How long does probate take?

If someone close to you has died and you need to deal with their estate, one of the first questions you’ll have is how long all of this is going to take. The honest answer is that it depends — on the size of the estate, whether inheritance tax is due, and whether anyone disputes the will. But there are clear benchmarks for each stage, and knowing them helps you plan.

This guide breaks down the full probate timeline in England and Wales: how long it takes to get the grant, how long estate administration takes afterward, what causes delays, and what you can do to keep things moving. If you’re ready to start the application, our step-by-step guide to applying for probate covers the forms, fees, and process in detail.

The short answer

For a straightforward estate with no inheritance tax and no disputes, the typical timeline looks like this:

• Getting the grant of probate: 4–8 weeks for online applications; up to 16 weeks for paper applications
• Administering the estate after the grant: 6–12 months for straightforward estates
• Total from death to final distribution: 9–18 months in most cases

Complex estates — those involving property sales, overseas assets, inheritance tax, or family disputes — can take 18 months to 2 years or longer.

The government’s current guidance states that you’ll “usually get probate within 16 weeks of submitting your application” (gov.uk — Applying for probate). In practice, online applications are often processed faster than this — sometimes within 4 weeks.

How long does it take to get a grant of probate?

The grant of probate (or grant of letters of administration, if there’s no will) is the court document that gives you the legal authority to deal with the deceased’s estate. Until you have it, banks, building societies, and the Land Registry won’t release assets to you.

Current processing times

The government’s official position is that applications are processed within 16 weeks of submission (gov.uk — Applying for probate). However, this is a worst-case estimate that accounts for backlogs and paper applications. The reality varies:

Online applications are faster because the HMCTS (His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service) processes them digitally. Paper applications require manual handling and posting of documents. Around 80% of probate applications are now made online (gov.uk — Applying for probate).

Before you can apply

The clock on the application only starts when you submit it — and there’s preparation work before that point:

• Registering the death and getting the death certificate — typically within 5 days of the death in England and Wales (gov.uk — Register a death)
• Locating and reading the will (if one exists)
• Valuing the estate — contacting banks, building societies, pension providers, and HMRC to establish the total value
• Completing the inheritance tax form — either the short form IHT205 (for estates below the threshold) or the full IHT400 if tax is due (gov.uk — Inheritance Tax)
• Paying any inheritance tax due before the grant — HMRC requires payment (or an instalment arrangement) before issuing the tax code you need to complete the probate application. See our guide to dealing with HMRC when someone dies for the full income tax, self-assessment, and IHT process.

This preparation phase typically takes 4–8 weeks. If the estate is complex — with multiple properties, business interests, or overseas assets — it can take longer.

Fees

The probate application fee is £300 for estates worth more than £5,000. Estates worth £5,000 or less pay no fee. Extra copies of the grant cost £16 each — it’s worth ordering several, as banks and other organisations will each want to see an original (gov.uk — Applying for probate). For a full breakdown of all costs — including solicitor fees and how to reduce them — see our probate costs guide.

How long does estate administration take after the grant?

Getting the grant is a milestone, but it’s the starting point for estate administration — the process of collecting assets, paying debts, and distributing what’s left to the beneficiaries. This is where most of the time goes.

Typical timeline for a straightforward estate

For an estate with a few bank accounts, no property to sell, no inheritance tax, and no disputes, administration typically takes 6–9 months from the date the grant is issued.

For an estate that includes a property sale or inheritance tax, 9–18 months is more realistic.

Here’s a breakdown of what happens and how long each step tends to take:

These stages overlap — you don’t wait for one to finish before starting the next. An executor will typically place creditors’ notices, write to banks, and instruct estate agents in the same week.

What affects how long probate takes?

Some estates are settled within six months. Others take two years or more. The main factors that determine where yours falls:

Inheritance tax

If the estate is above the inheritance tax threshold (currently £325,000, or up to £500,000 if the family home is left to direct descendants), you’ll need to complete form IHT400 and submit it to HMRC before you can apply for probate. HMRC typically takes 4–8 weeks to process the form and issue a reference code — and they may come back with queries that extend this further (gov.uk — Inheritance Tax).

Tax must be paid (or an instalment plan agreed) before the grant is issued. If you need to sell property to fund the tax bill, this creates a timing problem: you often need the grant to sell the property, but you need the tax paid to get the grant. In practice, executors can apply for a “grant on credit” arrangement or use a loan to cover the tax while the property is sold.

