Probate - how long?

m1kjm

doodle483 said:

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.

What link did you use for your formal complaint please? I need to stick a rocket up them too.

Snuggles

We had a really good experience with the Probate service despite potential issues and a request for further information. The potential issue was that one of the executors (DH), without thinking, had unstapled the will to copy it and had then re-stapled it, so there were old staple holes present. This had been done whilst the deceased (MIL) was still alive and well, when she gave the will to DH for safe keeping.

On the probate application we explained why it was done, when and who by, but having seen scare stories online we were expecting this would likely be a problem and cause delays. 

02/06/25 Online application
03/06/25 Will sent by special delivery
06/06/25 Email received confirming receipt of will
13/06/25 Email received requesting further information - we were asked to provide any foreign wills or confirm there were no other wills
13/06/25 Reply sent via the probate hub confirming there were no foreign wills
18/06/25 Email received confirming probate granted
20/06/25 Grant received in post

So no issue raised around the will having been un-stapled and very quick even with the request for further info.

We were initially confused as to why we were asked to provide foreign wills. However MIL had used a will writing service, and when we checked, the will said it related to assets in the United Kingdom, which is presumably standard wording used by the will writing service. However, it did read as though there might be overseas assets which weren't covered by the will, but MIL had no such assets.