probate times...why so long? 18 August 2022 at 2:52PM in Deaths, funerals & probate 7 replies 348 views

kev1744

ok,
so i applied for probate start of april. for my fathers estate
simple will, only really need probate to allow me as executor to sell the house. total value of estate is under tax threshold, im the only executor.
since applying ive had one email from probate asking me to clarify couple of things...which were answered straight away.
ive asked for case to be escalated as it seems to be taking forever.
im now sat in webchat queue where its saying next available person to chat to is 1 hour 72 minutes and 56 seconds away.

what really annoys me is that since starting this process my sister who was a beneficiary of the will has also passed away...perhaps if the probate dept had been a bit quicker i could have at least made her last few weeks more comfortable.

rant over...but really why are they so bloody rubbish?

kev1744

good news...time on webchat is now...1 hour 64 minutes....obviously time works differently in probate department as 8 minutes have passed there but 34 minutes here in real time!

kev1744

hurrah got through on webchat...to be told...i can see your case was marked for escalation on the 8th july...it hasnt as yet been picked up in the ecalation dept yet...i will escalate it again.
jesus they are incompetent.

Pennylane

kev1744 said:

hurrah got through on webchat...to be told...i can see your case was marked for escalation on the 8th july...it hasnt as yet been picked up in the ecalation dept yet...i will escalate it again.
jesus they are incompetent.

Totally incompetent Kev and I speak from personal experience.  I did read somewhere that the Probate service is so poor that it is all being overhauled.  I will see if I can find the link although any overhaul is too late for me. 

Mrs_Z

The whole process is and has been and continues to be utterly dreadful.  Probate application submitted 14/3 for a simple estate, sole executor (me), well under the inheritance tax threshold.  The application has been 'stopped' as they are waiting for IHT421 from the Inland Revenue who in turn say they have not received the IHT400.  I don't know what to do any more.  I've re-submitted the IHT400 on 25/7, complained for the Probate AND Inland Revenue... still nothing.  I can't chase the Inland Revenue myself as they dont comment on individual cases.  It's crazy that there isn't an address where the forms could be sent as Recorded Delivery or better, a portal where to upload the documents - I mean they have it for personal tax returns so why not for submitting IHT400??
It's bad enough to lose a dear friend as it was in my case, but this whole thing just drags the grief along.  I'd like to put the property on the market, hopefully sell it quickly and move on with my life but I can't as every day and checking wishing hoping the the probate comes through.  Everything else has now been sorted, banks, pensions etc - just this one thing dragging on and on.  

tooldle

Here is their blog https://insidehmcts.blog.gov.uk/2022/02/28/working-together-to-avoid-delays-to-probate-applications/ 

The Law Society also post updates on how the service is running .
My own experience has been good with recent grant confirmed within 8 weeks and a more historic case turned around within 4 weeks. 

Marmaduke123

If there are any queries it seems to put a stop on the whole thing and cause endless delays, judging by people's experience on here.

My experience was also good, simple will, I was the executor and sole beneficiary, no IHT as spouse to spouse. Just under 6 weeks from application date 

kev1744

well hows this for a coincidence.....during my webchat i asked about making an official complaint....person i was talking to said they could take details and do that for me....so i made my complaint.
15 minutes later and obviously totally not connected...i get an email saying probate has been granted!

yes thats right....i COMPLAINED and it got GRANTED !

considering the person on webchat told me that no one had actually looked at the file yet and advised me to recontact in 2 weeks ive got to wonder what they actually did?