Recent data shows a staggering 134% increase in the number of probate cases taking over a year to be granted, significantly affecting grieving families. Expert lawyers highlight that these delays cause stress, financial strain, and complications in managing estates, often preventing access to valuable assets. The Ministry of Justice indicates that probate should typically be completed within 16 weeks, yet many cases linger due to various reasons, including missing wills and errors in applications. Legal experts advise that there are steps families can take to navigate these challenges more effectively.
According to Jeremy Bourke, a partner at national law firm Clarke Willmott LLP, the implications are significant for many families but there are ways to speed up the process.
Delays in administering a person's estate, which can already be a very long, stressful and complicated process, can create or exacerbate significant issues, particularly for beneficiaries.
Processing cases without a will in place or where the executors cannot act are among the reasons these probate delays are occurring, causing stress for families.
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