The Government recognises the difficulties bereaved families can face and continues to work with Ofgem and suppliers to ensure all consumers are treated fairly.

Standing charges form part of energy suppliers’ tariff structures and are regulated by Ofgem, as the independent regulator. The Supplier Licence Conditions do not set out a specific exemption from standing charges for unoccupied properties while probate or related legal processes are completed, and any changes to the Conditions are a matter for Ofgem.

During probate, a representative or next of kin can contact the energy supplier to request that the account be frozen, so that energy bills can be settled as part of the estate.

Caseworkers receive ongoing training across all aspects of probate work and are deployed flexibly across workstreams to respond to operational demand and ensure resources are directed where they are needed most.

To improve waiting times, HMCTS has invested in additional staff in 2026, alongside system and process improvements and a programme of upskilling. These measures are intended to improve processing times and prevent growth in the outstanding caseload.

The Ministry of Justice publishes regular data on probate timeliness and open caseload in the quarterly Family Court Statistics bulletin, available at: Family Court Statistics Quarterly - GOV.UK.

However, HM Courts & Tribunals Service does not categorise probate applications as “specialist” or “non-specialist”, nor does it hold central data on whether each application involves a lost will or affidavit. HMCTS therefore does not hold comprehensive management information on these cases and cannot provide an exact figure for the time taken to process applications referred for specialist review for specific reasons.

Caseworkers receive ongoing training across all aspects of probate work and are deployed flexibly across workstreams to respond to operational demand and ensure resources are directed where they are needed most.

To improve waiting times, HMCTS has invested in additional staff in 2026, alongside system and process improvements and a programme of upskilling. These measures are intended to improve processing times and prevent growth in the outstanding caseload.

The Ministry of Justice publishes regular data on probate timeliness and open caseload in the quarterly Family Court Statistics bulletin, available at: Family Court Statistics Quarterly - GOV.UK.

However, HM Courts & Tribunals Service does not categorise probate applications as “specialist” or “non-specialist”, nor does it hold central data on whether each application involves a lost will or affidavit. HMCTS therefore does not hold comprehensive management information on these cases and cannot provide an exact figure for the time taken to process applications referred for specialist review for specific reasons.

The Ministry of Justice publishes regular data on probate timeliness and open caseload in the quarterly Family Court Statistics bulletin, available at: Family Court Statistics Quarterly - GOV.UK.

Published data on probate timeliness by application type are available from Q3 2019 to Q1 2026. HM Courts & Tribunals Service does not hold equivalent data for the period from Q1 2015 to Q1 2019. While an overall timeliness figure is available for Q2 2019, data disaggregated by application type is not available. Consequently, a complete annual figure for 2019 cannot be provided.

The Ministry of Justice publishes regular data on probate timeliness and open caseload in the quarterly Family Court Statistics bulletin, available at: Family Court Statistics Quarterly - GOV.UK.

Published data on probate timeliness by application type are available from Q3 2019 to Q1 2026. HM Courts & Tribunals Service does not hold equivalent data for the period from Q1 2015 to Q1 2019. While an overall timeliness figure is available for Q2 2019, data disaggregated by application type is not available. Consequently, a complete annual figure for 2019 cannot be provided.

The Ministry of Justice publishes regular data on probate timeliness and open caseload in the quarterly Family Court Statistics bulletin, available at Family Court Statistics Quarterly - GOV.UK.

Published statistics include a range of breakdowns which enable timeliness and open caseload to be viewed by application type, application channel (paper or digital) and whether an application was stopped because further information or clarification was required from the applicant.

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) does not classify probate applications as "specialist" or "non-specialist", nor is there a dedicated Lost Wills Team. Consequently, HMCTS does not routinely hold or publish the information requested on waiting times, staffing levels or caseloads for such categories.

Caseworkers receive ongoing training across all aspects of probate work and are deployed flexibly across workstreams to respond to operational demand and ensure resources are directed where they are needed most.

HMCTS is particularly focused on reducing waiting times for paper applications for letters of administration with a will annexed. Timeliness measures for these applications include the time taken for applicants to respond to requests for further information, which can be longer where correspondence takes place by post.

To improve waiting times, HMCTS has invested in additional staff in 2026, alongside system and process improvements and a programme of upskilling. These measures are intended to improve processing times and prevent growth in the outstanding caseload.

The Ministry of Justice publishes regular data on probate timeliness and open caseload in the quarterly Family Court Statistics bulletin, available at Family Court Statistics Quarterly - GOV.UK.

Published statistics include a range of breakdowns which enable timeliness and open caseload to be viewed by application type, application channel (paper or digital) and whether an application was stopped because further information or clarification was required from the applicant.

