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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.
As of July 2026, HMCTS issues most grants of probate within roughly 5–12 weeks of submitting an online application. A clean digital application with no stops tracks towards the faster end, at around 5–6 weeks. Paper applications typically take 20 weeks or more. Applications that are stopped for missing documents or errors add months, so the best thing you can do is get the application right first time and respond quickly to any queries. The complete probate process from death to distribution takes 9–18 months.
Current probate waiting times (Q4 2025)
~5 weeks
National average
~2 weeks
Digital — no queries
~15 weeks
Digital — queried
→ Stable vs Q3 2025 — down from a peak of ~16 weeks in late 2023
Source: MoJ Family Court Statistics Quarterly, March 2026
Where are you in the process?
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How long does probate take in the UK right now? For online applications, HMCTS currently issues most grants within roughly 5–12 weeks of submission. A clean digital application with no stops tracks towards the faster end, at around 5–6 weeks. Paper applications remain much slower, typically 20 weeks or more. These figures are the time to grant only. The full estate administration process from death to distribution typically takes 9–18 months.
| Application Type | Typical Wait (July 2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Digital — no stops | ~5–6 weeks | The faster end of the range for clean applications |
| Digital — overall | ~5–12 weeks | Around 8 in 10 applications are now made online |
| Digital — stopped or queried | Adds months | The biggest cause of long waits; respond promptly |
| Paper application | Typically 20+ weeks | Use the online service where possible |
Source: GOV.UK probate guidance and HMCTS processing data, checked July 2026. Wait times reflect the period from submitting a complete application to receiving the grant of probate. The snapshot above shows the averages from the most recent official quarterly statistics — averages sit below the top of the expectation range because most applications go through without stops.
The honest answer for July 2026: much better than it was. At the late-2023 peak, average waits reached around 16 weeks. Following a government push to clear the backlog, reported waiting times roughly halved, and around 8 in 10 applications are now made digitally. If you submit a complete online application today, a grant within 5–6 weeks is a realistic expectation, and most applicants have their grant within 12 weeks.
The exception is applications that get “stopped” — put on hold because something is missing or does not match. Stops add months, which is why the sections below focus on avoiding them.
The figures above show grant processing time — how long HMCTS takes to issue the grant of probate after you submit your application. But this is just one part of the complete probate process. For a full overview of every stage from death to distribution, see our complete guide to probate in the UK.
This is the stage tracked in our update table above — see the UK Bereavement Statistics hub for current fees and processing times across all bereavement admin.
Why the complete process takes longer: Even after receiving the grant of probate, executors must collect assets, sell property, pay debts, and distribute inheritances. If the estate includes property that needs selling, add 3-6 months for the conveyancing process. Complex estates with multiple properties, overseas assets, or disputes between beneficiaries can take 18-24 months or longer.
An application is “stopped” when HMCTS puts it on hold because something is missing, wrong, or does not match. Stops add months to the wait, and they remain the single biggest reason some families wait far longer than the typical 5-12 weeks. Common causes:
Paper applications typically take 20 weeks or more — several months longer than the online route. If you are able to apply online (most estates can), it is significantly faster. Around 8 in 10 applications are now made digitally.
Estates that owe, or might owe, inheritance tax take longer:
More estates need IHT forms each year as frozen thresholds catch more families — UK IHT receipts hit a record £8.2bn in 2025/26, up 52% in seven years.
Whilst you can't control registry processing times, these steps ensure your application doesn't get delayed:
Saves: months — stopped applications are the biggest cause of long waits
If the registry contacts you with questions:
Saves: weeks — a stopped application only restarts once you respond
Saves: Prevents application rejection and restarting the process
Online applications via GOV.UK are processed far faster than paper applications:
Saves: often 2-3 months compared to paper applications
For estates that need a full IHT400 inheritance tax account, HMRC must process it before your probate application can go ahead:
Saves: weeks of avoidable stops on IHT400 estates
What NOT to do:
Less than they used to. Around 8 in 10 probate applications are now made online, and online applications go into a central national queue rather than to your local registry — so where the deceased lived makes little difference to how long the grant takes.
For the full breakdown of the UK probate registries — what they do, their jurisdictions, and how to find out which one has your case — see our guide to UK probate registries.
Worried your application could be delayed?
1 in 3 are sent back for errors — the real cause of most delays. We'll flag yours in 2 minutes.
You can't access most assets until you receive the grant of probate, but there are important tasks you can progress during the 5-12 week wait. Understanding what you can and can't do is covered in detail in our full UK probate process guide:
Beneficiaries often underestimate how long probate takes. Be upfront from the start: “The grant will take up to 12 weeks, then we need to sell the property, pay debts, and finalise accounts. You should expect your inheritance in 9-12 months.” Regular updates (monthly email) prevent repeated queries and relationship strain.
Yes. This is one of the questions executors ask most, and the answer is more flexible than many people expect. You can put the property on the market, hold viewings, and even accept an offer before the grant of probate arrives. What you cannot do is exchange contracts or complete the sale— the buyer's solicitor will need to see the grant before the sale can legally go through.
