The Ministry of Justice (MOJ), together with HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) and the Minister for Courts and Legal Services, has announced significant improvements in probate waiting times. Probate is a legal process through which a deceased person’s will is validated and is the starting point for the distribution of funds to beneficiaries.

According to newly published data, the average waiting time for probate in December 2024 was just over four weeks. This represents a sharp reduction from 12 weeks at the close of 2023 and more than eight weeks at the end of June 2024. This achievement is part of a plan to address the backlog of cases that accumulated as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic by recruiting additional staff.

Approximately 80% of grant applications are now processed online, with digital submissions typically taking just over two weeks to complete. For applicants who submit their documents without complications, probate can often be granted in under a week. Meanwhile, the processing time for paper applications has been reduced from more than 22 weeks to just under 15 weeks.

The Minister for Courts and Legal Services remarked:

'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.

We’re getting public services back on their feet again as part of this Government’s Plan for Change.'