Probate service delays: longer waiting times for grants of probate?

Probate service delays: longer waiting times for grants of probate?

During this Winter the demand for the probate service substantially increased due to the pandemic. The new online system to handle probate applications has been tested and challenges to bring down the waiting times persist.

Many solicitors dealing with probate issues are finding it frustrating, alongside the families and clients affected.

The new online probate service, which is now mandatory for professionals applying for grants of probate, has also caused problems

Professionals reporting repeated failure of access codes and being diverted back to the login page despite entering the relevant details. HMCTS told the Law Society it was aware of these issues.

HM Courts & Tribunals Service has told that Law Society that it is recruiting more staff and boosting training to help reduce response times, after grappling with a surge in applications since the end of February.

You can read more on the changes to the probate application system and responses from legal professionals at the Law Gazette website. In this article, published this June, the problem is examined in more detail.

https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/probate-service-hit-by-second-wave/5108747.article