How long does Probate take if there is a will?

Enquire About Probate Services »

Probate can be heavily influenced by a number of factors prior to and after the death of a family member or loved one. 

One of the main factors impacting the length of time the process of Probate takes is whether a valid will is present. However, having a will in place may not always speed up the probate process, as there may be other delays that occur after the fact, such as family disputes leading to the contesting of the will or delays in selling assets such as property.

On average, in England and Wales, it takes between 9 and 12 months to obtain the Grant of Probate and to complete the Estate administration process, regardless of whether or not there's a Will.

Note: Always keep in mind that the executor needs time to gather all of the relevant information and apply for grant of probate, which can take considerable time when dealing with a complex estate. In circumstances such as these, you may find that using a professional probate and executor service will be beneficial to improving the length of the process.

Want to read more about Probate? 

Applying for Probate

How much does Probate cost?

How to value an estate for Probate 

Step-by-step guide to Probate

The risks of DIY Probate

Make a will

From only £29.99*

Slater + Gordon - £42

Co-op Legal Service - £150

Prices exclude VAT

Appoint & Register Lasting Power of Attorney

From only - £193.60

Irwin Mitchell - £562

Average UK Cost - £460

INCLUDES VAT + OPG filing fee*

Arrange Probate & Executor Services

*Fees are NOT payable upfront and will be paid by the estate upon death.

 

Wills Services

0.75% of estate value

or

a minimum fee of £995*

Slater + Gordon

2.5% - 4%

Of estate value

Co-op Legal Service 

£1,630 to £36,698

Varies depending on the complexity of the estate

All prices exclude VAT and Disbursements*

See Comparison Examples

Contact us

Contact Us

Send us a message

Max. 1,000 characters - 1000 remaining

As seen in..

Daily Mail
The Mail on Sunday
The Sun
The Telegraph
The Times