IWC Probate and Will Services
We are extremely proud to be voted number one legal probate service by the FreeIndex search engine. We are a specialist Probate, Genealogy and Will writing Company offering nationwide coverage across the whole of England.
Our full company name is IWC Estate Planning and Management Ltd trading as IWC Probate and Will Services, we are a Limited Company regulated by the Society of Will Writers and Estate Planning Practitioners, registered with the Heir Hunters Association and registered at Companies House.
Our head office is in Croydon, Surrey (Direct dial: 020 8150 2010) however we have satellite office coverage across most of England. (See all of our offices).
Our Will writing and probate staff are fully qualified probate practitioners who hold the appropriate law degree qualifications for probate and estate administration. Our Probate department includes Sharon Edwards TEP who having qualified in New Zealand is a full STEP member. Most of our probate staff have either qualified as solicitors or have law degree qualifications however as they are employed by IWC, who are not solicitors, under the Law Society and Solicitors Regulatory Authority regulations we cannot tell you that they are solicitors nor must you think of them as solicitors.
We provide a fixed fee service for Probate Administration and Wills, our fees will be agreed with you in advance and are based on the work that we have to do. If you would like to take advantage of our services we will happily visit you at home, daytime or evening, to discuss how you would like us to work for you.
Our Genealogy department are specialised in this field and have been tracing family histories for many years. We can offer work on a contingency, time and expenses or fixed fee basis.
If you have questions please feel free to email us at admin@iwcprobateservices.co.uk alternatively please do not hesitate to call us on 020 8150 2010.
Our web site is regularly maintained, we have regular news stories added, generally these are added two or three times per week. In addition we have a Glossary of legal phrases, helping you to understand the minefield of legal terminology. Lastly for ease of navigation around our complete website we have a complete site map which details every page on our site and is automatically updated with every news story. If there is anything you feel we have missed you can also let us know by submitting our simple to use feedback form.
Finally, if you would like to read what others say about the service we provide please visit our testimonials page. We do understand that many people are sceptical when reading website testimonials, however you need not worry, ours are all independently verified by the Free Index Search Engine.
FAQ’s
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Can the Executor Delay Probate?
An executor can delay applying for probate, but they have a legal duty to administer the estate within a reasonable time. Delays can occur while gathering information regarding the estate, financial institutions can take 4-6 weeks to respond to letters, and it can be a lot harder if the executor is unaware of what assets the deceased had. However, there should not be any unreasonable delays without explanation to the beneficiaries, for example if someone were to contest a Will, the beneficiaries would be informed.
Is Probate Faster If I Hire a Solicitor?
Solicitors cannot typically speed up the probate process as such as this is guided by the financial institution’s timelines, probate court timelines, HMRC etc however they will be chasing regularly, and dealing with all issues in a timely manner which you may not personally be able to do. However, hiring a solicitor/probate firm may speed the process in the way of the burden is taken away from the family and the solicitor will be working on an estate as their full-time job rather than family members dealing with the estate in their spare time.
How Long Does Probate Court Review Take?
Once the application is submitted correctly, the Probate Registry typically issues a Grant of Probate within 6 months, although processing times can vary depending on whether further information is required for them to process the probate application.
What Information Do I Need to Speed Up Probate?
There is no specific guide to speed up the probate process, however gathering information in a timely manner can speed up the application. In order to apply for probate, you will need to have gathered the below information.
- The original will (if there is one)
- Death certificate
- Details of all bank accounts, shares and investments
- Property valuations
- Details of debts and liabilities
- Pension and insurance information
- Inheritance Tax information and forms (if required)
How Long Until I Can Access a Dead Person's Bank Account?
It depends on the sum of monies being held in the bank account, if less than £5,000 you should be able to notify the bank straight away of the death and they will forward the necessary closure forms to the executor/next of kin. If the account is over £5,000 it is the banks discretion whether they will release the funds without a grant of probate. If you have a funeral bill that needs to be paid from the deceased’s account, you will be able to send the bank the funeral directors’ invoice, and they will be able to pay this from the account subject to sufficient funds.
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What Happens During the Probate Waiting Period?
During the waiting period between applying for probate and probate being issued there is not much an executor can do. They can prepare for the grant to be issued, such as gathering all closure information and forms for financial assets in readiness for the grant to be issued and gather beneficiary information but they cannot proceed with distributing the estate or selling the property until the grant has been issued.
How Long Does Probate Take If There Are Problems?
If the estate is contested or complicated, for example, disputes over the will, missing beneficiaries, foreign assets, or tax implications probate can take 1–2 years, and occasionally even longer.
Is There a Waiting Period Before Applying for Probate?
No. There is no legal waiting period. An executor can apply as soon as they have the death certificate, Will (if applicable) and the necessary estate information, although they should ensure asset values and tax requirements have been properly investigated first.
How Long After Probate Can Executors Distribute Money?
Usually once probate has been granted and all debts, final bills and tax (if applicable) have been paid the executors usually wait the statutory 6-month waiting period before distributing the estate. This ensures no claims are made against the estate, should an executor distribute too early, and a claim is successfully made against the estate the executor/beneficiaries can be personally liable to pay any monies back.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Copy of the Grant of Probate?
Once probate has been granted, the grant should be posted to you within 5-7 working days, this may be delayed to 10 working days during busy periods. If probate has already been granted, you can buy a copy online, and this usually takes a few days to be issued to you digitally.
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Can I Get Probate Expedited in London?
There is no fast-track probate service in the UK, however, applications may be prioritised in exceptional circumstances (such as financial hardship or urgent property transactions), provided there is strong evidence supporting the request. Most applicants should expect the standard timelines.
Is Probate Still Taking 6 Months in 2026?
In 2026, some straightforward probate applications are expected to be processed in 12-16 weeks, although it can still take six months or more. Again, if there are disputes, errors or missing documents this can delay probate. If the estate is complex, this can mean the probate takes a lot longer, and although processing has improved compared with previous backlogs, delays still occur even on straightforward applications.
How Long Does Probate Take Without a Will?
When someone dies without a valid will, they are said to have died intestate. Letters of Administration is required to deal with the estate. The process typically takes 10-12 months to complete in easy estates and 12-18 months or more to complete in complex estates. This can take longer because there is no will to guide the administration, and more complications could arise such as the below.
- There are multiple potential administrators.
- Family members disagree over who should apply.
- Beneficiaries need to be identified under the intestacy rules.
Why Do Solicitors Need So Much Information for Probate?
Solicitors request detailed information because they have a legal duty to administer the estate accurately and to adhere to probate, tax, and anti-money laundering regulations. Providing detailed information about the deceased and their assets helps the estate to be completed in a timely manner and reduces delays.
How Long Should I Wait Before Chasing My Probate Application?
You should generally wait around 12-16 after submitting your probate application before chasing HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS), provided you’ve supplied all the required documents and there are no complications. Although you can chase your application after 12 weeks, if the grant has not been issued yet, HMCTS are still usually working the application at this point and may not be able to give a timescale of when you can expect the grant. If inheritance tax issues, missing documents, or errors are involved, delays may be longer.
Still Have Questions?
Explore more information on our FAQ’s page or, to discuss any aspect of our expert services, contact us here.
Or, for instant confidential consultation or impartial advice, please call 020 8150 2010.
Remember – your initial conversation with IWC is free of charge.