Probate - how long?

m1kjm

madbadrob said:

m1kjm said:

madbadrob said:

Nearlyold said:

A slightly caustic but amusing explanation of why the delays here 

https://www.theprobatedepartment.co.uk/probate-delays/?amp

alas this guy is nothing to do with the probate office.  His sitye as basically lifted the majority of it from the proper probate office pages on delays anod how long.  He is breaking the law as well because his website doesnt have anywhere on there showing his reegistered business address (IT cannot be a po box number neither) where papers can be served if there ever is an issue.  He is nothing but a Will writer reading what I have and whilst your link was shared with the right intentions it could lead to people being "stung" as none of us know what he is qualified if anything to do.  IN fact he states clearly on his page he " is not insured to give probate advice " so why is he calling his page  The Probate Department I dont know.

Rob

It's very evident it's not a professional website and given the problems I'm experiencing in obtaining probate I found it a very interesting read and a refreshing change from all the people bragging about receiving probate within a week.  I'm thrilled for them but the reality for some of us is very different and the more people shining a light on this issue the better as far as I'm concerned.

Point taken however I would never be linking anyone to any will writers site because it is the worst thing anyone can do.  Actually the site is awful and is a professional site.  I did a lot of digging after my post and it seems he has passed himself off in one business as an attorney.  He is also the regional head of the Will Writers Society ( a group of will writers getting together to make the whole business sound legitimate) and that site he is using to direct people to those he considers (pay him in other words) best for the person contacting him.  I wonder if he will be subject to no win claims in the future for not telling people he was taking a coimission from those he works with.

That was and is my reason for making the post.  Not everyone is able to tell the difference between websites so its worth pointing these out when they appear

We're evidently using professional in different ways - you mean in relation to a business whereas when I said not professional I meant the shoddy presentation.  Surely to goodness that unprofessional presentation should alert people not to pay them any fees.

madbadrob

m1kjm said:

We're evidently using professional in different ways - you mean in relation to a business whereas when I said not professional I meant the shoddy presentation.  Surely to goodness that unprofessional presentation should alert people not to pay them any fees.

I agree however how many people are caught out by scams on sites where the presentation is shoddy as well?  I guess i tend to lean to the side of caution and work on the assumption that not everyone is as clued up as the next one.  Again it goes to one of two of my grandfathers quootes I live by expect the unexpected.  

Rob

DancingBadger

IHT422 posted 18 April, chased by phone on 31 May and was given the code.  Letter with the code dated 8 May received yesterday 17 June.🙄

in the meantime, IHT paid and IHT400 and relevant Schedules posted 10 June.  

Not a great a start, but I live in hope of being surprised.

SoozyJ22

DancingBadger said:

IHT422 posted 18 April, chased by phone on 31 May and was given the code.  Letter with the code dated 8 May received yesterday 17 June.🙄

I know it doesn't help you now but this may be helpful for others reading. It's possible to apply for the IHT reference number online rather than sending IHT422 by post. I applied online in mid February and received the code through the post ten days later. 

https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/shortforms/form/CAR_IHT_Pre_Ref

DancingBadger

SoozyJ22 said:

DancingBadger said:

IHT422 posted 18 April, chased by phone on 31 May and was given the code.  Letter with the code dated 8 May received yesterday 17 June.🙄

I know it doesn't help you now but this may be helpful for others reading. It's possible to apply for the IHT reference number online rather than sending IHT422 by post. I applied online in mid February and received the code through the post ten days later. 

https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/shortforms/form/CAR_IHT_Pre_Ref

Lesson learned.  I'll be making an online application for Probate once I receive the code from HMRC.

SoozyJ22

I've appreciated people sharing their experiences here so thought I'd add mine. Large estate (just over £2 million) though relatively simple (just savings, shares and property) with IHT payments taken from 4 different places.

17/2 - IHT reference number applied for online
27/2 - IHT reference number received in the post
20/5 - IHT400 etc posted as well as IHT423s
21/5 - IHT400 etc arrived at HMRC
5/6 - Final IHT payment made (there was a slight delay with one bank due to a scanning issue)
9/6 - Probate code received from HMRC
10/6 - Probate application made and will posted
11/6 - Will arrived at HMCTS Harlow
16/6 12:48 - Confirmation from HMCTS that will had been received 
18/6 18:53 - Probate granted

SnowMan

Here are the HMCTS April probate wait times. The table has been created by me from the data.  The monthly update data is published on the second Thursday of each month, so the next update will be the May data which comes out in July.

Overall there were 26,883 applications received in February and 23,622 grants issued. The overall average wait time is unchanged at 6.3 weeks. Variations between consecutive months can be as a result of differences in which cases HMCTS have been working on. Note these are mean (average) figures and there can be considerable variation from the mean in individual cases even within categories. For example the mean time for digital stopped applications is currently 12.7 weeks but the time for an individual digital stopped case may vary considerably from this figure.

SnowMan

And here is my chart from that data of the average wait times over time for digital/paper, stopped/non stopped grants issued up to April 2025.

doodle483

So my advice is to call them if there is any delay (e.g. over a month if an online application) and skip the part saying 'if your application was within 12 weeks press X', just keep pressing for other enquiry and stay on hold until you speak to someone.

I hope I'm one of the unlucky ones. Dates below but two months passed and there was no movement on the online system. I've just spoken to someone on the phone and it turns out the 'scanning department' didn't scan in the final page of the will when creating the electronic copy. A re-scan was requested from them at the beginning of May... nothing happened. And again at the beginning of June... again nothing. The person today promised to follow this up and request again, but I questioned why anything would be different the third time requesting. I offered to email them a scan including the final page but they said they need to have it scanned by their own scanning department, my copy wouldn't count.

So, if you suspect yours have been 'stopped', call them and demand to know the reason why. Don't bother emailing, they don't reply and I've only ever seen the web chat live once.

02/02/25: Requested IHT reference number.
18/02/25: IHT reference received. 
25/03/25: Sent IHT forms, arrived the next day. IHT already paid by NS&I transfer and online payment.
22/04/25: IHT code generated/confirmed IHT all paid.
23/04/25: Probate application submitted online and will sent 24-hour delivery.
23/06/25: Found out through my own chasing that they've been sitting on an incorrectly scanned will for months without doing anything about it.

doodle483

Pleased to say I have an update.

02/02/25: Requested IHT reference number.
18/02/25: IHT reference received. 
25/03/25: Sent IHT forms, arrived the next day. IHT already paid by NS&I transfer and online payment.
22/04/25: IHT code generated/confirmed IHT all paid.
23/04/25: Probate application submitted online and will sent 24-hour delivery.
23/06/25: Found out through my own chasing that they've been sitting on an incorrectly scanned will for months without doing anything about it.
24/06/25: Registered a formal complaint... a few hours later, probate was granted.

Just waiting for the grant by post.