Early action taken by Fiona Bruce & Co benefits the Wills and Probate team in complying with the new rules for submitting online probate applications.

11th January 2021 marks the deadline, set by the Probate Registry, by which all solicitors must, unless an exemption applies, submit applications for a Grant of Probate using the online platform from HM Courts and Tribunals Service. 

The deadline has been extended on several occasions however our Wills and Probate Team have been confidently and successfully using the new online service for much of 2020. 

While any new service will no doubt have teething problems, we have been pleased to see the Probate Registry’s continued efforts for continual progress and improvement. 

Since registering to use the online system our solicitors have noted a number of benefits such as the ability to review the progress of an application online. In many cases, this can prevent what can be long wait times when telephoning the Probate Registry for updates. 

Another benefit is the Statement of Truth which the executor of the estate will sign. This replaces the Oath which was previously required. For our clients acting as executors, this means they do not have to make arrangements to swear an Oath in front of an independent Solicitor and they can sign and return the forms to us. The online service means that we can also receive scanned copies of the signed forms, avoiding the need for hard copies to be posted. This has been of particular benefit where the executors are based abroad. 

The exemptions for applications which cannot be submitted online largely relate to matters where the estate is, for one reason or another, more complex. It is however understood and the Probate Registry intend to widen the scope of the service. 

Our Wills and Probate Solicitors continue to review the latest guidance on updates to the online platform to ensure your matter can progress as swiftly as possible. 

Contact us today to find out how one of our Wills and Probate Solicitors may be able to assist you. 

The contents of this article do not constitute legal advice and are provided for general information purposes only.