How long does probate take?

Q: How long does probate take?

Getting the grant of probate itself now averages around 5 weeks from a complete application, but the whole process — valuing the estate, applying, then collecting and distributing assets — usually takes 6 to 12 months. Estates with property to sell, inheritance tax to pay, or disputes take longer.

England & Wales · Probate · Timeline

Quick answer

Getting the grant of probate itself now averages around 5 weeks from a complete application, but the whole process — valuing the estate, applying, then collecting and distributing assets — usually takes 6 to 12 months. Estates with property to sell, inheritance tax to pay, or disputes take longer.

The probate timeline, stage by stage

"Probate" is often used to mean the entire administration of an estate, but it really has three phases, and each adds time.

Phase 1 — Before you apply (1–3 months)

You register the death, find the will, identify the executors, and value everything the person owned and owed. Waiting for date-of-death valuations from banks, pension providers and share registrars is usually the slowest part. If inheritance tax is due, the relevant HMRC account must be reported and tax (or the first instalment) paid before the grant is issued.

Phase 2 — The grant (around 5 weeks)

Once a complete application reaches the probate registry, the average time to issue a grant has fallen to roughly 5 weeks. Mistakes, missing documents, or "stops" on the application can push this out considerably, which is why accuracy matters more than speed.

Phase 3 — After the grant (2–6+ months)

With the grant in hand, executors collect in the assets, sell or transfer property, settle debts and taxes, prepare estate accounts, and distribute to beneficiaries. Selling a house is frequently the long pole. Executors are often advised to wait until the six-month creditor and Inheritance Act window has passed before making final distributions.

Typical timeline

James dies in January owning a house and two bank accounts, with no inheritance tax due. His executor spends February–March gathering valuations, applies in April, and receives the grant in mid-May (about 5 weeks). The house sells over the summer, debts are paid, and beneficiaries receive their shares in October — roughly nine months end to end.

Note: There is no legal deadline to start probate, but executors have duties to act with reasonable speed. Inheritance tax, by contrast, generally must be paid within six months of the end of the month of death, or interest accrues.

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Sources

GOV.UK — Applying for probate (application fee £300; estates over £5,000)
GOV.UK — Probate fees and additional copies (£16 per copy)
HM Courts & Tribunals Service — probate timeliness statistics, 2025
GOV.UK — Valuing the estate of someone who's died

Reviewed by: ClearLegacy editorial team
Last reviewed: June 2026
Next review: December 2026
Jurisdiction: England & Wales

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