How to track a probate application

Last Reviewed by: Alistair Robertson-Gopffarth (Consultant Private Client Solicitor & Notary Public at Setfords), Published: 22nd September 2026, Last reviewed: 22nd September 2026, Read time: 6 min

Once you’ve submitted a probate application, you can check its progress online through your HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) account, or by phone if you applied by post. If you applied online, you’ll usually get the Grant of Probate within 12 weeks of submitting a complete application.

Here’s how to check where things stand, and what to do if your application seems stuck.

Key takeaways

• If you applied online, you can sign back into the probate service at any time to see your application’s current status.
• If you applied by post, HMCTS aims to write or email you within 12 weeks, and you can call them if that window passes with no word.
• Most complete applications receive a grant within 12 weeks, and current figures put the average closer to 5 weeks for straightforward digital applications.
• Estates with Inheritance Tax (IHT) to pay usually take longer, since HMRC has to confirm the tax position first.
• The single biggest cause of delay is a missing or inconsistent document, so getting the application right the first time matters more than anything else.

Most of the frustration around probate comes down to not knowing where an application stands. The good news is that checking it is straightforward once you know which route applies to you, and understanding roughly how long each stage takes makes the waiting easier to manage.

How do I check the status of my probate application?

If you applied through the government’s online probate service, sign back in at any time using the same details you used to apply. Your account shows whether the application has been received, whether it’s under review, whether anything’s been queried, and whether the grant has been issued.

If you applied by post, tracking works a little differently. You won’t have an online account to check, so HMCTS aims to write or email you within 12 weeks of submitting. If that window passes with no word, you can call HMCTS for an update (you will need to quote your application reference number).

If a solicitor submitted your application online, they’ll usually be able to see the case status directly through their own system. They can update you without you needing to contact HMCTS yourself.

If a solicitor submitted a paper application, they’re in the same position as any paper applicant until the Probate Registry issues a reference number. Once that happens, the reference number can be added to the online portal, so either the solicitor or you can monitor progress from there.

Whichever route applies to you, keep your application reference number to hand. It’s included in your confirmation email or letter, and it helps HMCTS find your file quickly. Without it, someone can still search using the deceased’s full name and date of death, but this takes longer.

How long does it take to get a Grant of Probate?

HMCTS’s guidance is that you’ll get your grant within 12 weeks of submitting a complete application. In practice, most applications are quicker, with the current average being roughly 5 weeks.

The bigger factor is whether your application gets paused. Applications that go through without a pause take around 2 weeks on average; those that are paused take around 14 weeks. That’s an average across all paused applications, and the reason for the pause is what actually decides whether yours resolves faster or slower than that.

A missing signature, for example, might only need a couple of weeks to resolve once you’ve corrected it. A dispute over who’s entitled to apply, on the other hand, can take considerably longer to work through.

These figures come from the Ministry of Justice’s Family Court Statistics Quarterly: January to March 2026, published 25 June 2026. Probate grants took 5 weeks on average (median 1 week) overall. Digital applications that weren’t paused, which made up 70% of all grants issued, took around 2 weeks, against 14 weeks for those that were.

What does it mean if my application is “paused” or “queried”? This is what happens when someone reviewing your application needs to check something before going further, such as a mismatch between the will and the application form, or a missing signature. This resets the clock on that part of the process until it’s sorted out, which is why replying quickly to anything HMCTS sends you matters so much.

What counts as a “straightforward” digital application? The faster end of the timeline generally applies to an original English will, with the named executors applying themselves. Timelines increase substantially as soon as the case deviates from this. Common examples include: an executor renouncing their role, an attorney applying on an executor’s behalf or the lack of a valid will at all (meaning the estate passes under the intestacy rules).

Paper applications generally take longer than online ones, since they need to be typed up manually before they even join the digital queue. These timings cover the time from HMCTS receiving a complete application to the grant being issued, not the time it takes to prepare the application itself.

If the estate owes IHT, preparation can add several months. HMRC needs to check the figures and confirm the tax has been dealt with before the probate application can go in. These timings shift depending on how busy HMCTS is, so treat any figure as an estimate rather than a promise.

What happens after I apply?

• Application received and logged. HMCTS confirms receipt and gives you a reference number. For online applications this happens automatically; postal applications usually take a little longer simply because the paperwork has to be typed up first.
• Completeness check. Someone checks that the application form, the original will (if there is one), the death certificate, and any tax paperwork are all there and match each other.
• Review. The application is reviewed in more detail. This is the stage where a query is most likely to come up if something doesn’t match, such as a name spelled differently across documents.
• Grant issued. Once everything checks out, HMCTS issues the Grant of Probate (called Letters of Administration if there’s no will, though it works the same way) and sends it to you. Your online account and the public probate records will update to reflect this.

What happens once you have the grant: this is the point you can start using the document to deal with the estate, such as closing bank accounts, selling property, or accessing investments. Banks and other institutions will usually want to see the original grant or an official copy. It costs £2 to order extra copies at the same time as your application, or £16 each if you order them afterwards, so it’s sensible to order a few extra upfront rather than waiting until you need one.

