How long does probate take to get?

Online applications for grants of probate should be processed within eight weeks, the government now says.

But don’t forget that a huge amount of work has to be completed beforehand. The estate must be valued. That means contacting the deceased person’s bank, building society and any other financial institutions to discover their work at time of death. It also means valuing property and belongings – like their house or car or jewellery – and identifying any debts, such as utility bills. In addition, you’ll probably find many other things emerging from the woodwork as time passes.

Once probate has been granted, distribution of the estate can start. Industry experts reckon the challenging business of valuing and administering an average estate takes up to 80 hours over a period of six to nine months. Some will take longer.

At a time when emotions are raw, it’s not surprising that half of all executors choose to hand this complex and complicated process over to a professional. A few do administer simple estates on their own and a third work hand-in-hand with a specialist.

For expert help with the probate process, contact Heritage Will Writing on 02380 879243.