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) does not classify probate applications as "specialist" or "non-specialist", nor is there a dedicated Lost Wills Team. Consequently, HMCTS does not routinely hold or publish the information requested on waiting times, staffing levels or caseloads for such categories.

Caseworkers receive ongoing training across all aspects of probate work and are deployed flexibly across workstreams to respond to operational demand and ensure resources are directed where they are needed most.

HMCTS is particularly focused on reducing waiting times for paper applications for letters of administration with a will annexed. Timeliness measures for these applications include the time taken for applicants to respond to requests for further information, which can be longer where correspondence takes place by post.

To improve waiting times, HMCTS has invested in additional staff in 2026, alongside system and process improvements and a programme of upskilling. These measures are intended to improve processing times and prevent growth in the outstanding caseload.

The Ministry of Justice publishes regular data on probate timeliness and open caseload in the quarterly Family Court Statistics bulletin, available at Family Court Statistics Quarterly - GOV.UK.

Published statistics include a range of breakdowns which enable timeliness and open caseload to be viewed by application type, application channel (paper or digital) and whether an application was stopped because further information or clarification was required from the applicant.

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) does not classify probate applications as "specialist" or "non-specialist", nor is there a dedicated Lost Wills Team. Consequently, HMCTS does not routinely hold or publish the information requested on waiting times, staffing levels or caseloads for such categories.

Caseworkers receive ongoing training across all aspects of probate work and are deployed flexibly across workstreams to respond to operational demand and ensure resources are directed where they are needed most.

HMCTS is particularly focused on reducing waiting times for paper applications for letters of administration with a will annexed. Timeliness measures for these applications include the time taken for applicants to respond to requests for further information, which can be longer where correspondence takes place by post.

To improve waiting times, HMCTS has invested in additional staff in 2026, alongside system and process improvements and a programme of upskilling. These measures are intended to improve processing times and prevent growth in the outstanding caseload.

The Ministry of Justice publishes regular data on probate timeliness and open caseload in the quarterly Family Court Statistics bulletin, available at Family Court Statistics Quarterly - GOV.UK.

Published statistics include a range of breakdowns which enable timeliness and open caseload to be viewed by application type, application channel (paper or digital) and whether an application was stopped because further information or clarification was required from the applicant.

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) does not classify probate applications as "specialist" or "non-specialist", nor is there a dedicated Lost Wills Team. Consequently, HMCTS does not routinely hold or publish the information requested on waiting times, staffing levels or caseloads for such categories.

Caseworkers receive ongoing training across all aspects of probate work and are deployed flexibly across workstreams to respond to operational demand and ensure resources are directed where they are needed most.

HMCTS is particularly focused on reducing waiting times for paper applications for letters of administration with a will annexed. Timeliness measures for these applications include the time taken for applicants to respond to requests for further information, which can be longer where correspondence takes place by post.

To improve waiting times, HMCTS has invested in additional staff in 2026, alongside system and process improvements and a programme of upskilling. These measures are intended to improve processing times and prevent growth in the outstanding caseload.

The Ministry of Justice publishes regular data on probate timeliness and open caseload in the quarterly Family Court Statistics bulletin, available at Family Court Statistics Quarterly - GOV.UK.

Published statistics include a range of breakdowns which enable timeliness and open caseload to be viewed by application type, application channel (paper or digital) and whether an application was stopped because further information or clarification was required from the applicant.

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) does not classify probate applications as "specialist" or "non-specialist", nor is there a dedicated Lost Wills Team. Consequently, HMCTS does not routinely hold or publish the information requested on waiting times, staffing levels or caseloads for such categories.

Caseworkers receive ongoing training across all aspects of probate work and are deployed flexibly across workstreams to respond to operational demand and ensure resources are directed where they are needed most.

HMCTS is particularly focused on reducing waiting times for paper applications for letters of administration with a will annexed. Timeliness measures for these applications include the time taken for applicants to respond to requests for further information, which can be longer where correspondence takes place by post.

To improve waiting times, HMCTS has invested in additional staff in 2026, alongside system and process improvements and a programme of upskilling. These measures are intended to improve processing times and prevent growth in the outstanding caseload.

The Ministry of Justice publishes regular data on probate timeliness and open caseload in the quarterly Family Court Statistics bulletin, available at Family Court Statistics Quarterly - GOV.UK.

Published statistics include a range of breakdowns which enable timeliness and open caseload to be viewed by application type, application channel (paper or digital) and whether an application was stopped because further information or clarification was required from the applicant.

