The number of probate cases taking more than six months has jumped by 140% since the pandemic, delaying many families from selling their late relative’s homes and distributing other assets.
Freedom of Information requests by adviser network Quilter show that the number of probate cases taking more than six months has more than doubled from 3,955 in the 2020/21 tax year to 9,480 in 2024/25.
Cases that took more than a year are up 177% to 2,040 and cases that took 21-23 months, or just under two years are up 131% to 203.
According to government guidance, a grant of probate should typically be issued within 16 weeks of submitting an application.
However, the data shows a growing proportion of estates waiting well beyond this timeframe, with a sharp rise in cases taking more than a year and a notable increase in those waiting nearly two years.
In 2024/25 alone, around one in eight estates took longer than six months to clear probate, increasing the risk of interest accruing on inheritance tax where it was due.
Delays in probate can prevent executors from accessing bank accounts, selling property or managing investments, leaving estates frozen.
As delays lengthen, the cost to families can also rise.
Where inheritance tax is due, HMRC can charge interest on unpaid tax from six months after death, meaning prolonged probate can translate into higher tax bills even where delays are outside the family’s control.
Quilter is warning that the situation is likely to worsen when pensions are brought into the scope of inheritance tax (IHT) from April 2027.
Financial planner Ian Futcher says: “A growing number of families are now waiting well over a year, and in some cases nearly two years, for probate to be granted.
“That creates real stress for executors and beneficiaries alike.
“Lengthy probate delays can bring home sales to a standstill, with properties stuck in legal limbo for months while buyers walk away and chains collapse, adding further stress and cost for families already dealing with bereavement.
“With pensions set to become part of the taxable estate from April 2027, there is a real risk that these delays become even more entrenched.
“One of the most effective ways to reduce the burden on executors is to treat the start of the new tax year as a time to do a financial MOT.”
