The Telegraph has featured a letter contributed by partner Suzanne Mynors on the subject of probate waiting times.
She writes in response to the HM Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS) proclaiming that processing times for the issue of grants of probate have been “halved” earlier in the month, saying:
“There was a time when ten to fourteen days was par for the course; HMCTS is now celebrating more than four weeks. This is a service that has de-skilled, digitalised and centralised, to detriment of families who have complex personal or financial affairs. For those most in need of resolution, probate delays can prevent them being in a position to pay inheritance tax bills on time – or force them to take out a commercial loan to do so.”
Although any reduction in processing times should be applauded, with interest rates on unpaid inheritance tax due to rise in April, many families (and legal professionals) will be hoping that this is just the start of improvements at HMCTS.
The letter is available to read here.
Suzanne Mynors is a partner in the private client team. She specialises in wills and succession planning, probate and estate administration, trusts and trust taxation, inheritance tax planning, powers of attorney and mental capacity work.
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