If you are dealing with a loved one’s estate this summer, here is the practical answer. Probate is far quicker than it was at the worst point of the backlog, but it has not disappeared as a source of delay. The latest Ministry of Justice figures, covering January to March 2026, show that a grant of probate took around 5 weeks on average from application to issue. That is broadly unchanged from the same quarter in 2025.
Behind that average, some cases move very quickly and others still drag. If you need probate solicitors in North London, the detail is what matters.
What the latest figures actually show
The 5-week average hides a split. Clean digital probate applications that are not stopped made up around 70% of probate grants issued and took about 2 weeks from application submission to grant. From document receipt to grant, they took less than 1 week on average.
Stopped cases are the slow lane. When an application is paused because of an error, a dispute, a will issue or missing information, probate grants took around 14 weeks in January to March 2026.
There is also a gap by grant type. A straightforward grant of probate, where there is a valid will and an executor able to act, moves quickest. Where someone dies without a will, the estate needs letters of administration and the intestacy rules apply. Those took around 11 weeks in early 2026. Where there is a will but no executor able to act, letters of administration with a will annexed took around 20 weeks.
| Application type | Typical time to grant in early 2026 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Clean digital grant of probate | Around 2 weeks | Valid will, no stops or queries |
| Overall probate grant average | Around 5 weeks | Mean average from application to grant |
| Letters of administration, no will | Around 11 weeks | Intestacy rules apply |
| Letters of administration with a will | Around 20 weeks | Will exists, but no executor can act |
| Stopped probate grant | Around 14 weeks | Paused for an error, query or dispute |
So are things improving, or not?
Both, depending on where you stand. The recovery work that began in 2023 has clearly helped. Digital applications now make up the vast majority of probate applications and grants. But the service is still under pressure. The official quarterly data recorded 42,490 open probate cases at the end of March 2026, up 19% from March 2025.
You can see the trend in the official probate statistics.
Take a common North London situation. Your mother dies, leaves a clear will, and names you as sole executor. If the paperwork is clean and you apply online, you could receive the grant in a few weeks. Now change 1 detail. The will is unsigned, a codicil is unclear, or a sibling challenges who should apply. The case stops, and weeks can turn into months. Executor disputes remain a common cause.
What causes a case to stop
Most delay now sits in avoidable stops. The usual triggers are inheritance tax, will validity and simple errors.
Inheritance tax is the big one. You must estimate the estate, report to HMRC where required, start paying any inheritance tax due, and wait for the HMRC code before applying where a full IHT400 return is needed. UK inheritance tax receipts reached £8.5 billion in 2025 to 2026, so more families are taking the issue seriously. Reading up on recent inheritance tax changes before you apply saves time later.
Will problems come next. A missing signature, capacity concern or unclear amendment can pause everything. If capacity was ever in question, the right steps to protect a will help it survive scrutiny.
Then there are the basics. A name that does not match the death certificate, a wrong date, missing documents or an unpaid fee can stop the file. The current probate application fee is £300 for estates over £5,000, with no fee for estates of £5,000 or less. From 13 July 2026, the application fee is due to rise to £526, subject to parliamentary approval.
How to keep your application in the fast lane
You cannot control HMCTS, but you can control your file.
- Apply online where you can, as clean digital grants move fastest.
- Check every name, date and address against the death certificate.
- Sort inheritance tax with HMRC before you submit.
- Choose people who are willing and able to act, which is worth weighing when choosing your executors.
- Keep the original will safe and unmarked.
Good planning now spares your family the slow lane later. Writing your will properly, and considering options like mirror wills or a life interest trust, keeps an estate clearer. If a dispute arises, our civil litigation team can handle a contested estate, and where money is owed to the estate, we can help you recover debts owed to the estate. As your North London law firm, we join those pieces together.
Frequently asked questions
How long does probate take in the UK in 2026?
A grant of probate took around 5 weeks on average in January to March 2026. Clean digital applications can be much quicker, while stopped cases take longer.
Why is my probate taking so long?
Common reasons include inheritance tax, a query over the will, a dispute over who can apply, or an error on the application.
Can I speed up a grant of probate?
You cannot jump the queue, but a complete, accurate digital application reduces the risk of stops.
How do I chase HMCTS about a delay?
GOV.UK says probate or letters of administration are usually issued within 12 weeks. If your case has gone beyond that, contact the Probate Registry for an update.
Talk to us before a delay costs you months
Probate is quicker than it was, but 1 wrong detail can still stall an estate. If you want the application handled properly the first time, or you are stuck on a stopped case, contact Atalaw Solicitors and we will help get the estate moving.