How long does probate take?

Last reviewed 18 August 2026

Time, more than money, is the executor’s burden. Two clocks run: the wait for the grant itself, and the longer business of administering the estate to its close.

The two timescales

A grant of probate currently takes roughly 4–8 weeks for online applications and 8–16 weeks for paper applications. The full administration — from death to final distribution — typically takes 6–12 months for a straightforward estate, and up to 18 months where it is complex.

What causes delay

Errors in the application are the commonest cause of delay, followed by inheritance-tax reporting, missing valuations, and disputes. Ordering sealed copies with the application (now £2 each) lets you deal with several institutions at once and shortens the tail.

Sources. HMCTS / Ministry of Justice published timescales; industry administration timelines.