Paper probate

Perdusys1955

We had to apply for probate as a paper PA1P due to a change in executors, the named solicitors agreed to renounce in favour of some of us beneficiaries.

We sent the paperwork and additional items as requested, including the deed of renunciation, death certificate and will etc.

A few weeks after that, we received the original death certficate back, with a letter stating they would be in touch if they needed anything else. We haven't heard anything since, and we were wondering if that meant that everything is in order and we just need to wait for the Letter of Administration to be sent. Has anyone had to make a paper application, and how long did it take?

This is an estate where there is no IHT to pay, as charity payments and tax free allowances take it out of IHT. It's only been 7 weeks so far, so obviously might be in the system still.

poseidon1

Following article may provide insight in likely length of time for probate to be issued - 8 to 12 weeks appears to be common -

https://www.hibberts.com/guides/how-long-does-probate-take/

Perdusys1955

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81986484#Comment_81986484

Just a word of warning if you are doing a paper application, as far as I can see, nothing explains that you should get an email acknowledging receipt and giving you a case number. Poseidon 1's article link explained that waiting was 8 to 12 weeks, and as far as I can tell you cannot contact them until 12 weeks has elapsed. Unfortunately, after 12 weeks, and after a 2 hour wait on their help line, it seems that the scan of our application had scanned in the wrong email address. They had apparently emailed three times during the 12 weeks, obviously with no response.

Secondly, the reason they contacted us was to say the will was a copy, and they need the original. The will is the original will obtained from the solicitors, has anyone got any experience of this happening? None of the suggested actions apply, the will is not missing and the solicitors have not gone out of business.