How long is probate taking at the moment if you applied on line

[Witchlite]

Hi, soon the apply for probate. How long did it take once you had the probate code from HMRC and you applied on line?

Please say when you applied, as I think things are getting worse. The website says 16 weeks, but then talks about “more complicated” estates taking longer. I’m not sure if having IHT is deemed complicated, when it’s been paid/looked at by HMRC.

I’m trying to manage the beneficiaries expectations … and plan when property can go on the market.

I'm watching with interest . I'm waiting to hear about whether we need to pay inheritance tax , so will then apply online .

We have already put the house on the market , but have told the estate agent to make it clear that it's a probate property so any buyers know it's not going to be a quick sale.

Did you have to pay inheritance tax?

Yes. But we’ve only paid 10% of the tax on the property - the rest to be paid in instalments, or when the house sells. Interest will also be due.

if we put the house on the market and don’t get probate for 20 weeks, it would mean we can’t exchange until next year. It would limit the people who could buy it.

if probate is generally coming back within 16 weeks I might chance going to market as soon as the online application is done. 🤞🏻

I say only 10%… it is a very property heavy, cash light estate. We’ve had to really scrap about the family to come up with the 10%

Are people put off by it being a probate property?

So you can still get probate without paying the full inheritance tax, you can pay installments and then pay it when the house is sold?

We have sent off the inheritance tax forms , I'm wondering how long will wait to hear back from them.

We are lucky that we have the cash available from life insurances that have paid out without probate being needed so we can pay it if needed .

I was told if after 16 weeks you havnt recieved probate you can ring and chase it .

I don't know if people are put off by it , but it's something that we were very clear about , as we havnt even applied for probate yet . So potentially could take a while

The Probate Office won’t even talk to you for until sixteen weeks has elapsed from receipt of your application. I rang the first day possible and spoke to somebody who told me the application was all in order and he’d “escalate “ it. The letter granting probate arrived three days later. This was an application in February this year. Fortunately there was enough money in the estate to pay the six figure IHT bill without having to rely on the house sale.

Yes, you can pay by instalments (10% initially) for tax on assets like property, farmland and unquoted shares. The assets on the right hand side when filling out the IHT400.

we’re very cash light in the estate. The house was a 1930s terraced house that was once in a very run down area and is now in a desirable one. The banks quoted ridiculous rates for a probate loan, hence the scrabble within the family for money to even pay the 10% of the property.

I think if most people are getting it within a week of 16 weeks, I may sell the house this year. 🤞🏻 to received the probate code from HMRC.

The online probate application is supposed to be easy. Did you find it so?

Our solicitor sent application in on 22nd July and just been granted yesterday. There was no Inheritance Tax involved though, don't know if that makes a difference to the timings.

That’s only 4 weeks 😮 well done your solicitor.

Just over 4 weeks via solicitor - who applied online, received Monday this week

It's only been 4 weeks since I sent the IHT forms ... wish they would hurry up .

Was there tax? If it is people applying via a solicitor who are getting it in 4-5 weeks, we may go this way. If it is the lack of tax to pay that is the reason, maybe not.

Even with straightforward probate, if theres property to be sold and IHT to pay, it could take the best part of 2 years.
Tell the beneficiaries you’ll update them in 6 months.

Yes tax, we used solicitor just to make sure form was filled in right - it is the same form if you do it yourself- solicitor was surprised at speed - we all expected longer - fingers crossed yours is next on the desk

As PP, this is not our first to deal with - full estate closure with another relative took 18 months - this week I am mainly fighting banks - who want to see probate but have no appointments or website uploads

I think if enough people respond I shall be very boring and summarise it all in a couple of days. If we know what affects the speed, we know which way to jump. 😀yes, I’m that much of a nerd!

When I phoned to chase mine discovered they'd got lost in the system. I sent copies and they eventually found them away but are you sure they've got them?

You need a spreadsheet - love a spreadsheet 🙂

@InformEducateEntertain yes they have them we sent the special delivery and returned the copy wills .

We are currently at 17 weeks and counting from when the solicitor sent the paperwork off. Not a complicated estate, just taking forever.

So far the differences seem to be:
paper v online
solicitor v direct
IHT v no tax

given they look at will, I wonder if it is husband/wife or children it is easier than more distant relationships?

Yes it wasn’t that hard. The IHT stuff was more difficult to be honest.

Two years ago I waited six weeks.
Last year four months, no property involved.
Recently, two weeks!

Lots of deaths in my family ☹️
No IHT in any case.

We finally found out that we do have to pay IHT £56k

So does anyone know if I pay it online , do the HMRC send you through a code by post so you can apply for probate or do you get it when you pay the tax ?