How Long Does Probate Take? A Step-by-Step Probate Timeline

Grant of Probate vs Estate Administration: Two Different Timescales

If you are dealing with the estate of someone who has died, one of the first questions you are likely to ask is: how long does probate take?

The short answer is that obtaining the Grant of Probate and completing the administration of an estate are two different things.

As at September 2026, HM Courts & Tribunals Service says that a Grant of Probate will usually be received within 12 weeks of submitting the application, although it can take longer if further information is required. However, obtaining the Grant is only one part of administering an estate. Before the application can be submitted, the executors may need to identify and value assets, investigate debts and deal with Inheritance Tax. After the Grant has been issued, they may still need to collect investments, sell a property, settle liabilities, deal with tax, prepare estate accounts and distribute the inheritance.

For that reason, a straightforward estate might take several months to complete, while a more complicated estate can take a year or longer.

This guide explains the probate timeline in England and Wales, what happens at each stage and the common reasons why probate can take longer than expected.

Quick Answer: How Long Does Probate Take in 2026?

There are really two timescales.

The first is the time taken to obtain the Grant of Probate. HMCTS currently advises that probate is usually received within 12 weeks after the application is submitted, provided no additional information is required. The second is the time required to administer the entire estate. At MJV Solicitors, a straightforward estate will commonly take around 6 to 12 months from instruction to conclusion. More complicated estates can take longer.

The difference is important. Receiving the Grant does not mean the estate is finished or that beneficiaries should necessarily receive their inheritance immediately.

What Is Probate?

Probate is the legal authority to deal with the property, money and possessions of someone who has died. Where the deceased left a valid Will, the executors named in that Will may need to obtain a Grant of Probate. Where there is no Will, an entitled person may instead need to apply for Letters of Administration. Both are forms of Grant of Representation.

Not every estate requires a Grant. We explain this separately in our guide, “Do I Need Probate? When a Grant of Probate Is and Is Not Required”. Where a Grant is necessary, however, there is usually a considerable amount of work both before and after the application itself.

Probate Timeline: What Happens After Someone Dies?

Every estate is different, but a typical probate and estate administration follows a number of stages. Understanding those stages helps explain why an estate can take considerably longer than the Probate Registry’s processing time.

Stage 1: Locate the Will and Identify the Executors

One of the first steps is to establish whether the deceased left a Will. If they did, the original Will should be located and checked. The Will identifies who has been appointed as executor and normally explains how the estate should ultimately be distributed. It is important to establish that the document is the deceased’s latest Will. Problems can arise where:

• only a copy can be found;
• the original appears damaged;
• amendments have been made to it;
• there is uncertainty about a later Will;
• an executor has died;
• an executor does not want to act.

These issues can delay the application and may require specialist advice.

Stage 2: Identify the Assets and Debts

The executors need to establish what the deceased owned and what they owed. Assets can include:

• bank and building society accounts;
• property;
• shares and investments;
• ISAs;
• National Savings products;
• business interests;
• vehicles;
• valuable possessions;
• money owed to the deceased;
• overseas assets.

Liabilities can include:

• mortgages;
• loans;
• credit cards;
• utility bills;
• care fees;
• tax;
• funeral expenses.

This stage can be relatively quick where the deceased kept comprehensive financial records.

It can take much longer where paperwork is incomplete, or family members do not know where the deceased held their money.

Stage 3: Value the Estate

The executors must establish the value of the estate. This is necessary even if no Inheritance Tax is ultimately payable. Depending upon the estate, valuations may be required for:

• the deceased’s home;
• other property or land;
• investments;
• shares;
• business interests;
• valuable jewellery, artwork or collections.

The executors also need information about jointly owned assets and, where relevant, gifts made by the deceased during their lifetime. Obtaining all of this information can be one of the most time-consuming parts of the early administration.

Stage 4: Deal With Inheritance Tax

The executors then need to determine the estate’s Inheritance Tax position. Many estates do not pay Inheritance Tax. However, where full estate details need to be reported to HMRC, additional forms and calculations may be required.

Where Inheritance Tax is payable, some tax will normally need to start being paid before the Grant can be obtained. For professional probate applications requiring an IHT400, current HMCTS guidance requires practitioners to submit the IHT400 to HMRC and obtain the necessary code before completing the probate application. This means that a taxable estate can take longer to reach the point where the probate application itself can even be submitted.

Stage 5: Submit the Probate Application

Once the estate has been valued and the relevant Inheritance Tax requirements have been dealt with, the application for the Grant can be submitted. For most straightforward professional applications, solicitors use the online MyHMCTS system.

