How long does probate take?
Two timelines matter. Getting the grant of probate currently takes from about two weeks for a clean digital application to roughly 16 weeks if queries arise. Administering the whole estate — valuing assets, paying inheritance tax and debts, and distributing to beneficiaries — usually takes 9 to 18 months, and longer where a property has to be sold.
Detailed explanation
People often mean two different things by "how long does probate take." The first is the time to obtain the grant; the second is the time to wind up the whole estate.
The grant of probate. Once a complete and correct application reaches the Probate Registry, simple digital applications can be issued in around two to three weeks, while applications that raise queries or are submitted on paper take considerably longer — commonly up to about 16 weeks. Inheritance tax must usually be reported (and any tax due paid or arranged) before the grant can issue, which adds time at the start.
Administering the estate. The grant is only the midpoint. Executors must value the estate, settle debts and tax, collect in assets, possibly sell property, and only then distribute. A straightforward estate with cash and investments may complete within 6 to 9 months; an estate including a house to sell often runs 9 to 18 months or more. Executors frequently wait until after a key date — at least six months from the grant — before distributing, to guard against late Inheritance Act 1975 claims.
The single biggest avoidable cause of delay is errors: roughly one in three applications is sent back for correction. Applying online, getting valuations right, and responding quickly to HMRC and the Registry all shorten the process.
When Joan dies, her estate is a house, a savings account and some premium bonds. Her executor reports the estate to HMRC, applies online for probate, and receives the grant in about three weeks. Selling the house then takes five months, and final accounts and distribution take another two. The whole administration is complete in just under a year — a typical timeline for an estate with property.
Sources
- Ministry of Justice — Family Court and probate statistics (2025/26)
- GOV.UK — Applying for probate and Probate: how long it takes
- HMRC — Report the value of the estate for Inheritance Tax
- Reviewed by
- Michael Smith, Estate Planning Specialist
- Last reviewed
- June 2026
- Next review
- December 2026
- Jurisdiction
- England & Wales
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