Current Grant of Probate timescale - 12wks or better?
Discussion
Just applied for Probate and sent off the original will, we can now start to market and advertise the property.
I have done everything online and wondering what the current timescales are like, I believe they were knocking them out of the park after COVID but not sure if back to business as usual (up to 12 weeks)
Cheers.
I have done everything online and wondering what the current timescales are like, I believe they were knocking them out of the park after COVID but not sure if back to business as usual (up to 12 weeks)
Cheers.
The Gauge said:
We applied at beginning of January and apart from receiving confirmation of receipt we have heard nothing. However ours is complicated by the original will having been stolen in a burglary so effectively dying intestate
They will only contact you if they need more info.No news is good news!
This time last year...
About 10 days.
Applied for probate 28/4 and Grant of Probate 9/5.
In this case there was IHT to pay so it was not possible to apply for probate at first and most of the time was with HMRC and then once IHT was paid and the matching figures were supplied to HMCTS then probate was granted very quickly.
7/2 HMRC Inheritance Tax Reference request sent
13/2 HMRC Inheritance Tax Reference received
26/2 Sent IHT400 Forms to HMRC
19/3 HMRC agreed amount of IHT to Pay
22/3 Requested Bank to Pay IHT
11/4 Bank pays HMRC
25/4 HMRC agrees IHT has been paid and provides unique code needed to apply for Probate
28/4 Applied for Probate to HMCTS and posted Original Will
9/5 Grant of Probate
About 10 days.
Applied for probate 28/4 and Grant of Probate 9/5.
In this case there was IHT to pay so it was not possible to apply for probate at first and most of the time was with HMRC and then once IHT was paid and the matching figures were supplied to HMCTS then probate was granted very quickly.
7/2 HMRC Inheritance Tax Reference request sent
13/2 HMRC Inheritance Tax Reference received
26/2 Sent IHT400 Forms to HMRC
19/3 HMRC agreed amount of IHT to Pay
22/3 Requested Bank to Pay IHT
11/4 Bank pays HMRC
25/4 HMRC agrees IHT has been paid and provides unique code needed to apply for Probate
28/4 Applied for Probate to HMCTS and posted Original Will
9/5 Grant of Probate
Around October last year.
Completed online on the Tuesday.
Wednesday posted the required docs Special Delivery before 1pm next day. Included the only original copy of the will.
Monday following week received email saying documents received, will be in contact if need more info, estimated timescale 12 weeks.
Monday evening same day, email arrives announcing probate approved and grants will be sent by post
Arrived later that week.
Since then our RM delivery service level has dropped to almost non existent.
Completed online on the Tuesday.
Wednesday posted the required docs Special Delivery before 1pm next day. Included the only original copy of the will.
Monday following week received email saying documents received, will be in contact if need more info, estimated timescale 12 weeks.
Monday evening same day, email arrives announcing probate approved and grants will be sent by post
Arrived later that week.
Since then our RM delivery service level has dropped to almost non existent.
roca1976 said:
Thanks for the replies.
Fortunately we have been able to pay IHT from available assets so the house is the remaining asset to be sold and split three ways. We all get on well and have agreed to accept the first decent offer and not try and hold out for every last penny...
In my case all the time spent was with HMRC and having gone through HMRC and paid the IHT then the submission to HMCTS was just the nett and gross totals with all the work done and agreed so HMCTS only needed to check the will and approve.Fortunately we have been able to pay IHT from available assets so the house is the remaining asset to be sold and split three ways. We all get on well and have agreed to accept the first decent offer and not try and hold out for every last penny...
I'm still convinced this was an anomaly but our timescale last year was:
18th March 1pm - IHT reference received plus second email saying we could apply for probate. By this stage I had everything ready to go so sent it
18th March 1.50pm - Payment acknowledgement and application acknowledgement emails received, the latter containing a link to which documents needed to be put in the post (done same day)
26th March 8.44am - email acknowledgement of receipt of physical documents & standard wording of "We can take up to 12 weeks to process your application"
26th March 10.41am - email confirmation of grant of probate!
We'd already put the house on the market with a clear "subject to probate" clause, so the exchange & completion went ahead fairly quickly after it was granted.
18th March 1pm - IHT reference received plus second email saying we could apply for probate. By this stage I had everything ready to go so sent it
18th March 1.50pm - Payment acknowledgement and application acknowledgement emails received, the latter containing a link to which documents needed to be put in the post (done same day)
26th March 8.44am - email acknowledgement of receipt of physical documents & standard wording of "We can take up to 12 weeks to process your application"
26th March 10.41am - email confirmation of grant of probate!
We'd already put the house on the market with a clear "subject to probate" clause, so the exchange & completion went ahead fairly quickly after it was granted.
FiF said:
Around October last year.
Completed online on the Tuesday.
Wednesday posted the required docs Special Delivery before 1pm next day. Included the only original copy of the will.
Monday following week received email saying documents received, will be in contact if need more info, estimated timescale 12 weeks.
