Probate in 8 weeks

msb1234

Pennylane said:

msb1234 said:

No queries when I submitted my mum’s probate application - took about 10 weeks in total for a very small straightforward estate.

Small?  I thought most probate applications were for amounts over £50,000?

In the grand scheme of things, £80k is small. 

JGB1955

Large is anything over £1M.  Small is anything under £5K (NS&I require probate for £5K or more... unless you speak to them nicely)!

That's, obviously, only my interpretation!

TBagpuss

8 weeks is not unreaalistichowever the probate office does seem to vary  and appliations are not necesarily processed in the order in which they arrive, so one might come back within 2 weeks and another snt erlier or at the same time, take 8 weeks. 

Bolt1234

I I will shortly be going through probate at circa £1.5 m.  We have AIMS shares, stocks and shares and cash in bank account.  No house to sell as they were in care home.  Will this take significantly longer?  I am one of three executors.

What happens if I find something after probate is granted.  Parent had tons of bank accounts!  I am thinking of using a solicitor to help us with all of this.

Savvy_Sue

I'm not sure a solicitor will be any more able to find accounts than you will: they'd normally expect family to find information which they then act on.

I think there's a mylostaccount website which should help.

The proceeds from sale of the home may still be available to reduce IHT liability. 

I'm not saying you don't need a solicitor, or maybe a STEP qualified accountant, but do the information gathering first, don't be rushed, and that way you're less likely to miss anything. 

tanmich

We have just only been granted letters of Administration on the 6th December, application was submitted on 22nd July by our Soliciter who had to send them an email as our problem was we had to do both things together ie conveyancing and probate due to the threat from the lender of my hubby's late brothers property and their threat of repossession. His finances were in a mess and it took us 18 months to sift through all his paperwork. My Hubby is the only surviving relative and therefore due to intestacy rules is the only benefactor even though they were estranged and not in contact with each other for many years.
We only found out about his death 6 month later through a post on FB looking for any relatives, his property had been empty since December 2020 and had been ramsacked by intruders so anything of value had already gone, police were no help at all. 

CaptainWales

Just been told that the waiting time to process applications now is up from "up to 8 weeks" to "up to 16 weeks". 

Monkeeboy

Like others I’m finding the service from the Probate office is non existent. I applied online for a simple estate and handed all documents into North Shields registry and given a receipt acknowledging every document handed in. Told likely 8 weeks for grant to be provided. 5 weeks later received a copy of the cover sheet, undated, with the interim death certificate and requesting I send all documents. I called them and was on hold for over an hour to be told they had everything and to ignore the undated over letter. The response didn’t inspire confidence. I’m now over 8 weeks and like others have been told it’s now a wait of 16 weeks, although they confirmed the case hasn’t been stopped or seen by an examiner.
What is annoying though is its clear from a search or probate’s granted that cases clearly submitted after I did (dates of death shown as after I submitted documents) shows Grants have been given, some in less than 4 weeks. This is very irritating. It would help if HMCTS provided updates within the account even indicating where you are on the list awaiting an examiner. As it is we are left just hanging on hoping it will happen soon.

Sjo1

Agreed very poor service. Have just had email confirmation of succesful application 30 weeks after submission and 20 weeks after answering queries.
The call centre team are generally very pleasant but the stock answering is 'we're very busy you'll be dealt with at some point'. 
It's bad enough dealing with emotional side of things but to have what feels like a never ending wait is a awful experience