Farra is a death administration assistant for UK families. Get step-by-step guidance for registering a death, applying for probate, notifying banks, and managing bereavement admin. From essential documents to practical checklists, Farra simplifies estate paperwork and funeral-related tasks so you can focus on what matters.
By 6 months: IHT paid, probate applied for. By 12 months: probate received, assets collected, debts paid, interim distributions made. By 18 months: final distributions, HMRC clearance, executorship closed. IHT at 6 months is the only hard deadline — everything else can flex for genuinely complex estates.
Have more questions on UK death administration? Let Farra help.
See our estate administration checklist for a comprehensive overview of every task.
For the application process in detail, see our guide on applying for probate and our probate documents checklist.
IHT must be paid to HMRC within 6 months of the end of the month of death. Missing this deadline triggers interest at 7.5% per annum (2026 rate) on the unpaid tax — a significant cost.
See our guide on probate delays and IHT interest and our inheritance tax guide 2026–27.
After 12 months, beneficiaries entitled to residue may apply to court if you have not distributed. Make sure you have a clear reason for any delay and communicate it. See our guide on the executor's year.
Complex estates — those involving overseas property, business interests, contested wills, or missing beneficiaries — routinely take 18–36 months. This is not a failure of administration, provided the executor is actively progressing the estate.
For specific complications, see our guides on:
Farra helps executors track every task and deadline throughout the estate administration process. For a deeper overview, see the complete UK probate guide.
Named as executor in a will? Learn your first 10 steps: registering the death, locating the will, valuing the estate, and applying for probate. UK 2026 guide.
How to close and collect funds from bank accounts after probate is granted. What to send each bank, timelines, and what to do with the proceeds. UK executor guide.
What executor final accounts must contain, how to prepare them, the format to use, and when beneficiaries can demand them. UK estate administration guide 2026.
The executor's year gives executors 12 months from death to distribute the estate without being in breach of duty. When does it apply? Can it be extended? UK 2026 guide.
How to formally renounce the executor role. Form PA15, the point of no return, what happens when all executors renounce, and power reserved.
Your AI companion for UK death administration—combining practical guidance with emotional support, available 24/7.
Your AI companion for UK death administration
Free to start • £129 for full access • 30-day guarantee