There has been considerable press coverage in the last few months over the considerable delays in the process of obtaining grants of probate from the Probate registries.
The Government currently says that the process to obtain probate takes four weeks, but official data confirms that it is taking far longer in practice. In the first three months of the year probate applications took nearly 7 weeks and some considerably longer.
In our experience, grants of probate are taking 6 to 8 weeks to be obtained from the date the application is made to the probate registry.
Many have experienced delays of several months when making a personal application with some waiting for the issue of the grant of probate since December. Some problems that can delay probate applications further include if forms forwarded are incorrect or if the wrong form has been used, or the wrong information included.
It may seem cost effective to obtain probate personally but if it is not done properly unnecessary delays in obtaining the grant of probate may occur. This could have the knock on effect of assets not being able to be encashed, properties not being able to be sold and estates taking far longer to administer than it would have done if you had instructed a professional to obtain grant of probate on your behalf.
In the circumstances if you require any assistance in obtaining grant of probate then please contact Deborah Adams, Head of Private Client Department, Parnalls Solicitors