Property

Selling a property is typically the single biggest source of delay. The average house sale in England and Wales takes 4–6 months from listing to completion, and estates can be slower if the property is empty or needs work. You will generally need the grant of probate before you can sell — though you can market the property and accept offers before the grant arrives.

Contested wills and disputes

If a beneficiary or potential beneficiary challenges the will, they can enter a caveat at the Probate Registry. A caveat prevents the grant from being issued for 6 months (and can be renewed). Will disputes can take 1–3 years to resolve if they go to court, though many are settled through mediation.

The Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 gives certain categories of people — including spouses, children, and financial dependants — the right to challenge a will if they believe it doesn’t make reasonable financial provision for them. Claims must be made within 6 months of the grant being issued (legislation.gov.uk — Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975).

Overseas assets

If the deceased owned property, bank accounts, or investments abroad, you may need to obtain a separate grant of probate (or equivalent) in each country where assets are held. This can add months to the process and often requires a local solicitor.

Missing beneficiaries or unclear wills

If a beneficiary named in the will can’t be located, the executor must make reasonable efforts to find them before distributing the estate. Professional tracing agents are commonly used. Ambiguous wills — where the meaning of a clause is unclear — may need court interpretation.

Number of financial institutions involved

Each bank, building society, and pension provider has its own bereavement process and timeline. Most release funds within 2–4 weeks of receiving the grant, but some are slower. If the deceased held accounts at many different institutions, the collection phase takes longer simply because of the volume of correspondence.

The creditors’ notice period

One of the less well-known steps in estate administration — and one that often surprises executors — is the statutory creditors’ notice period.

Under section 27 of the Trustee Act 1925, executors can protect themselves from personal liability by placing notices in The Gazette (the official public record) and a local newspaper, giving creditors at least 2 months to come forward with any claims against the estate (legislation.gov.uk — Trustee Act 1925, section 27).

If an executor distributes the estate without placing these notices and an unknown creditor later emerges, the executor could be held personally liable for that debt. Placing the notices and waiting the full 2 months provides legal protection.

Do you have to place a notice?

Placing a section 27 notice is not a legal requirement — it’s a protective measure. For very small or simple estates where you’re confident there are no unknown debts, some executors skip it. But for any estate of significant value, or where you’re uncertain about the deceased’s financial commitments, it’s strongly recommended.

A Gazette notice costs around £120 (as at March 2026; check The Gazette’s wills and probate page for current pricing).

Can you speed up probate?

You can’t control the Probate Registry’s processing time, but you can avoid delays that are within your control:

Before applying:

• Apply online — online applications are processed significantly faster than paper applications (gov.uk — Applying for probate)
• Value the estate thoroughly before submitting — incomplete or inaccurate valuations lead to queries from HMRC, which adds weeks
• Get the IHT form right first time — if inheritance tax applies, errors on form IHT400 mean HMRC will send it back for correction
• Order extra copies of the death certificate — at least 3 or 4. Having them ready means you can notify multiple organisations simultaneously rather than waiting for one to return the original before sending it to the next
• Gather documents early — locate the will, identify all bank accounts, pensions, and investments, and request balances as soon as possible after the death

After the grant:

• Send the grant to all institutions at once — order multiple copies of the grant (£16 each) and post them out simultaneously rather than sequentially
• Place creditors’ notices promptly — the 2-month clock starts on the date of publication, so placing them early means you can distribute sooner
• Respond to HMRC promptly — any queries about inheritance tax or the deceased’s self-assessment returns will delay estate closure if left unanswered
• Consider a solicitor for complex estates — professional help can speed up the process overall, even if individual steps feel slower, because solicitors know what to anticipate and how to avoid common pitfalls

Is 12 months too long for probate?

Twelve months is within the normal range for many estates. HMRC considers 12 months from the date of death to be the expected timeline for estate administration — this is known as the “executor’s year.” If you’re distributing the estate within 12 months, you’re broadly on track.

That said, “normal” doesn’t mean you should accept unnecessary delays. If an estate has been with a solicitor for 12 months and nothing seems to be happening, it’s reasonable to ask for an update and a clear timeline for the remaining steps.

Estates that take longer than 12 months are not unusual when they involve:

• A property sale (especially in a slow market)
• Inheritance tax calculations or disputes with HMRC
• A contested will or Inheritance Act claim
• Overseas assets requiring foreign grants of probate

If you’re a beneficiary waiting for a distribution, you have the right to ask the executor for regular updates. If you believe the executor is unreasonably delaying the administration, you can apply to the court for them to provide an inventory and account of the estate.

