Probate Registry delays have become a familiar frustration for executors and beneficiaries since the move to a centralised online service. Although the official published timescale is sixteen weeks, in practice many applications take longer, particularly where HMRC clearance is required or where the application contains anything unusual. Knowing what you can do during the wait — and what cannot be rushed — helps families plan and reduces stress. Here we explain exactly what you need to know about Probate Registry delays in 2026 and the practical steps to take while you wait.
Plain-English guide written by Simon Jenkins — covering every stage of the probate process.
The current state of the Probate Registry in 2026
The Probate Registry was reorganised into a single centralised service in 2019 and has been under sustained pressure ever since. The published target is sixteen weeks from a complete application to grant. In our experience in 2026, simple online applications without tax issues come back in eight to twelve weeks. Paper applications, intestacy cases and anything raising HMRC queries take longer — often twenty weeks or more.
The service operates under the Senior Courts Act 1981 and the Non-Contentious Probate Rules 1987. You can check current published timescales at the GOV.UK probate service.
Why your application might be delayed
The most common causes of delay are: incomplete or inconsistent information on the application, a discrepancy between the will and the application, an unresolved HMRC clearance for a taxable estate, an original will that shows signs of having been altered, and any application made on paper rather than online. Solicitor applications are usually processed faster than personal applications because they are presumed to be correctly completed.
If you have not heard anything after sixteen weeks, the Registry’s stop notice procedure may apply — a written query that has to be responded to before the application moves on.
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What you can do while you wait
The waiting period is not wasted time. You can continue to gather information about assets, obtain valuations, secure the property, redirect post, arrange unoccupied property insurance, notify utility companies and place statutory notices under section 27 of the Trustee Act 1925. The two-month notice period runs alongside the Registry wait, so by the time the grant arrives the notice period has often expired and distribution can begin sooner.
You can also arrange to market property — sales can be agreed subject to the grant being issued. This sometimes shaves weeks off the overall timeline because by the time the grant arrives the buyer’s conveyancer is already part-way through searches.
Inheritance tax during the wait
Inheritance tax must be paid within six months of the end of the month of death even though the grant has not yet been issued. The Inheritance Tax Act 1984 sets that deadline strictly and interest accrues on any unpaid balance from that point. HMRC’s direct payment scheme allows tax to be paid from the deceased’s bank accounts before the grant — this is the most common way of funding the bill.
The 2026 thresholds remain £325,000 nil-rate band plus up to £175,000 residence nil-rate band. 40% applies above. If the estate is taxable and the executor cannot raise the funds in time, instalment options exist for property and business assets.
When and how to chase the Registry
The Registry does not respond to chasers within the published timescale. Polite enquiries before sixteen weeks have passed will receive a standard reply. After sixteen weeks you can chase by telephone or in writing. After twenty weeks, escalation to the Registry’s complaints team is usually appropriate. We have had useful results from constituency MP intervention in extreme cases where families have been waiting six months or longer.
For more on managing the wait see our probate process and estate administration guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is there a Probate Registry delay in 2026?
Centralisation, staff pressure and HMRC clearance times have combined to push waiting times beyond the published sixteen-week target. Simple online applications are still processed reasonably fast.
How long are Probate Registry delays now?
Simple online applications typically issue within eight to twelve weeks. Paper or complex applications and those with HMRC issues regularly take twenty weeks or more.
Can I speed up the Probate Registry?
Not directly, but you can avoid causing delay. Apply online, ensure the figures match the will and HMRC submissions, and respond promptly to any Registry queries.
What should I do during Probate Registry delays?
Gather valuations, secure the property, arrange insurance, place statutory notices and market any property for sale subject to the grant. The wait does not have to be wasted time/
Can I complain about Probate Registry delays?
Yes. After the published timescale has passed, you can chase by telephone, then escalate to the complaints team and ultimately to your MP if the delay becomes excessive.
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Written by Simon Jenkins, solicitor and director of Curtis Legal Limited (SRA 167489)