The Probate Registry then considers the application. Current Government guidance states that applicants will usually receive probate within 12 weeks of submitting the application.

That 12-week period begins when the application is submitted. It does not include the weeks or months spent gathering information beforehand.

What Can Delay a Grant of Probate?

An application can take longer where the Probate Registry needs additional information.

Common complications include:

• incomplete information;
• errors in the application;
• discrepancies between names;
• problems with the original Will;
• issues concerning executors;
• uncertainty about the deceased’s marital status;
• unusual Will provisions;
• missing documents;
• disputes about the Will;
• a caveat preventing the Grant being issued.

A well-prepared application can reduce the risk of avoidable delays, although neither an executor nor their solicitor can control the Probate Registry’s processing time.

Can a Solicitor Speed Up the Probate Registry?

Generally, a solicitor cannot simply make HMCTS issue a Grant faster because a professional application has been submitted. Using a solicitor can nevertheless help avoid delays caused by an incorrect or incomplete application. This distinction matters.

Professional probate assistance is not about purchasing a place at the front of the queue. It is about making sure the application is prepared correctly and dealing appropriately with any complications that arise.

Stage 6: Receive the Grant of Probate

Once issued, the Grant gives the personal representatives formal evidence of their authority to deal with the estate assets that require it. Copies can then be sent to organisations such as:

• banks;
• investment providers;
• share registrars;
• conveyancing solicitors;
• other asset holders.

This is the point at which many people assume probate has finished. In reality, the estate administration may still have several months to run.

Stage 7: Collect the Estate Assets

Banks and investment providers need time to process the Grant and release funds. The executors may need to:

• close accounts;
• encash investments;
• sell shares;
• collect National Savings products;
• recover money owed to the deceased;
• transfer assets.

Different organisations have different procedures and processing times. Where there are numerous accounts or investments, collecting everything can take some time.

Stage 8: Sell or Transfer Property

Property is one of the most common reasons estate administration takes longer. Where a house needs to be sold, the executors face the same practical issues as any other seller:

• preparing the property for sale;
• obtaining valuations;
• finding a buyer;
• agreeing a price;
• conveyancing;
• surveys;
• mortgage delays;
• chains;
• enquiries;
• exchange and completion.

A Grant of Probate might be issued within 12 weeks of application, but that does not mean an estate property can be sold within the same period. The property transaction has its own timetable.

Can You Sell a House Before Probate?

There is an important distinction between preparing a property for sale and having the legal authority required to complete the transaction. Where property forms part of an estate, the executors should obtain advice about what can safely be done before the Grant is available.

The Grant will ordinarily be required before personal representatives can complete the sale of a solely owned property forming part of the estate.

We will deal with selling estate property in greater detail in a separate guide.

Stage 9: Settle Debts and Taxes

Executors must settle appropriate estate liabilities before making the final distribution. These can include:

• mortgages;
• loans;
• credit cards;
• household bills;
• funeral costs;
• professional fees;
• Inheritance Tax;
• Income Tax;
• Capital Gains Tax.

Tax can continue to arise during the administration period. For example, an estate might receive bank interest, rental income or make a taxable gain when investments or property are sold. These matters may need to be finalised before the estate can safely be closed.

Stage 10: Protect Against Unknown Creditors

Executors should consider whether notices to creditors are appropriate. Government guidance recommends placing a notice in The Gazette giving creditors two months to make claims before the estate is distributed.

Where the relevant statutory procedure is followed, this can provide personal representatives with protection against certain unknown debts. This introduces another period that may need to expire before final distribution. It is particularly important because an executor who distributes the estate prematurely and subsequently discovers a debt can potentially face personal liability.

Stage 11: Prepare the Estate Accounts

Once the assets and liabilities are known, estate accounts can be prepared. These normally record:

• assets at the date of death;
• money subsequently received;
• property sale proceeds;
• debts;
• tax;
• administration expenses;
• interim payments;
• the amount available for beneficiaries;
• how the final estate is divided.

Estate accounts create a proper record of what the executors have done.

Stage 12: Distribute the Estate

Only when the executors are satisfied that the estate can safely be distributed should the remaining money and assets be transferred to the beneficiaries. This can involve:

• cash payments;
• transferring investments;
• transferring property;
• establishing trusts created by the Will.

In some estates, an interim payment can be made before everything is finalised. Executors should only do this where sufficient money is retained to cover all remaining liabilities and risks.

