How can you check probate progress?

If you are a beneficiary of the deceased’s estate or family, it is possible to find out if a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration has been granted, but that’s all you can do. You need to be the person(s) who applied for probate to be able to track the progress of a probate application. 

What is the probate process?

The entire probate process consists of five stages:  

• Stage one - Time-sensitive post-death issues;
• Stage two - Valuation of the estate;
• Stage three - IHT return form;
• Stage four - Application for the Grant of Probate;
• Stage five - Administration of the estate. 

Stage one - Time-sensitive post-death issues 

At this stage, you are dealing with time-sensitive issues, such as the death certificate, funeral, and preservation of the estate.

Stage two - Valuation of the estate 

This is a very important stage of the process, as this will determine the tax implications. You should expect that this process may take some time and investigative work, unless you hire a probate Solicitor or estate administration specialists. 

Stage three - Inheritance Tax return form 

At this stage, it’s important to know which tax forms to fill in and what, if any, lifetime gifts the deceased has given within the last seven years of the death. At this stage, the form needs to be filled out, submitted, and any outstanding tax paid in full, or a payment plan set up. 

Stage four - Application for the Grant of Probate 

This stage can only start after the Inheritance Tax (IHT) form has been submitted and the tax due has been paid.  

If you are an Executor named in the Will, you will need to get a Grant of Probate. If you are applying as a beneficiary under intestacy rules (there is no Will), you need Letters of Administration. 

1. Submit your application

Send the following documents to the Probate Registry:

• The death certificate;
• The original Will (if there is one);
• The correct application form (PA1P, PA1A, or C1).

• The application fee is £300 if the estate is worth more than £5,000.
• No fee if the estate is valued at £5,000 or less. 

By following these steps, you can ensure the probate application process runs as smoothly as possible. Please be aware that there are currently significant delays in issuing Grants on paper applications. You can read more here. 

Stage five - Administration of the estate 

At this point, you have received the Grant (Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration) and are finally able to administer the estate.  

How can you check probate progress?

You will only be able to check progress if you have completed all steps, including step four. To do this, you will have to go to this website, where you will be able to track the progress of the probate application. 

How long does it take to get a Grant?

This depends on the complexity of the estate and whether there was a Will. Most digital applications see a quick turnaround of four to six weeks; however, if the estate had multiple assets, there was no Will, and IHT was payable, the application form will include paper documents, which have to be reviewed by the Probate Registry manually, which takes extra time. Unfortunately, when it comes to paper applications, there is a significant backlog, and some Grants have taken over a year to be issued. 

As you can see, the difference in timescales is dramatic, so all applications must be submitted correctly the first time, as queries and rejections will only add extra time to the already lengthy process. 

Once your application has been approved, the Will and any additions to it (‘Codicils’) will be kept by the Probate Registry and become a public record. 

What do you receive once probate is granted?

You’ll receive a document that allows you to start dealing with the estate. This will be one of the following: 

• A ‘Grant of Probate’ - if there was a Will;
• ‘Letters of Administration with Will annexed’ - if there was a Will, but no named Executor, or the named Executor cannot apply;
• ‘Letters of Administration’ - if there was no Will. 

You’ll usually receive the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration within 16 weeks of submitting your application. It can take longer if you need to provide additional information. 

What’s next? 

This is where you move to stage five. Once you have the Grant of Probate (or Letters of Administration), you can start dealing with the estate, such as sending copies of the probate document to financial institutions that hold the assets of the deceased, for example, the bank. 

During the estate administration process, you may have to: 

• Pay any debts left by the person who died;
• Sell assets such as properties or shares;
• Pay tax on any income the estate generates;
• Report the estate value, income, and tax liability to HM Revenue and Customs.