How long does probate take in the UK?

A simple estate typically takes 6 to 9 months from death to full distribution. A complex estate — with property to sell, business assets, foreign assets or a contested will — usually takes 12 to 24 months. The grant itself currently takes 4 to 16 weeks from application, depending on HMCTS backlog and whether IHT is involved.

What is the first stage after death?

Register the death within 5 days (England & Wales) or 8 days (Scotland). Locate the will. Identify executors. Notify banks, utilities, employers and benefit offices. Most estates need 2 to 4 weeks just to gather the paperwork needed before applying for the grant.

How long does HMCTS take to issue the grant?

HMCTS publishes weekly average waiting times. As of mid-2026 the average for digital applications is 4 to 8 weeks, paper applications 8 to 16 weeks. Stopped applications (where HMCTS asks for more information) can add 4 to 12 weeks.

When must Inheritance Tax be paid?

By the end of the sixth month after the date of death. IHT must usually be paid before the grant is issued, unless the estate qualifies for the IHT instalment option (typically for property) or the Direct Payment Scheme. Interest accrues on late IHT at 7.75% (Bank of England base rate plus 2.5%).

What is the executor's year?

Under common law, executors have a year from the date of death (the 'executor's year') to distribute the estate. Beneficiaries cannot demand earlier distribution. After 12 months, executors may face pressure or claims if no distribution has occurred without good reason.

Does every estate need probate?

No. If the estate is small (typically under £5,000-£10,000 depending on bank thresholds) and contains no sole-name property, banks may release funds without a grant. Jointly held assets usually pass by survivorship outside probate. Most estates with a house in sole name will need a grant.

What can speed up probate?

A clear, professionally drafted will. Digital probate application. Up-to-date asset register. Sole executor (joint executors slow things down). No IHT due. No disputes. No foreign assets. The biggest single accelerator is having a well-drafted will that names a sole executor.

What if the executor delays distribution?

After the executor's year, beneficiaries can apply to the court for an account, or for the executor to be replaced under the Trustee Act 1925 or the Senior Courts Act 1981. Persistent failure to administer may give rise to a personal liability claim.

Home · Visual Guides · Probate Timeline

Visual Guide · UK Probate · HMCTS waiting times 2026

UK Probate Timeline — Visual Guide

Probate in England & Wales is rarely a single step — it's six overlapping stages that play out over six months for a simple estate, or up to two years for a complex one. The interactive timeline below shows each stage, the typical duration, and what executors actually have to do. Click any stage for detail.

Written by: SL · Reviewed by: SL · Last updated: May 2026

Quick Answer

A simple UK estate takes 6-9 months from death to full distribution. A complex estate (property to sell, business assets, foreign assets, contested will) typically takes 12-24 months. The single biggest variable is HMCTS grant waiting time (currently 4-16 weeks). IHT must usually be paid by the end of the 6th month after death.

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Stage 1 — Death and first steps

Typical duration: 1–4 weeks Simple & complex estates Pre-grant phase

The administrative groundwork before anything else can begin. There are statutory deadlines here.

Register the death within 5 days (England & Wales) or 8 days (Scotland)
Locate the will and identify the named executors
Arrange the funeral (banks will usually release funds for funeral costs from the deceased's account)
Notify the "Tell Us Once" service to update DWP, HMRC, DVLA and local authorities
Notify banks, building societies, insurers, employer, pension providers and utility companies
Secure the property and check insurance is still valid (most insurers void cover after 30 days unoccupied)

Stage 2 — Value the estate

Typical duration: 4–10 weeks Longer with property or shares Pre-grant phase

Executors must produce an accurate, evidenced valuation of every asset and every liability as at the date of death.

Request date-of-death balances from all banks, building societies, ISAs, NS&I, share registrars
Obtain a chartered surveyor's valuation of any property (HMRC requires an evidenced figure, not a rough estimate)
Value personal possessions (chattels) — for estates under £325,000 a sensible estimate is usually accepted; high-value items need formal valuations
List all debts: mortgage, credit cards, loans, unpaid bills, funeral costs (deductible from the estate)
Identify any gifts made in the last 7 years and the £3,000 annual exemption used
Check for foreign assets and arrange overseas valuations if needed

Stage 3 — IHT return and probate application

Typical duration: 2–4 weeks to prepare, plus HMRC turnaround IHT deadline: end of month 6 Critical stage

The two filings that unlock everything else. They must be done in the correct order — IHT first, then probate.

IHT400 (full IHT return) or IHT205/IHT207 (excepted estates) submitted to HMRC
IHT must be paid by the end of the sixth month after death or interest accrues at 7.75%
Get HMRC's IHT421 receipt (now sent directly to HMCTS in most cases)
Apply for the grant online (digital, faster) or by paper using PA1P (will) / PA1A (intestacy)
Grant fee: £300 (for estates over £5,000); additional copies £1.50 each
If IHT must be paid before the grant but the estate doesn't have liquid funds, use the Direct Payment Scheme (DPS) or apply for an IHT loan

Stage 4 — Grant issued, gather assets

HMCTS grant: 4–16 weeks Then 8–16 weeks to collect The single biggest variable

Once the Grant of Probate (or Letters of Administration) lands, executors have legal authority to deal with assets in the deceased's sole name.

