Operational performance
HMCTS reported that demand remains high but stable. Applications received are broadly in line with the same period in 2025, despite a spike in July ahead of the probate fee increase. In July, 29,303 applications were received and 28,948 grants issued.
Average waiting time from application to grant was around five weeks overall. Complete digital applications that do not stop continue to move through the service faster than paper applications requiring further information or evidence. Call waiting times have reduced and email performance remains within service standards.
The latest published figures show the backlog of open cases sits at around 46,000 up to the end of July 2026.
Older and complex cases
HMCTS said that its priority for the remainder of 2026 is to reduce the age and complexity of the open caseload before applications begin to rise again from January.
For foreign domicile and lost will cases, HMCTS urged practitioners to refer to HMCTS guidance and checklists first. Only where a case falls outside that guidance, or there is uncertainty about the documents required, should practitioners seek pre-lodgement guidance from the probate registrar using form PA18.
Practitioners also reported delays with PA16 applications. HMCTS acknowledged that these applications can take longer as they require both operational and registrar consideration.
Stopped applications
Around 24,000 open cases have been stopped while HMCTS waits for further information or evidence from applicants. This is broadly unchanged from the position reported in June.
HMCTS said that a significant cause of stopped applications is missing information such as marriage and divorce details. New questions covering marriage and divorce are being added to the online service. Reminder notifications also remain in place to prompt applicants to provide any information requested by HMCTS.
Developments
- Work continues on the expansion of the online intestacy service.
- Revised PA1P and PA1A forms are still waiting to be released.
Paper applications and case queries
Paper applications are scanned and allocated across HMCTS sites rather than remaining with one registry. Practitioners should send any queries through the central probate contact route so they can be linked to the relevant case and allocated appropriately.
Correcting grants
Where a practitioner identifies an error after a digital grant has been issued, they should email HMCTS with the case details and a statement explaining the error and the correction required.
Straightforward amendments, such as an address correction, can be dealt with quickly. However, changes to a deceased person’s name or date are likely to require a registrar’s order and may take longer.
Feedback from the user group
ICAEW raised a recent example of an ICAEW-accredited probate practitioner not being recognised as authorised to provide probate services by HMCTS staff. HMCTS said it had recirculated guidance and issued further reminders.
Firms should report any individual examples to ICAEW so that HMCTS can address them with the relevant team.
Guidance and practitioner engagement
HMCTS will share materials and recordings from practitioner lunch-and-learn sessions where possible. A further session is being planned and is likely to take the form of a general question-and-answer event.
Providing feedback
We encourage you to share feedback on any operational issues with us so that we can log any recurring issues and raise them with HMCTS on your behalf. Please email ICAEW’s Regulatory Policy Manager.
About Probate Professional User Group meetings with HMCTS
This update is a summary of the information discussed at the most recent Probate Professional User Group meeting attended by Rachel Clements, Regulatory Policy Manager, ICAEW. Other attendees at these meetings include representatives from the Council of Licensed Conveyancers, STEP (The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners), The Law Society, The Institute of Legacy Management, The Association of Lifetime Lawyers, and several charities.
Further information
Access the following resources to find information to support you in your role as a probate practitioner.