In practice, many executors start marketing while the probate application is being processed, so the conveyancing and the grant arrive at roughly the same time. Just make sure the estate agent and any buyer know it is a probate sale, so expectations about timing are honest from the start. For the full picture — including capital gains tax, valuations, and empty-property insurance — see our guide to selling an inherited house.
Current waiting times are the best they have been for years — most online applications receiving the grant within roughly 5–12 weeks, and the HMCTS backlog of open cases falling from around 78,000 to around 39,000, according to HMCTS management information. This is genuinely good news for families applying now.
However, two factors could push waiting times up again in the coming years:
From April 2027, unused pension funds will count as part of the taxable estate for inheritance tax. This means executors will need to coordinate with pension providers — obtaining fund valuations, including pensions in the IHT400, and working with HMRC to calculate the tax before pensions can be fully released.
Professional bodies have warned that this new coordination requirement, involving pension providers, executors, and HMRC in a multi-party process, could significantly increase the time taken to complete estates. The OBR expects tens of thousands more estates to be drawn into IHT.
See our guide on pensions and inheritance tax 2027 for the full picture.
IHT receipts reached a record £8.2 billion in 2025/26, driven by frozen thresholds and rising asset values. More estates require the complex IHT400 form, and HMRC is opening more compliance investigations. Both factors add time to the probate process for affected estates.
What this means for you now: If you are dealing with an estate that includes a pension, start the process early, notify pension providers as soon as possible, and consider taking professional advice — particularly for estates where the pension is large relative to the rest of the estate.
Most applications are processed within the timeframes shown above, but occasionally delays occur. Here's when and how to chase:
Be patient — HMCTS phone lines are often busy. Calling first thing in the morning (9am-9.30am) gives the best chance of getting through quickly.
Have these details ready when you contact HMCTS:
Realistically, chasing rarely speeds things up, but it can:
Be polite and understanding — registry staff are processing thousands of applications and working as quickly as they can.
For online applications, HMCTS currently issues most grants within roughly 5-12 weeks of submission. A clean digital application with no stops tracks towards the faster end, at around 5-6 weeks. Paper applications typically take 20 weeks or more. The complete probate process from death to distributing inheritances typically takes 9-18 months.
As of July 2026, most online probate applications receive the grant within roughly 5-12 weeks, with clean applications going through in around 5-6 weeks. Average waits have fallen substantially from the late-2023 peak of around 16 weeks. Government-reported waiting times roughly halved after a push to clear the backlog, and around 8 in 10 applications are now made digitally.
The biggest cause of long waits is a “stopped” application, put on hold for missing documents, errors, details that don't match the death certificate, or inheritance tax figures that don't match HMRC's records. Stops add months. Paper applications (typically 20+ weeks), estates needing a full IHT400 (you must wait 20 working days after sending it to HMRC before applying for probate), and estate disputes also add significant time.
Apply online rather than on paper (roughly 5-12 weeks versus 20+ weeks). Complete the forms correctly first time so the application isn't stopped, because stops add months. Respond to any HMCTS queries within 48 hours. Have all documents ready before applying: original will, death certificate, and full estate valuation. If the estate needs an IHT400, send it to HMRC early, as you must wait 20 working days after sending it before you can apply for probate.
Wait at least 8 weeks for simple estates or 12 weeks for complex estates before chasing HMCTS. Contact them if you've responded to a query and heard nothing for 3 weeks. Call 0300 303 0648 (9am-5pm weekdays) or email contactprobate@justice.gov.uk with your reference number, deceased's details, and application date. Chasing rarely speeds processing but confirms your application hasn't been lost.
Yes. You can market the property, hold viewings, and accept an offer before the grant of probate arrives. However, you cannot exchange contracts or complete the sale until the grant is issued, as the buyer's solicitor will require it. Many executors market the property during the probate wait so the sale and the grant line up.
You can secure the property, continue valuations, notify organisations, prepare accounts, market a property for sale, and communicate with beneficiaries. You cannot close bank accounts, exchange or complete a property sale, sell shares, claim pensions, transfer ownership, or distribute inheritances until you receive the grant. Never distribute assets before receiving the grant, as executors are personally liable if claims arise later.
The figures above are for the grant of probate itself. The full journey from death to distributing the estate typically takes 9–18 months — here is how that breaks down.
Register the death (within 5 days), arrange the funeral, locate the will and identify the executors, secure the property, and start listing assets.
Get property and investment valuations, request date-of-death balances from banks, and total the debts. See valuing an estate for probate.
Complete the IHT account, pay any inheritance tax due, and submit the PA1P/PA1A application. If a full IHT400 is needed, you must wait 20 working days after sending it to HMRC before applying for probate. See how to complete the IHT400 form.
The Probate Registry checks the application and issues the grant. Current HMCTS processing times are set out above.
Send the grant to banks and providers to release funds, claim pensions and life insurance, and sell property if needed. See notifying banks after death.
Pay debts and expenses, prepare estate accounts, distribute to beneficiaries, and close the estate. Many executors wait six months after the grant before distributing, because that is the window for claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.
Ready to start? See our step-by-step probate application guide.
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