Probate Discrepencies

faerielight

I did not know when I got my offer accepted that grant of probate had not been granted, even though i gave my offer on the condition it would be likely to be a quick sale, as i have a deadline to move by 01/07/2024.

I was told  last week by my conveyancer that the house I've bought had applied for grant of probate 9 weeks ago, but today, the sellers solicitor said it was applied for on 26th feb 2025. 
I'm so stressed out, I don't know who to believe, and I'm on such a tight deadline to move . 

Flugelhorn

presume you mean 1/7/2025 ? 

TBH probate is unpredictable - maybe better to look for a different property as it could take quite a while 

faerielight

yes, sorry.. dyscalculia 

faerielight

Ive had so many agents like to me throught this process, i am at breaking point. 

pinkshoes

faerielight said:

I did not know when I got my offer accepted that grant of probate had not been granted, even though i gave my offer on the condition it would be likely to be a quick sale, as i have a deadline to move by 01/07/2024.

I was told  last week by my conveyancer that the house I've bought had applied for grant of probate 9 weeks ago, but today, the sellers solicitor said it was applied for on 26th feb 2025. 
I'm so stressed out, I don't know who to believe, and I'm on such a tight deadline to move . 

Firstly, probate and quick sale are somewhat of an oxymoron. It can be quick, but it can also be VERY lengthy.

Secondly, the agents probably weren't lying. They're just passing on information that has been mentioned to them, probably by someone else involved in probate that didn't actually know. The solicitor should be the one with the actual answers.

RAS

If you trust the EA, ask a few questions.
If not, get your solicitor to ask a few questions.

Was there a requirement to pay IHT? On what date was that paid? One issue is that they may have been ready to apply 9 weeks ago, but HMRC get 4 weeks to provide the necessary code to pay IHT.

Did they make a paper or on-line application? Important as on-line applications are processed much more quickly.

SnowMan crunches the numbers and report on the Probate How Long? thread.  Currently 2 weeks for non-stopped applications and 10 for stopped applications. The figures for paper applications are 6 and 21 weeks.

I'd also ask your solicitor to make absolutely clear that you have to move by 1 July 2025, would probably not have offered if you'd known about the 25 February date and ask them to confirm that once probate is granted, they can move to complete before 1 July 2025.

And ask that if the probate application is stopped, you be told immediately, please. 

Don't give up but start looking at alternatives.

faerielight

I don't trust any of them.. it was my conveyancer that said that the info had been passed to them that it had been applied for 9 weeks ago, but did not give me an actual date, and the EA has given me a date of 26/02/2025
I cant find alternatives.. ive spent all my money on the conveyancing searches. ..I havent had any written info at all other than from the convetancer saying 9 weeks.. i find it very hard to get any written info throught the whole process, even though i have requested it due to my disabilites,.  I have emailed and requested info about inheritance tax,  and if it is via online, but not got a response. 

Rodders53

Are all your surveys, searches and due diligence questions with answers completed?  i.e. are you now ready to exchange Contracts at this very moment in time?  Is there a Mortgage needed?

It is now the end of March --> April --> May --> June that's 3 months, 13 weeks.  Not a chance in hell of finding another property and going through the house purchase  process in that timescale.  Unless you are a cash buyer of an Auction property.

(Online?) Probate application lodged almost a month ago. May be granted anytime if the paperwork and IHT payments (if any) are in order.  (Or not if the application is flawed.)

Walk away and cut your nose off... or keep fingers crossed and have a plan for should your move be delayed for alternative accommodation and belongings storage.

faerielight

the searches are due back next week. I have no spare money, no savings at all. im on universal credit. i spend my last £500 on the searches.. i have no money to move into rented..I dont need a mortgage, i had to get a loan  to cover the extra stamp duty of £7k. 

RAS

Just been doing a bit more digging in SnowMan's tables.  A mere 16% of applications are now paper and half of them go through in 10 weeks. Things are so much faster than 2 years ago.

So the odds are very good that you'll be OK. 

Really, do find out if the application was electronic, as you can then relax. 

Does your solicitor know, really know, about your deadline? 

faerielight

my solicitor knows of my deadline as there is an agreement in place for my buyer to pay the 4k roof repair money on completion by the deadline, but my neighbour has insisted i have to pay it if i have not moved by then.. i.I'm under a lot  of stress.  thanks for the stats that does make me feel a tiny bit less panicked