received and were awaiting examination.

At 1254hrs today I received their email confirming receipt. 

Less than two hours later I have another email stating "We approved your probate application".  Yay!

That's exactly six weeks since they received my documents (although they do say to allow 10 working days to receive the grant in the post).

Judging by other posts on here, it seems the Probate Registry is catching up with their backlog, especially with reasonably straightforward applications.

A question - how did you get through to them on the phone? When we've tried calling it asks for your case number and if it's been fewer than 8 weeks it disconnects the call!

RociCap

t2havock said:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1032394/CSV_20211109_Sept20toSept21_MI.csv/preview

Last 4 columns  (timeline up to Sept 21) 5 - 8 weeks (non -stoped cases) 13 - 15 weeks (stopped cases) for digital and upload cases respectively. 

Thank you, that's useful  It's annoying that if you submit yourself (i.e. not via a solicitor) that you've no way of finding out if it's stopped until (presumably) after the 8 week period has passed!

t2havock

You could try webchat between 8-9am is pretty quick to get through. You don’t need to submit a case ID to get through.

DancingBadger

RociCap said:

A question - how did you get through to them on the phone? When we've tried calling it asks for your case number and if it's been fewer than 8 weeks it disconnects the call!

I rang the number on the email I received confirming receipt of my online application,  telling me to send the relevant documents - 0300 303 0648 - and worked my way through the options.  I wasn't asked for the case number at any time - at least, not until I spoke to a real person.  It could be I chose different options to yours as I was actually calling to chase the email I should have received confirming receipt of the will, etc, as opposed to enquiring about the progress of the application.

Thrugelmir

kipsterno1 said:

SiliconChip said:

I submitted my probate application online on 12th November and posted the Will the same day. Today (17th) I had an email from HMCTS at 11:33 to say that they had all the documents and that it can take up to 8 weeks to process. Literally 1 minute later, at 11:34, I received a second email to say my application had been approved and that I should receive the grant in the next 10 days. I think @DancingBadger is probably right that the backlog has reduced considerably, although as suggested my application was pretty straightforward.

Thanks for that. They clearly aren't working through them in any particular order. I sent mine in on the 5th with the paperwork delivered on the 8th. Not heard anything yet but there is no great rush.

Most likely go through an initial vetting stage. Many estates are small and straightforward. If there's no need to involve HMRC then all the better. 

SiliconChip

kipsterno1 said:

SiliconChip said:

I submitted my probate application online on 12th November and posted the Will the same day. Today (17th) I had an email from HMCTS at 11:33 to say that they had all the documents and that it can take up to 8 weeks to process. Literally 1 minute later, at 11:34, I received a second email to say my application had been approved and that I should receive the grant in the next 10 days. I think @DancingBadger is probably right that the backlog has reduced considerably, although as suggested my application was pretty straightforward.

Thanks for that. They clearly aren't working through them in any particular order. I sent mine in on the 5th with the paperwork delivered on the 8th. Not heard anything yet but there is no great rush.

I'd agree with Thrugelmir that it's probably initial vetting: in my case they didn't find anything that warranted further investigation, but in yours perhaps they did. I'd be quite surprised if they don't take a first look at applications in more or less the order that they arrive.

kipsterno1

^^ yeah that may well be the case or I've made an error on something.  It is a straight forward will and IHT 205 and 217 went through ok. Had the clearance certificate in two working days. As I say there is no rush dispite having accepted an offer on the house.
I will update when I hear anything.

kipsterno1

^^ yeah that may well be the case or I've made an error on something.  It is a straight forward will and IHT 205 and 217 went through ok. Had the clearance certificate in two working days. As I say there is no rush dispite having accepted an offer on the house.
I will update when I hear anything.