How Long After Probate Is Granted Do Beneficiaries Get Their Money?

There is no fixed period. This is one of the most common probate questions. If the estate consists largely of cash and there are no outstanding liabilities, distribution may be relatively quick. If the executors still need to:

• sell a house;
• settle tax;
• locate beneficiaries;
• resolve debts;
• sell investments;
• deal with a claim;

it can take considerably longer.

The date of the Grant therefore does not create a deadline by which beneficiaries must automatically be paid.

What Is the Executor’s Year?

You may hear people refer to the “executor’s year”. This does not mean that executors must wait exactly one year before paying anybody. Nor does it mean they can simply do nothing for a year. It reflects the principle that personal representatives should ordinarily be allowed a reasonable period to identify, collect and administer the estate before being expected to complete distribution. A straightforward estate may be completed much sooner. A complex estate may legitimately take longer.

The relevant question is whether the estate is being administered properly and reasonably.

Can Probate Take More Than a Year?

Yes. Reasons can include:

• a difficult property sale;
• Inheritance Tax;
• overseas assets;
• business interests;
• trusts;
• missing beneficiaries;
• disputes between beneficiaries;
• a challenge to the Will;
• claims against the estate;
• complex tax issues;
• difficulty establishing assets or liabilities.

A lengthy administration does not necessarily mean something has gone wrong. However, unexplained inactivity is different from genuine complexity.

How Long Does Probate Take Without a Will?

An estate without a Will can sometimes take longer because the person entitled to administer it first needs to be established. Instead of a Grant of Probate, the appropriate person will usually apply for Letters of Administration.

The estate must then be distributed according to the intestacy rules. Where the family structure is straightforward, this may make relatively little difference to the overall timescale. Where relatives need to be traced or entitlement is unclear, it can add substantial time. Read our previous guide, ‘What Happens When Someone Dies Without a Will?

Can Probate Be Completed in Three Months?

Some very simple estates may progress quickly, particularly where no Grant is required.

Where a Grant of Probate is required, however, three months for the entire administration should not generally be assumed. HMCTS itself currently advises that the Grant alone will usually be received within 12 weeks of the application being submitted.

That is after the estate has already been identified and valued and any necessary tax steps taken.

Why Is My Probate Taking So Long?

The first question should be: what stage has the estate reached? For example, are the executors waiting for:

• asset valuations?
• HMRC?
• the Probate Registry?
• a bank?
• a house sale?
• tax calculations?
• information from a beneficiary?
• expiry of a creditor period?

Once the outstanding step is identified, it becomes much easier to understand whether the delay is normal or requires action.

Can I Do Probate Myself?

Yes. Individuals can apply for probate themselves. For straightforward estates, some executors are comfortable doing so. For a full explanation of executor responsibilities, see our guide: ‘Executor Duties: A Guide to Probate for Families in Cleveleys’. However, professional assistance can be particularly useful where:

• Inheritance Tax is involved;
• the estate contains property;
• the Will creates trusts;
• foreign assets exist;
• there is a business;
• beneficiaries are missing;
• the estate may be insolvent;
• the Will is disputed;
• the executor is concerned about personal liability.

It is also possible to instruct a solicitor for only part of the process.

Probate Solicitors in Blackpool, Cleveleys and the Fylde Coast

MJV Solicitors assists executors and families with probate and estate administration throughout Blackpool, Thornton-Cleveleys, Fleetwood, Poulton-le-Fylde, Bispham, Lytham St Annes and the Fylde Coast.

Our probate service can be tailored to the level of assistance required. We can assist with obtaining the Grant alone or deal with the entire administration, including:

• identifying and valuing estate assets;
• Inheritance Tax;
• the probate application;
• collecting assets;
• estate property;
• debts and liabilities;
• estate accounts;
• distributions to beneficiaries.

For a typical straightforward estate, the entire administration will commonly take around 6 to 12 months, although every estate is different.

To speak to a member of our team for a free, no-obligation discussion, please complete our enquiry form or contact us by calling 01253 858231or emailing info@mjvlaw.co.uk

Probate Is a Process, Not a Single Application

The most important point is that “probate” should not be treated as one 12-week process.

Before the Grant, the estate must be investigated and valued. The Grant itself must then be obtained.

Afterwards, assets need to be collected, liabilities settled, and the estate distributed. That is why two estates of identical value can take very different amounts of time. If you are dealing with an estate and want to know how long it is realistically likely to take, the best estimate comes from considering the actual assets, tax position, property and beneficiaries rather than relying on a generic probate timescale.