Probate applications on the rise as service battles with backlog
Commenting on the analysis from Final Duties, which revealed a three percent increase in the number of probate applications taking place each year since the pandemic, Alexander Morgan highlights the current delay in the number of grants being issued in an article for Financial Times Adviser.
Legal Director Alexander Morgan stated:
‘Unfortunately, there have been increased delays in the probate service with latest figures suggesting an average wait time of 15.2 weeks from point of submission to a grant issuing, which is significantly higher than the 9.3 weeks average for the same month in the previous year.
The delays can cause concern and uncertainty for families, as valuable assets in an estate may be inaccessible until the grant issues, whilst the costs of maintenance and interest charged by HMRC on unpaid inheritance tax continue to accrue.’
The full article can be accessed via the Financial Times Adviser website.