Common mistakes that cause delays

• Applying with an out-of-date or incomplete will. Always use the most recent original, including any later changes made to it. Fix: check with family members and any solicitor who may hold a newer version before applying.
• Guessing estate values instead of confirming them. Fix: get formal valuations for property and significant assets rather than estimating, since figures that don’t match can trigger a query.
• Losing track of the application reference number. Fix: save the confirmation email somewhere easy to find, since you’ll need it every time you contact HMCTS.
• Assuming silence means a problem. Processing takes weeks even when everything is in order. Fix: check your online account, or wait until around 12 weeks has passed, before contacting HMCTS.

What slows things down

Missing or inconsistent documents are the most common cause of delay. A missing original will, a form without a signature, or details that don’t match across documents will trigger a query and a request for correction.

Inheritance Tax processing adds time whenever there’s tax to pay on the estate. HMRC needs to check the figures and confirm the tax has been dealt with before the probate application can go ahead, on top of HMCTS’s own processing.

Unclear or contested wills can pause an application. If there’s any doubt over whether a will is valid, or a disagreement between potential executors or beneficiaries, HMCTS will wait until it’s resolved.

High application volumes affect everyone. HMCTS’s processing times go up and down with overall demand, which is why timelines are given as ranges rather than fixed dates.

What helps keep your application moving

Double-checking before you submit matters most. Make sure names, dates, and figures are consistent across the will, the application form, and any tax documents. A few extra minutes checking can save weeks of delay.

Replying to queries quickly keeps things moving. A query left unanswered for a few weeks can add months to the overall timeline, because your case simply sits until you respond.

Keeping your reference number safe means HMCTS can find your file immediately whenever you get in touch, rather than searching on other details.

Ordering extra copies of the grant upfront, at £2 each, avoids a slower £16-per-copy request later, since each bank or institution you deal with will usually want its own official copy.

Whatever stage your application is at, our Wills, Trusts and Probate team can give you a clear, honest picture of where things stand.

When to speak to a solicitor

You don’t need a solicitor to apply for probate, and many people manage it themselves for straightforward estates. But specialist advice can save time and stress if the estate is complex, if there’s IHT to account for, or if a will is unclear or contested. The same applies if your application has stalled and you’re not sure why.

Consider getting in touch if:

• The application has passed 12 weeks with no update and contacting HMCTS hasn’t clarified things.
• HMCTS has queried something and you’re unsure how to answer.
• There’s a disagreement between executors or beneficiaries about the estate.
• The estate includes property, business assets, or assets outside England and Wales.
• You’re an executor who feels out of your depth managing the process alongside grief.

What to bring to your first conversation

Having a few things ready helps us give you a clear picture of where your application stands as quickly as possible.

• Your probate application reference number.
• Any confirmation email or letter you’ve received from HMCTS.
• A copy of the will, if one exists and you applied without a solicitor.
• Details of anything HMCTS has queried with you.
• An estimate of the estate’s value, including whether IHT applies.

FAQs

How do I check if probate has been granted for someone?

You can search the public probate records on GOV.UK using the deceased’s surname and year of death. If a grant has been issued, you can order a copy of it and the will: £2 per copy if ordered with an application, or £16 each if ordered afterwards.

What number do I call to check on my probate application?

The HMCTS probate helpline is 0300 303 0648, open Monday to Friday, 9am to 1pm. Have your application reference number ready before you call.

Can my solicitor check the status for me?

Yes. If a solicitor submitted your application, they can usually see the case status directly and can update you without you needing to contact HMCTS yourself.

How long after applying will I get the Grant of Probate?

HMCTS’s guidance is that you’ll usually get the grant within 12 weeks of submitting a complete application, though current figures put the average nearer 5 weeks for straightforward digital applications. It varies with how busy HMCTS is and whether IHT needs processing first, and paper applications generally take longer.

What should I do if my application seems stuck?

If you applied online, check your account first for any update or query. If you applied by post and it’s been more than 12 weeks with nothing to show, contact HMCTS using your reference number, or ask a solicitor to chase on your behalf.

Whatever stage your application is at, our Wills, Trusts and Probate team can give you a clear, honest picture of where things stand.

About the author:

Alistair Robertson-Gopffarth is a solicitor and notary public at Setfords, specialising in wills, trusts, and cross-border estate planning. After more than 20 years as a submarine warfare officer in the Royal Navy, he requalified as a solicitor in 2015 and later qualified as a Notary Public in 2020. He takes a holistic approach to private client work, helping clients minimise tax exposure and navigate international legal requirements with clear, straightforward advice. Fluent in German and Dutch, he regularly supports clients with cross-border documentation and formalities.

This article is general information about probate in England and Wales and is not legal advice. The law and timescales can change, and every situation is different, so please speak to a qualified Wills, Trusts and Probate solicitor about your circumstances.