Can you sell a house before probate?

You can market a property and accept an offer before probate is granted. What you cannot do is complete the sale — the buyer’s solicitor will require sight of the grant of probate before they’ll allow their client to exchange contracts, because until the grant is issued, the executor has no legal authority to transfer the property.

In practice, this means you can instruct an estate agent, arrange viewings, and negotiate a price before probate comes through. This is common and advisable if timing matters — especially if you need the sale proceeds to pay inheritance tax. Your conveyancing solicitor can prepare all the paperwork so that exchange and completion happen quickly once the grant arrives.

One important exception: if the property was jointly owned as joint tenants (rather than tenants in common), it passes automatically to the surviving joint owner by right of survivorship. In this case, probate is not needed to transfer the property — the surviving owner just needs to send the death certificate to HM Land Registry to update the title (gov.uk — Update the register after a death).

What happens if probate takes longer than expected?

Delays happen, and they’re frustrating — especially when you’re grieving and want to bring things to a close. Here’s what to do if things are taking longer than they should:

If you’re the executor:

• Contact the Probate Registry to check your application status — call 0300 303 0648 (Monday to Friday, 9am–1pm) or email contactprobate@justice.gov.uk (gov.uk — Applying for probate)
• Check whether HMRC has raised queries on the inheritance tax form — unanswered HMRC letters are a common cause of silent delays
• Chase any banks or financial institutions that haven’t responded to your correspondence
• If you’re using a solicitor, ask them for a written update with a revised timeline

If you’re a beneficiary:

• Ask the executor for an update — they have a duty to keep beneficiaries informed
• If the executor is a professional (a solicitor or bank), check their terms of engagement for any service-level commitments
• If you believe the delay is unreasonable, consider writing a formal letter requesting an account of the estate administration
• As a last resort, you can apply to the court under section 25 of the Administration of Estates Act 1925 to compel the executor to provide an inventory and account (legislation.gov.uk — Administration of Estates Act 1925, section 25)

When you might need a solicitor

You don’t have to use a solicitor for probate — many people handle straightforward estates themselves using the government’s online application service. But certain situations benefit from professional help:

• Inheritance tax is due — the IHT400 form is complex, and mistakes can be costly. A solicitor or specialist probate accountant can help ensure you claim all available reliefs
• The estate includes a business or agricultural property — business relief and agricultural property relief have specific rules that are easy to get wrong
• The will is contested — if you anticipate (or receive) a challenge under the Inheritance Act 1975, legal representation is essential
• There are overseas assets — you may need grants of probate in multiple jurisdictions
• The will is unclear or contains errors — ambiguous wills may need court interpretation (a “construction summons”)
• There are disputes between executors or beneficiaries — a neutral professional can sometimes resolve disagreements without court action
• You’re uncomfortable with the responsibility — executors have personal liability for the estate’s debts and taxes. If the responsibility feels overwhelming, a solicitor can act as your agent or take over as administrator

Solicitors’ fees for probate work vary widely. Some charge a fixed fee (typically £2,000–£5,000 for straightforward estates), while others charge a percentage of the estate value (usually 1–2% plus VAT). Always ask for a written fee estimate before instructing anyone, and get quotes from at least two firms.

Probate timeline at a glance

This table summarises the full timeline for a typical estate, from death to final distribution:

Related guides

If you’re not yet certain whether probate is needed at all, see our guide to do I need probate? — it covers joint assets, small estates, and how to check with each institution before applying.

NS&I (National Savings & Investments) has one of the lowest probate thresholds of any major UK savings institution — £5,000 across all products combined. If the deceased held Premium Bonds or other NS&I accounts, see our guide to notifying NS&I after a death.

Sources

• gov.uk — Applying for probate — application process, fees, current processing times
• gov.uk — Dealing with the estate — estate administration after the grant
• gov.uk — Inheritance Tax — thresholds, rates, and IHT400 guidance
• gov.uk — Register a death — registration timelines and requirements
• legislation.gov.uk — Trustee Act 1925, section 27 — creditors’ notice requirements
• legislation.gov.uk — Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 — rights to challenge a will
• legislation.gov.uk — Administration of Estates Act 1925, section 25 — court powers over executor conduct
• The Gazette — Wills and probate notices — section 27 notice placement