It has been reported in the last week that those who are awaiting a grant of probate are facing delays of up to 11 weeks, rather than the usual 10 days.
At a time when tensions are high and the bereaved are looking to resolve financial matters, this is unwelcome news.
So Why The Delay In Probate?
Recently, a new online system has been introduced to improve the process of applying for a grant of probate, which appears to only be causing confusion so far. Confusion equals mistakes, which clog up the system.
Furthermore, there has been a Government commitment to increasing the fee for a grant of probate from £215 to £6,000 on larger estates, so as one would imagine, people are rushing applications to avoid paying the higher price.
The legislation to increase the fees has been delayed in Parliament and so there is uncertainty at present, meaning that people are applying quickly in a hope to avoid the price increase.
Due to the current backlog in the probate system, it is of high importance that applications that are processed through the system are correct. If a mistake is found in an application, the application is put to the back of the ever-growing queue, with reported waits of up to 15 weeks for a grant.
If you are unsure about a probate application and require advice so that mistakes do not happen, Sinclair Law Solicitors will be more than happy to assist you.