Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate his Department has made of the additional financial liabilities incurred by estates as a result of exceptional delays in obtaining probate and letters of administration.

The Government recognises that probate applications are made at a difficult and emotional time for bereaved families and it is important that the service is delivered as efficiently as possible. HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has invested in more staff in 2026, alongside system and process improvements and a programme of upskilling to improve the processing time for applications. The Ministry of Justice publishes regular data on probate timeliness and open caseload in the quarterly family court statistics bulletin: Family Court Statistics Quarterly - GOV.UK.

The Ministry of Justice has not made an estimate of additional financial liabilities incurred by estates as a result of delays in obtaining a grant. Where urgent action is required before the administration of an estate can be completed, it may be possible to obtain a limited grant for a specific purpose.

Ministry of Justice officials engage with other government departments responsible for services linked to the probate system on operational matters as required.