Overall timeframe for probate
This depends upon the value and complexity of the estate and in simple estates we would look to complete them within 6-12 months. In more complex estates you are looking 12-24 months.
Key Stages
| 1. Taking your instructions and identifying you. | 1 week |
| 2. Taking instructions from the personal representatives and obtaining supporting documentation from them. | Approximately 3 weeks |
| 3. Requesting asset valuation and valuing the estate. | Approximately 6 weeks |
| 4. Applying for a Grant of Representation. | The timeframe depends upon whether the estate is taxable or not a taxable estate. To prepare and submit a Grant of Representation in a case where there is no Inheritance Tax payable will generally take around 4 weeks, but in a taxable estate which is complex it can take anywhere between 8 and 16 weeks. |
| 5. Obtaining the Grant. | Obtaining the Grant will depend upon how quickly the Probate Office process the application. They generally work within an 16 week timeframe but this can be longer in the case of a taxable estate. |
| 6. Collecting the assets. | This will generally take around 2 – 4 weeks from the Grant of Probate. |
| 7. Paying the debts and legacies. | This will generally take around 10 weeks from the Grant of Probate. |
| 8. Selling the assets. | Asset sales in the case of property can delay probate if a buyer needs to be found. It would depend upon the circumstances of the case as to how long that would take. |
| 9. Distributing the assets and paying the pecuniary legacies. | This will generally happen at the end of the case and therefore depending upon the complexity of the case it would either be at a 6 month point, or in very complex cases between 12 and 24 months. |
Preparing asset accounts
This will be the final step we take at the end of the case.