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) does not classify probate applications as "specialist" or "non-specialist", nor is there a dedicated Lost Wills Team. Consequently, HMCTS does not routinely hold or publish the information requested on waiting times, staffing levels or caseloads for such categories.

Caseworkers receive ongoing training across all aspects of probate work and are deployed flexibly across workstreams to respond to operational demand and ensure resources are directed where they are needed most.

HMCTS is particularly focused on reducing waiting times for paper applications for letters of administration with a will annexed. Timeliness measures for these applications include the time taken for applicants to respond to requests for further information, which can be longer where correspondence takes place by post.

To improve waiting times, HMCTS has invested in additional staff in 2026, alongside system and process improvements and a programme of upskilling. These measures are intended to improve processing times and prevent growth in the outstanding caseload.

The Ministry of Justice publishes regular data on probate timeliness and open caseload in the quarterly Family Court Statistics bulletin, available at Family Court Statistics Quarterly - GOV.UK.

Published statistics include a range of breakdowns which enable timeliness and open caseload to be viewed by application type, application channel (paper or digital) and whether an application was stopped because further information or clarification was required from the applicant.

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) does not classify probate applications as "specialist" or "non-specialist", nor is there a dedicated Lost Wills Team. Consequently, HMCTS does not routinely hold or publish the information requested on waiting times, staffing levels or caseloads for such categories.

Caseworkers receive ongoing training across all aspects of probate work and are deployed flexibly across workstreams to respond to operational demand and ensure resources are directed where they are needed most.

HMCTS is particularly focused on reducing waiting times for paper applications for letters of administration with a will annexed. Timeliness measures for these applications include the time taken for applicants to respond to requests for further information, which can be longer where correspondence takes place by post.

To improve waiting times, HMCTS has invested in additional staff in 2026, alongside system and process improvements and a programme of upskilling. These measures are intended to improve processing times and prevent growth in the outstanding caseload.

The Ministry of Justice publishes regular data on probate timeliness and open caseload in the quarterly Family Court Statistics bulletin, available at Family Court Statistics Quarterly - GOV.UK.

Published statistics include a range of breakdowns which enable timeliness and open caseload to be viewed by application type, application channel (paper or digital) and whether an application was stopped because further information or clarification was required from the applicant.

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) does not classify probate applications as "specialist" or "non-specialist", nor is there a dedicated Lost Wills Team. Consequently, HMCTS does not routinely hold or publish the information requested on waiting times, staffing levels or caseloads for such categories.

Caseworkers receive ongoing training across all aspects of probate work and are deployed flexibly across workstreams to respond to operational demand and ensure resources are directed where they are needed most.

HMCTS is particularly focused on reducing waiting times for paper applications for letters of administration with a will annexed. Timeliness measures for these applications include the time taken for applicants to respond to requests for further information, which can be longer where correspondence takes place by post.

To improve waiting times, HMCTS has invested in additional staff in 2026, alongside system and process improvements and a programme of upskilling. These measures are intended to improve processing times and prevent growth in the outstanding caseload.

Inheritance tax is due at the end of the sixth month after the date of death. After this point, late payment interest will begin to accrue on the outstanding tax. The Government has no plans to change the existing, longstanding deadlines.

The most recent Family Court Statistics Bulletin published by the Ministry of Justice shows that probate grants took approximately 5 weeks to be issued after the application was submitted during January to March 2026.

The Ministry of Justice publish regular data on probate timeliness and open caseload in our quarterly family court statistics bulletin Family Court Statistics Quarterly - GOV.UK. According to the published data in the Family Court Statistics Quarterly, the overall timeliness (both mean weeks and median weeks) has remained stable since Q1 of 2025 to the most recently published Q1 of 2026. There has been an improvement in the timeliness (both mean weeks and median weeks) from the figures in 2024. The published data shows that timeliness figures vary between case types, whether it is a paper or a digital application, whether the case has had to be stopped to request further information.

HM Courts & Tribunals Service have invested in more staff in 2026, alongside system, process improvements and a programme of upskilling to improve the processing time for applications and maintain the low level of outstanding caseload.

HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has checked the application referred to. The application cannot currently be granted as further enquiries need to be made before a grant can be issued.

HMCTS apologises for the delay in progressing this application. The applicant is being updated and, once the relevant enquiries have been completed, the application will be processed as quickly as possible.

Grants of representation(1) applied for by language submitted in, England and Wales

Annually 2021 to 2025

Source: HMCTS Core Case Data

Notes:

1) All grant types including letters of administration with/without a Will

2) Total applications do not include where the grant type is not specified/missing

Due to revisions these figures may differ slightly to those published in Family Court Statistics Quarterly.