Waiting with no clear update? Caira by Unwildered can turn emails, dates, probate forms and solicitor letters into a timeline and polite follow-up draft. Powered by the latest AI models, Caira's answers are grounded in 10,000+ England and Wales legal documents.
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Why delay feels so personal

Waiting for inheritance can feel awkward. You do not want to look greedy. You know someone has died. You know the executor may be grieving. But after six months, twelve months, or longer, a quiet question starts to grow:

"Is this normal, or is something wrong?"

Example: Hannah in Nottingham

Take Hannah in Nottingham. Her aunt left her GBP 35,000 in a will. The executor is a cousin. At first everyone was patient. There was a house to sell, bank accounts to close and personal belongings to sort. But 14 months later, Hannah has had two vague texts: "Solicitor still dealing with it" and "Probate takes ages." No figures. No timeline. No estate accounts.

Probate can take time for perfectly legitimate reasons. Before applying, executors usually need to identify assets, value the estate, find the original will, estimate inheritance tax, contact banks, deal with property, and gather debts. GOV.UK says executors applying for probate where there is a will must estimate the estate value and send the original will with the application. It also says probate is usually received within 12 weeks of applying, although it can take longer if extra information is needed.

That 12-week point is often misunderstood. It is not a promise that the whole estate will be finished in 12 weeks. It is about the grant after the application. Selling a flat, waiting for HMRC, closing investments, clearing a care-home bill, tracing a beneficiary in Spain or agreeing final estate accounts can all add time after the grant is issued. If more than one executor is named, they must also agree who applies or deal with power reserved or renunciation.

Delays can be caused by:

• a property sale falling through;

• missing bank statements;

• inheritance tax forms;

• unknown debts;

• foreign assets;

• disputes between executors;

• unclear will wording;

• beneficiaries who cannot be found;

• Department for Work and Pensions checks;

• a solicitor waiting for executor instructions.

So delay alone is not proof of wrongdoing.

But silence is different.

Beneficiaries are often afraid to ask questions because they do not want to seem insensitive. A reasonable update is not harassment. If you are due a legacy, it is fair to ask whether probate has been applied for, whether the grant has been issued, whether assets have been collected, and whether there is an expected distribution timetable.

What beneficiaries can ask

A sensible first message is polite and specific:

• Has probate been granted?

• If not, has the application been submitted?

• Is there a property sale or tax issue causing delay?

• When do you expect to provide estate accounts?

• Is there anything beneficiaries need to sign?

Keep records as you go. Save emails, texts, letters and dates. If you have only had phone calls, send a calm follow-up: "Thank you for speaking with me today. I understand probate has not yet been granted because the property valuation is outstanding."

If communication breaks down completely, you may need advice. The right route depends on the issue. A slow but honest executor is different from an executor who refuses to account, mixes estate money with personal money, or distributes assets before paying debts.

If you are an executor, the lesson is simple: communicate before people panic. Even a short update can prevent suspicion.

In a simpler estate, the delay may be about a mortgaged home, a bank account, funeral costs and a few debts. In a larger estate, pensions, share portfolios, IHT forms and a property sale may explain a slower timeline. Where there are private company valuations, trusts, farms, foreign assets, GBP 10m-300m in investable assets or disputed tax positions, beneficiaries should expect a more formal timetable and clearer adviser responsibilities.

If you are a beneficiary, Caira can help you draft a polite but firm request for information. Upload the will, previous emails, solicitor letters or a timeline of what has happened. Caira can help you turn "I feel ignored" into a clear message asking for the next practical update, without sounding accusatory.

Sources: Administration of Estates Act 1925; Non-Contentious Probate Rules 1987; HMCTS probate guidance; HMRC inheritance tax guidance.

FAQ

Am I being greedy if I ask when probate will finish?
No. You can be grieving and still need practical information. A calm, specific request is different from pressuring an executor for money.

Is 12 weeks the deadline for the whole estate?
No. The 12-week guidance is about the grant after application. Selling property, tax checks, debts and final accounts can take longer.

What if the executor keeps saying "the solicitor is dealing with it"?
Ask what stage the matter is at: application, grant, asset collection, property sale, tax, accounts or distribution. Vague reassurance is not the same as an update.

When should I worry?
Worry more if there is no application, no explanation, no accounts, estate money is unclear, or the executor ignores reasonable written questions for months.

This article is general information. It is not legal, financial, tax or medical advice