Quick answer
There are two timescales to keep separate. The first is getting the grant of probate itself, which currently tends to take somewhere in the region of eight to sixteen weeks from when the application is submitted, depending on how busy the Probate Registry is and whether inheritance tax has to be dealt with first.
Guidance for United Kingdom. General information, not legal advice.
I have been named executor for my late aunt. I have no idea how long the whole probate process is likely to take. What is realistic?
There are two timescales to keep separate. The first is getting the grant of probate itself, which currently tends to take somewhere in the region of eight to sixteen weeks from when the application is submitted, depending on how busy the Probate Registry is and whether inheritance tax has to be dealt with first. The second is administering the whole estate, which usually takes around six to twelve months, and longer for complex estates involving property sales, business assets, missing beneficiaries or disputes. As executor you generally need to value the estate, deal with any inheritance tax, obtain the grant, collect in the assets, settle debts, and only then distribute to the beneficiaries. It is common to wait a certain period before distributing to guard against late claims against the estate.
As a rough guide, expect a few months just to obtain the grant, then several more to finish the administration. The things that slow it down most are inheritance tax accounts, selling a property, and tracing or paying beneficiaries. Executors carry personal responsibility for getting it right, so many people ask a lawyer to handle or supervise the process, particularly where tax or property is involved. This is general information rather than advice on your aunt's estate.
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