How long does probate take?
Short answer
The Probate Registry typically issues a Grant of Probate within 4 to 8 weeks of submission. The full estate administration — from death to final distribution — usually takes 6 to 12 months for a straightforward estate, and longer where inheritance tax is payable, property must be sold, or there are disputes.
"Probate" describes two different waits, and it helps to separate them.
Getting the Grant of Probate
The Grant of Probate is the document that gives the executor legal authority to deal with the estate — most banks and the Land Registry will not release significant assets without it. As of 2025, the Probate Registry typically processes applications within 4 to 8 weeks of submission, though complex cases and busy periods take longer. Before you can even apply, the inheritance tax process must be completed — either confirming the estate is below the IHT threshold or paying any tax due — and the application fee is £300 for estates over £5,000, with extra official copies at £1.50 each. You can apply online for straightforward estates, or by post on form PA1P (with a will) or PA1A (without one).
Administering the whole estate
The grant is only the start. The executor must then gather in the assets, pay all debts and liabilities, and distribute what remains — and they are personally liable if they distribute incorrectly. Typical timescales:
- Straightforward estates: 6 to 12 months from death to final distribution.
- Complex estates — property to sell, businesses, foreign assets, IHT to negotiate, or disputes — can take 2 to 3 years or more.
Most of the time is not paperwork but waiting: for the grant, for institutions to release funds, and for property to sell. Executors can speed things up by opening a full picture of assets and debts early, dealing with the IHT forms promptly, and keeping meticulous records.
If you are not sure whether the estate even needs probate — small estates and jointly owned assets often pass without it — our which estate route wizard will help you work out the right path. And if no executor is willing or able to act, the role can be renounced or the Probate Registry can appoint an administrator, though that adds time.
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