Open an executor's bank account
Present sealed copies of the grant to each asset holder — banks close the accounts and transfer balances
Sell or transfer property (typically 8–20 weeks from listing to completion)
Sell or transfer shares (Stock Transfer Form J30 + sealed grant copy)
Claim life insurance and any death-in-service benefits
Deal with digital assets and online accounts

Stage 5 — Pay debts and final tax

Typical duration: 4–8 weeks Section 27 notice: 2 months Limits executor liability

Executors are personally liable if they distribute the estate before known and unknown creditors are satisfied.

Pay all known debts and funeral expenses
Place a Section 27 notice in the London Gazette and a local paper to flush out unknown creditors (2-month statutory waiting period)
File the deceased's final personal tax return (income tax to date of death) — HMRC normally produces this
File the estate's separate tax return for the administration period (income earned by the estate while being administered)
Reconcile final IHT figures with HMRC and obtain IHT clearance certificate (form IHT30)
Settle any Capital Gains Tax on assets sold during administration

Stage 6 — Distribute to beneficiaries

Typical duration: 2–6 weeks once Stage 5 complete Estate accounts required Beneficiaries sign release

The final stage — and the one beneficiaries care most about.

Prepare detailed estate accounts showing every receipt and disbursement
Send accounts to residuary beneficiaries for approval
Pay specific legacies (named gifts of money or items)
Pay residuary beneficiaries their final share
Obtain signed receipts (releases) from beneficiaries
Close the executor's account, file final HMRC clearance, retain records for 12 years

What makes an estate "complex"?

The estates that drag into the 18-24 month range usually involve one or more of these:

A property to sell in a slow market
Foreign assets — overseas probate or sealing applications required
Business interests — business property relief, share valuations, succession agreements
Trust property — separate trust returns and trustee resolutions
Contested will — caveats, claims under the Inheritance Act 1975, professional negligence claims
Missing or estranged beneficiaries — tracing required, often through specialist heir-hunters
HMRC enquiries — into valuations, gifts, business property relief or domicile

The pre-grant IHT trap: IHT must be paid by the end of month 6, but the grant — which gives executors access to the deceased's accounts — typically takes 3-5 months to obtain. Executors often have to borrow against the estate or use the Direct Payment Scheme to bridge the gap. A clear will naming a competent executor materially reduces the risk of missing the deadline.

How probate compares: simple vs complex

Stage	Simple estate	Complex estate
1. Death & first steps	2 weeks	4 weeks
2. Value the estate	4-6 weeks	8-12 weeks
3. IHT + apply for grant	2 weeks (IHT205) + 4-8wk wait	4-8 weeks (IHT400) + 8-16wk wait
4. Gather assets	6-8 weeks	12-24 weeks (property sale)
5. Pay debts & final tax	4 weeks	8-12 weeks
6. Distribute	2 weeks	4-8 weeks
Total	6-9 months	12-24 months

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Frequently asked questions

How long does probate take in the UK?: A simple estate typically takes 6 to 9 months from death to full distribution. A complex estate — with property to sell, business assets, foreign assets or a contested will — usually takes 12 to 24 months. The grant itself currently takes 4 to 16 weeks from application.
What is the first stage after death?: Register the death within 5 days. Locate the will. Identify executors. Notify banks, utilities, employers and benefit offices. Most estates need 2 to 4 weeks just to gather the paperwork needed before applying for the grant.
How long does HMCTS take to issue the grant?: HMCTS publishes weekly average waiting times. As of mid-2026 the average for digital applications is 4 to 8 weeks, paper applications 8 to 16 weeks. Stopped applications (where HMCTS asks for more information) can add 4 to 12 weeks.
When must Inheritance Tax be paid?: By the end of the sixth month after the date of death. IHT must usually be paid before the grant is issued, unless the estate qualifies for the IHT instalment option (typically for property) or the Direct Payment Scheme. Interest accrues on late IHT at 7.75%.
What is the executor's year?: Under common law, executors have a year from the date of death (the "executor's year") to distribute the estate. Beneficiaries cannot demand earlier distribution. After 12 months, executors may face pressure or claims if no distribution has occurred without good reason.
Does every estate need probate?: No. If the estate is small (typically under £5,000-£10,000 depending on bank thresholds) and contains no sole-name property, banks may release funds without a grant. Jointly held assets usually pass by survivorship outside probate.
What can speed up probate?: A clear, professionally drafted will. Digital probate application. Up-to-date asset register. Sole executor. No IHT due. No disputes. No foreign assets. The biggest single accelerator is having a well-drafted will that names a sole executor.
What if the executor delays distribution?: After the executor's year, beneficiaries can apply to the court for an account, or for the executor to be replaced under the Trustee Act 1925 or the Senior Courts Act 1981. Persistent failure to administer may give rise to a personal liability claim.

Related guides

Sources & references
HMCTS — Average mean waiting times for grants of probate · gov.uk/government/statistics/probate-applications-management-information
GOV.UK — Apply for probate · gov.uk/applying-for-probate
HMRC — Inheritance Tax: pay your bill · gov.uk/paying-inheritance-tax
GOV.UK — Register a death · gov.uk/register-a-death
Trustee Act 1925, s.27 — protecting executors from unknown creditors · legislation.gov.uk
Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 · legislation.gov.uk
Last reviewed: 31 May 2026 by SL. Educational guide only — not legal advice.