Understanding a grant
How long does probate take?
Written and reviewed by our experienced team. Last verified against gov.uk on 26 July 2026. ProbateCheck is an independent service, not a law firm.
HM Courts & Tribunals Service says you will usually get the grant of probate or letters of administration within 12 weeks of submitting your application. Simple estates can be quicker; complex ones, or applications that need more information, take longer. The record then appears in the public index around two weeks after the grant is issued.
Application to grant: usually within 12 weeks
Once a complete application reaches the Probate Registry, HMCTS aims to issue the grant within about 12 weeks. Applications that need extra information, or that are stopped for a query, take longer.
The whole process is longer
That 12 weeks is only the application-to-grant stage. Before applying, the estate has to be valued and any inheritance tax dealt with, which commonly adds weeks or months. From death to grant, several months is normal.
Why the record lags
A will only becomes searchable once the grant is issued, and the online record appears around two weeks after that. This is why a recent death often shows nothing when you search. If you are waiting, a standing search (£4) will deliver the documents to you the moment the grant is issued.
Let us do the whole search, £29 all in
We search every name variation across the correct index years, obtain the grant and the will, lodge a standing search if no grant exists yet, and explain it all in plain English. Government fees included.
Start with a free checkFrequently asked questions
How long does probate take in the UK?+
HMCTS usually issues the grant of probate within about 12 weeks of a complete application. The whole process from death is longer, because the estate must be valued and any tax dealt with first. Several months is normal.
Why can't I find a recent will in the probate records?+
A will only becomes public once probate is granted, and the record appears online around two weeks after that. A recent death often shows nothing for months. A standing search will capture the grant automatically when it is issued.