Probate timelines after request for will

propertyhunter

Hello, 

I just wanted to ask how long executors have waited to receive a response from the probate office to receive a grant of probate after they have had to provide a physical copy of the will upon request?

Is it a case of 8-12 weeks all over again, or is it shorter in reality? Has the webchat helped anyone to push it through faster? 

Thanks in advance for any insights! 

p00hsticks

The question comes up regularly, but I'm afraid the answer is that there is no hard and fast rule, it's jsut how long your piece of string is.

I'm not sure what you mean by 'they had to provide a physical copy of the will upon request'.

Part of the probate process includes sending the original will to the probate office.

I know the process has changed in the new year, but when I did an online probate application last year, the final part of the application told me what I needed to then send to the probate office to complete the application - in my case, the original will and a cover sheet with reference number.

Are you saying that in your case the executor submitted the application but does not then send them the will until later requested by the probate office ?

propertyhunter

p00hsticks said:

Are you saying that in your case the executor submitted the application but does not then send them the will until later requested by the probate office ?

Yes, exactly that. Now that they've sent the will back two weeks ago, what has others' experiences been of the timeline to grant of probate?

Dave_5150

propertyhunter said:

p00hsticks said:

Are you saying that in your case the executor submitted the application but does not then send them the will until later requested by the probate office ?

Yes, exactly that. Now that they've sent the will back two weeks ago, what has others' experiences been of the timeline to grant of probate?

Any quoted timescale if from receipt of the documents. This a copy and paste from my receipt email at the end of January.

"You can expect us to take up to 8 weeks to fully process your application after we receive your documents."

If you have been quoted 8-12 weeks then that would start from when they recieve the documents i.e the original will.

My quoted 8 weeks became 14 weeks in total, including full extra 8 week cycle after immediately replying to a simple email query.

propertyhunter

Great, it's been 14 weeks up until this point already, so the thought of another 14 weeks fills me with dread. I hope it doesn't come to that and that it's all done and dusted this time around. 

msb1234

propertyhunter said:

p00hsticks said:

Are you saying that in your case the executor submitted the application but does not then send them the will until later requested by the probate office ?

Yes, exactly that. Now that they've sent the will back two weeks ago, what has others' experiences been of the timeline to grant of probate?

That’s odd. They don’t send the will back - they keep it! When did the person die?

JGB1955

msb1234 said:

propertyhunter said:

p00hsticks said:

Are you saying that in your case the executor submitted the application but does not then send them the will until later requested by the probate office ?

Yes, exactly that. Now that they've sent the will back two weeks ago, what has others' experiences been of the timeline to grant of probate?

That’s odd. They don’t send the will back - they keep it! When did the person die?

I think they mean that the executor has sent the will 'back' to the Probate Office...  That will start the clock ticking again.  Probate can't even begin until the original will is filed.

propertyhunter

msb1234 said:

propertyhunter said:

p00hsticks said:

Are you saying that in your case the executor submitted the application but does not then send them the will until later requested by the probate office ?

Yes, exactly that. Now that they've sent the will back two weeks ago, what has others' experiences been of the timeline to grant of probate?

That’s odd. They don’t send the will back - they keep it! When did the person die?

The person died in March 2022. I was told the probate application was sent early April, then 8 weeks later the executors were asked to send the will, which they did two weeks ago. So in the best case scenario, the shortest timeframe we're looking at must be 6 weeks - so early August. 

Is any attempt for the executors to chase with webchat/phone futile? 

JGB1955

Futile,? Yes  probably/certainly. For whatever reason the original will wasn't lodged.  It's only at THAT point that the process can begin. 

msb1234

So in reality the application for probate was only completed 2 weeks ago, when the will was submitted. Why the executor didn’t send it off when they completed the forms is anyones guess. It’s very clear what you have to do. 

If you try to contact them before the 8 weeks from receipt of the will is up, you’ll not get through to anyone. So you e got 6 more weeks to wait. However, getting probate is the first step to settling an estate. What is it you’re waiting to happen once it’s been granted?

propertyhunter

I literally have no idea why the will wasn't submitted at the time of application. A probate solicitor was involved, which is even more surprising because it's always something you submit. It's incompetence at the most basic level. 

We want to buy the property - and are keen to do so before interest rates spike even higher.