Average probate wait time drops to four weeks

Average waiting times for a grant of probate fell to four weeks in December, according to latest figures from His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS). This compares to more than eight weeks at the end of June 2024 and 12 weeks in December 2023.

HMCTS attributed the improvement to several factors, including the successful recruitment of additional staff and the implementation of new technology that has led to around 80 per cent of grant applications now being completed online.

In addition, paper applications, which have tended to take longer to process than the digital alternative, have seen waiting times drop from just over 22 weeks to under 15 weeks. 

Minister for Courts and Legal Services, Sarah Sackman KC, said: “We know that handling probate can be tough for families at a difficult period in their lives. That is why so we’ve worked hard to reduce delays and make the process easier.”

“By cutting wait times and going digital, we’re ensuring people receive the support they need quickly at what can be a challenging time.”

In 2024, the average number of monthly grants of probate issued was 27,400, a 20 per cent increase on the previous year. HMCTS also reports that the probate backlog, which built up during the pandemic, has fallen by more than 50,000 cases since August 2023.

Reductions in probate delays have also been good news for UK charities, which rely on gifts in wills for around £4bn worth of revenue.

Alex McDowell, vice chair of Remember A Charity and director of fundraising at the Duke of Edinburgh Award, said: “With more and more people across the UK choosing to support good causes through their wills each year, an efficient and effective probate service is vital for sustaining charitable services and charities’ financial planning. It ensures charitable gifts in wills can be put to good use swiftly, in line with supporters’ wishes.”