Monday evening same day, email arrives announcing probate approved and grants will be sent by post
Arrived later that week.
Since then our RM delivery service level has dropped to almost non existent.
Almost exactly the same timescale for me. Had a question by e-mail, which was answered straight away and the probate was granted a couple of days later.Completed online on the Tuesday.
Wednesday posted the required docs Special Delivery before 1pm next day. Included the only original copy of the will.
Monday following week received email saying documents received, will be in contact if need more info, estimated timescale 12 weeks.
Monday evening same day, email arrives announcing probate approved and grants will be sent by post
Arrived later that week.
Since then our RM delivery service level has dropped to almost non existent.
CambsBill said:
I'm still convinced this was an anomaly but our timescale last year was:
18th March 1pm - IHT reference received plus second email saying we could apply for probate. By this stage I had everything ready to go so sent it
18th March 1.50pm - Payment acknowledgement and application acknowledgement emails received, the latter containing a link to which documents needed to be put in the post (done same day)
26th March 8.44am - email acknowledgement of receipt of physical documents & standard wording of "We can take up to 12 weeks to process your application"
26th March 10.41am - email confirmation of grant of probate!
We'd already put the house on the market with a clear "subject to probate" clause, so the exchange & completion went ahead fairly quickly after it was granted.
Oof. When things go right!18th March 1pm - IHT reference received plus second email saying we could apply for probate. By this stage I had everything ready to go so sent it
18th March 1.50pm - Payment acknowledgement and application acknowledgement emails received, the latter containing a link to which documents needed to be put in the post (done same day)
26th March 8.44am - email acknowledgement of receipt of physical documents & standard wording of "We can take up to 12 weeks to process your application"
26th March 10.41am - email confirmation of grant of probate!
We'd already put the house on the market with a clear "subject to probate" clause, so the exchange & completion went ahead fairly quickly after it was granted.
A year ago both IHT & probate submissions for my Mum went through well within the targets. More recently an IHT overpayment claim (investment loss 'twixt death and probate) took rather longer. Good in the end.
Seems to be by anecdotal threads as this 'un to be somewhat random.
ChrisH72 said:
Really strange how much difference there can be in response times.
As I said earlier my documents were received 11th November but it wasn't until 21st January when they requested further information.
Maybe it's just down to luck?
I suspect if an initial scan says everything is present & (on the face of it) correct then it gets rubber-stamped straight away to get it off the to-do pile. If any anomalies are flagged from that first scan then the filing gets added to a list for further review which means you're waiting for however long it takes to get to the top of that list.As I said earlier my documents were received 11th November but it wasn't until 21st January when they requested further information.
Maybe it's just down to luck?
When we get probate (or letters of administration) i think my brother, sister and myself (being executors and beneficiaries of mums estate) are going to open an executors bank account for her estate to be paid into. That way we can settle individual expenses that we have each accumulated over the months since she died, and then equally distribute the remainder between us.
This should enable a clear audit trail of the movement of her money should it be required
This should enable a clear audit trail of the movement of her money should it be required
CambsBill said:
ChrisH72 said:
Really strange how much difference there can be in response times.
As I said earlier my documents were received 11th November but it wasn't until 21st January when they requested further information.
Maybe it's just down to luck?
I suspect if an initial scan says everything is present & (on the face of it) correct then it gets rubber-stamped straight away to get it off the to-do pile. If any anomalies are flagged from that first scan then the filing gets added to a list for further review which means you're waiting for however long it takes to get to the top of that list.As I said earlier my documents were received 11th November but it wasn't until 21st January when they requested further information.
Maybe it's just down to luck?
The Gauge said:
When we get probate (or letters of administration) i think my brother, sister and myself (being executors and beneficiaries of mums estate) are going to open an executors bank account for her estate to be paid into. That way we can settle individual expenses that we have each accumulated over the months since she died, and then equally distribute the remainder between us.
This should enable a clear audit trail of the movement of her money should it be required
Did the same thing. Bank account was a normal joint (two execs.) one which we chose to call "Executors of Mrs AB Noise".This should enable a clear audit trail of the movement of her money should it be required
The Gauge said:
When we get probate (or letters of administration) i think my brother, sister and myself (being executors and beneficiaries of mums estate) are going to open an executors bank account for her estate to be paid into. That way we can settle individual expenses that we have each accumulated over the months since she died, and then equally distribute the remainder between us.
This should enable a clear audit trail of the movement of her money should it be required
Obviously if this makes you feel happier than worth doing but not really needed.This should enable a clear audit trail of the movement of her money should it be required
Said accounts can be both a pain to open and then close.
As long as you have an audit trail ( which can be both handwritten or a simplistic xl ss ) that should suffice although other than the 3 of you who will be asking to see it ?
The one thing that might make it worthwhile is the ability to pay your brother and sister their shares but said account will also have pretty similar daily limits on BACs I would think to your own ?
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