Quick Answer: Probate usually takes 6–12 months in the UK. With a valid will and digital application, it can be completed in as little as 8 weeks.
Read on to learn more.
Many executors ask, ‘How long does probate take?’, especially when faced with uncertainty after a death. The answer depends on several factors, including whether there’s a valid will, the size and complexity of the estate, and how efficiently the paperwork is handled.
While some estates may be settled in a matter of weeks, others can take many months, especially when delays arise due to disputes, tax issues, or missing information.
If you’re the executor of a UK estate, check out our Executor Insurance Guide, Probate House Insurance and Executor Home Insurance pages to fully understand your liabilities to the beneficiaries and third parties.
Probate in the UK usually takes between 6 and 12 months. However, simple estates can be completed in as little as 8 weeks, depending on complexity and court delays.
Probate is the legal process for managing and distributing someone’s estate after they die. Whether there’s a will or not, the time it takes can vary based on the estate’s complexity, the presence of disputes, and how efficiently paperwork is handled.
In this guide, we’ll explain probate timelines, recent improvements, and how insurance products like Section 27 and Early Distribution Insurance can help executors avoid delays.
When there’s a valid will, probate in the UK usually takes around 6 to 9 months, though efficient preparation and use of digital tools can reduce this to just a few months. Executors still need to apply for a grant of probate before managing estate assets — even when everything is clearly written in the will. A will helps confirm who should apply and who inherits what, but it doesn’t remove the legal steps or prevent possible delays.
Probate can still be slow due to issues like inheritance tax calculations, property sales, missing assets, or family disputes. Even small errors in the will — such as missing signatures or outdated executor details — can add weeks to the process. Property sales are often the biggest bottleneck, particularly when homes are part of long chains or need repair before sale.
Fortunately, executors can take several steps to speed things up. Using the GOV.UK online probate service is faster than paper applications. Completing a Missing Will Search ensures no newer will exists and prevents future claims. If property is part of the estate, selling it through a probate auction or specialist buyer can release funds quickly. Executors can also arrange probate insurance, including Early Distribution Insurance and Section 27 Insurance, to legally distribute assets without waiting the usual six-month claim period.
With careful preparation and the right protections in place, probate for an estate with a will can often be completed in under six months — sometimes as little as two. Executors who take a proactive approach, verify the will, and use insurance to manage risk can settle estates faster and with greater confidence.
When someone dies without a valid will, their estate is distributed according to the rules of intestacy.
In this situation, probate usually takes 9 to 12 months, sometimes longer, because the process is more complex.
Executors cannot apply for a Grant of Probate, instead, a close relative must apply for a Grant of Letters of Administration.
This extra step often adds several weeks, as the Probate Registry must confirm who has legal authority to manage the estate.
Other common causes of delay include:
To protect yourself as an administrator, you can arrange Missing Will Insurance (in case a newer will later surfaces) and Missing Beneficiary Insurance (to cover claims from untraced heirs).
These products allow the estate to be distributed sooner and give peace of mind if disputes arise later.
If the estate includes property, you’ll also need to insure it.
Read more on our Unoccupied Probate House Insurance page to ensure full cover while probate is ongoing.
Several factors can influence probate timelines, including:
Understanding these factors helps answer the core question: ‘How long does probate take in the UK?’ It depends entirely on the estate’s complexity and administration.
Most estates are administered within 6 to 12 months, but:
A 2024 government update noted that wait times for simpler cases had halved thanks to digitisation, but law firms warn these statistics don’t reflect complex cases.
Source: Government Press Release on Probate Waiting Times
After the Grant of Probate is issued, two key timelines can still delay estate distribution:
While these are protective measures, they also extend the timeline before funds can be safely distributed.
Executors can bypass delays using specialist probate insurance:
These products offer confidence and can accelerate estate distribution significantly.
Even efficient applications may be delayed by:
Professional support can mitigate these problems.
If you’re still wondering ‘How long does probate take?’, remember that proper planning and protection can drastically shorten your wait.
For simple estates with digital applications, probate may be complete in under 2 months. For more complex cases, expect up to a year or more.
Using probate insurance and preparing early can help executors shorten this timeline and minimise personal risk.
Lastly, if there is property in the estate, these three pages are essential reading:
Legal Disclaimer:
This article is for general information only and should not be taken as legal advice. If you need specific guidance on probate or estate administration, please seek professional legal advice — you can find a probate solicitor here.
As an executor or administrator, you can be personally liable for defending claims and covering losses if you don’t have Probate Insurance, even when the claim is made against the estate, not directly against you.
Contentious probate isn’t limited to courtroom battles; it often begins with disagreements over who inherits, how the estate is handled, or whether the Will is valid.
These situations may involve someone being left out of the Will, a dispute over how much someone should receive, concerns about how the Will was created, or confusion when no Will exists. Claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 are particularly common.
Such disputes can delay the probate process, increase costs, and expose executors to personal liability. It’s far better to identify and address potential risks early, before they escalate.
Arrange a FREE consultation with a Contentious Probate Solicitor.
They’ll assess your situation, confirm whether a claim is unlikely (which may help you qualify for Early Distribution Insurance), or provide expert guidance on how to protect both yourself and the estate.
Rob Faulkner is a leading expert in executor insurance risk and probate insurance, with nearly 30 years’ experience in the UK insurance market. He is the founder of Insuristic, a specialist provider of probate-related insurance solutions and educational content for executors.
Rob is an ACII Chartered Insurance Broker, a Chartered Manager, and a Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing. His background spans insurers, brokers, and Insurtechs, always focused on innovation, transparency, simplicity, and fair value.
He’s passionate about helping everyday people, executors, beneficiaries, and law firms choose the right probate property insurance or unoccupied home insurance, without jargon, inflated fees, or hidden commissions.
Rob is especially passionate about product development and improving insurance education through marketing, helping people understand what they are buying. These values sit at the heart of everything we do at Insuristic.
Want to learn more? Visit my author page or follow me on LinkedIn.
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