How Long Does Probate Take in the UK? A Solicitor's Timeline Guide

Losing someone is hard enough without a legal process hanging over you. One of the first questions families ask is a simple one: how long does probate take? The honest answer is that it depends on the estate, but most straightforward estates in England and Wales are dealt with in around six to twelve months.

This guide breaks the probate timeline down stage by stage, explains what tends to cause delays, why it’s important to engage an experienced probate solicitor and sets out practical steps executors can take to keep things moving.

What is probate, and when is it needed?

Probate is the legal process of dealing with someone's estate after they die: collecting in their assets, paying any debts and tax, and distributing what is left to the people entitled to it.

If there is a will, the executors named in it apply for a Grant of Probate. If there is no will, a close relative usually applies for Letters of Administration instead, and the estate is shared out under the intestacy rules in the Administration of Estates Act 1925. Both documents do the same job: they give the person dealing with the estate the legal authority to act.

Not every estate needs a grant. Smaller estates, or assets held jointly that pass automatically to a surviving owner, can often be dealt with without one. Where there is property to sell or larger bank balances, a grant is usually required.

How long does probate take in the UK? The short answer

For a straightforward estate, you should usually allow:

• 3 to 6 months to obtain the Grant of Probate

• A further 3 to 6 months to collect in assets, settle any tax and distribute the estate

That gives a typical overall timeline of around six to twelve months. More complex estates, including those with inheritance tax to pay, business interests, overseas assets or a dispute, can take a year or more.

The probate timeline, stage by stage

Stage 1: Registering the death and valuing the estate (3 to 8 weeks)

Before anything else, the death must be registered and the executors need a clear picture of what the estate contains. This means listing property, bank accounts, investments, pensions, life policies and personal possessions, along with any debts.

Gathering valuations is often the part executors underestimate. Property needs valuing, banks need to confirm balances, and share or pension valuations can take time to come back. Getting this right matters, because the figures feed directly into the inheritance tax position.

Stage 2: Dealing with inheritance tax (4 to 8 weeks, sometimes longer)

Inheritance tax is one of the biggest causes of delay. The current nil-rate band is £325,000, frozen for now, and more estates are being drawn into the tax each year as values rise.

If the estate is taxable, the executors complete form IHT400 and arrange to pay the tax, or at least the first instalment on property, before the grant is issued. HMRC recommends allowing 20 working days from sending the IHT400 before applying for the grant, so that its paperwork reaches the Probate Registry in time. Applying too early simply causes the application to stall. You can find the current rules on inheritance tax on GOV.UK.

Inheritance tax is usually due within six months of the end of the month of death, after which HMRC charges interest, so it pays to move promptly even while you wait on the grant.

Stage 3: Applying for the grant (online or paper)

Once the estate is valued and any tax is in hand, the executors apply for the grant. Most applications are now made online, and you sign a statement of truth rather than swearing an oath, a change introduced in early 2024.

In 2026, straightforward online applications are typically processed within a few weeks, while paper applications and estates needing inheritance tax clearance take noticeably longer. The application fee is £300, with no fee for estates under £5,000. You can apply for probate on GOV.UK once you are ready.

Stage 4: Collecting assets, paying debts and distributing the estate (3 to 6 months)

With the grant in hand, the executors can close accounts, sell or transfer property, settle debts and pay out the beneficiaries.

Many executors choose to wait six months from the date of the grant before making final distributions. This is because the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 allows certain people to bring a claim against the estate within that window. Distributing too early can leave an executor personally exposed.

What causes probate to take longer?

Several issues commonly push the timeline out:

• Inheritance tax queries: HMRC may raise questions on valuations, which can add weeks or months

• A missing or contested will: disputes over validity or fairness can pause everything

• No will at all: intestacy can make it harder to identify and trace everyone entitled to share in the estate

• Property that has not sold: a sale that drags on holds up the whole administration

• Overseas or business assets: these often need specialist valuations and extra paperwork

• Missing beneficiaries: tracing people who cannot be located takes time

Selling a property during probate

A common question is whether a house can be sold before the grant comes through. You can market a property, and even agree a sale, during probate, but you cannot usually complete the sale until the grant is issued, because the buyer's solicitor will want to see the executors' legal authority to sell.

In practice this means you can make real progress on a sale while the grant is being obtained, then exchange and complete once it arrives. We have written more on this in our guide to selling a probate property.

Practical tips for executors

A few steps can keep the process on track:

• Start gathering valuations early, before you apply for anything

• Keep clear records of every asset, debt and decision

• Submit the inheritance tax forms promptly and wait the full 20 working days before applying for the grant

• Apply online where possible, as it is generally quicker than paper

• Take advice early if the estate is large, includes a business, or looks likely to be disputed

When to instruct a probate solicitor

Many estates can be administered without professional help, but some are better placed in experienced hands. Instructing a probate solicitor is usually worthwhile where there is inheritance tax to pay, a property to sell, a business or overseas assets, no valid will, or any sign of a dispute between beneficiaries.

A solicitor handles the valuations, tax forms, grant application and distribution, and carries responsibility that would otherwise sit with you personally as executor. If you are also planning ahead for your own affairs, it can be worth reading about lasting powers of attorney at the same time.

Speak to our probate team

Probate does not need to be daunting. With the right support, even a complex estate can be administered calmly and correctly.

At Salehs Solicitors, our wills, trusts and probate team helps executors and families across Manchester and Didsbury deal with estates of every size, from straightforward applications to estates involving inheritance tax, property and business interests.

If you are an executor wondering where to start, or you would simply like to understand the timeline for a particular estate, please get in touch for clear, practical advice.