Ask most executors when probate is “done” and they will say: when the grant arrives. It is easy to see why. You have spent weeks gathering papers and waiting, and the grant is the first real sign of progress.
But the grant is not the end of the job. In most estates, it is closer to the start.
Probate is faster than it was
There is good news first. For applications made between January and March 2026, grants were issued on average about five weeks after the application went in, much the same as the same quarter in 2025. A couple of years ago, families were waiting far longer.
So the wait for the grant is shorter. The work that follows it is not.
What still needs doing after the grant
The grant gives the executor legal authority to deal with the estate. Then the real work starts:
- Collecting the money from banks, building societies, pensions and investments
- Paying debts, bills and any funeral costs still outstanding
- Selling or transferring property
- Dealing with tax: Inheritance Tax, income tax on estate income during the administration, and Capital Gains Tax if assets are sold for more than their value at death
- Preparing estate accounts that show what came in, what went out and what each beneficiary receives
- Paying out to the beneficiaries
None of this goes away because the grant has arrived.
Why it takes time
The official figures show this clearly. At the end of March 2026 there were still 42,490 open probate cases. Getting the grant and finishing the estate are two different things.
Delays rarely come from one big problem. They come from lots of small ones. A bank wants another certified copy. A buyer’s survey throws up an issue. HMRC needs a form before it will confirm the tax position. Each one adds a week or two, and together they can add months.
This is normal. Even a simple-looking estate can involve several organisations, each working to its own timetable.
Knowing why you are waiting makes a difference
In our experience, people cope well with waiting when they understand the reason. What causes stress is silence. If nobody explains what is happening, it is natural to assume nothing is.
Most people act as an executor only once or twice in their life, often while grieving. A clear explanation of what is left to do, what is holding things up and what has already been done takes a lot of the worry away.
How we help
At Smart Probate, we handle the whole administration, not just the application. As an ICAEW Accredited Probate Practice and Chartered Tax Advisers, we also deal with the tax and estate accounts that often slow other estates down. We tell you at the start what to expect, and we keep you updated so you are never left wondering.
If you have just received a grant, or are about to apply, call us for a no-obligation chat about what comes next.