To track a probate application in England and Wales, check its progress through HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS). If you applied online you can sign in to the probate service to see the current status; if you applied on paper, or you have not heard back after 12 weeks, you can contact HMCTS by phone or email quoting your case reference.
That is the short answer. The rest of this guide explains each route in more detail, what information to have to hand, the timescales HMCTS publishes, and the common reasons an application is paused so you can judge whether a wait is normal or worth chasing. Figures are current as at August 2026 and are subject to change.
How to check the progress of a probate application
There are three main ways to find out where an application has reached. Which one applies depends on how the application was submitted and how long ago.
| Route | Best for | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Online probate service | Anyone who applied online | Sign in to the account used to apply at gov.uk, applying for probate to see the status of the case. |
| Phone | Paper applicants, or after 12 weeks | Call the Courts and Tribunals Service Centre on 0300 303 0648, Monday to Friday, 9am to 1pm, closed on bank holidays (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change). |
| A written record of the query | Email contactprobate@justice.gov.uk with the case reference (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change). |
HMCTS asks people to wait until the published timescale has passed before chasing, because contact before then rarely speeds anything up and adds to the volume the service is handling. More on the timing below.
What you need to track your application
Whichever route you use, having the right reference to hand makes the check far quicker. It is worth gathering the following before you call, email or sign in.
- The case or application reference. This is issued when the application is submitted and appears on the confirmation email or letter from HMCTS.
- The full name and date of death of the person who died. Used to locate the case if the reference is not to hand.
- Your own details as the applicant. HMCTS will usually only discuss a case with the named applicant or their appointed representative.
- The date the application was submitted. This tells you whether the published timescale has passed.
How long probate takes, and when to chase
HMCTS states that a grant of probate or letters of administration is usually issued within 12 weeks of submitting the application, and that it can take longer if the service needs more information (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change). The 12-week clock generally starts from when a complete application is received, not from when the person died or when the paperwork was begun.
| Stage | What is happening |
|---|---|
| Application submitted | HMCTS confirms receipt and issues a case reference. |
| Within 12 weeks | The usual window in which a straightforward grant is issued. |
| After 12 weeks | If you applied by post and have had no response, contact HMCTS to check progress (gov.uk, subject to change). |
An application that needs further information, a correction, or a linked inheritance tax step can sit outside the usual window. That does not always mean anything has gone wrong; it often means the case has been paused pending one specific item.
Why an application might stall
When a case runs past the usual timescale, it is frequently held up by one identifiable issue rather than a general backlog. Common reasons an application is paused include:
- A query on the will, such as a missing page, an unclear signature, or a document that needs to be sent in.
- An inheritance tax step that has not yet cleared, where the probate application depends on it. Our guide to inheritance tax in England and Wales sets out how the two connect.
- A difference between the details on the application and HMCTS records, such as a name or value that needs confirming.
- The original will or supporting documents not having reached the service.
If HMCTS needs something from you, it will usually make contact. When you check progress and learn the case is "stopped" pending an item, supplying exactly what is asked for tends to be the quickest way to move it forward.
If a solicitor or probate specialist applied for you
Where a professional submitted the application on the estate's behalf, they hold the case reference and the account it was filed through, so they are usually the fastest point of contact for an update. Professional representatives use a dedicated HMCTS service to manage and monitor their cases, and can see status changes directly. If you instructed someone to handle the estate, it is generally worth asking them first before contacting HMCTS yourself, so you are not both chasing the same case.
Deciding whether to apply yourself or to instruct help is a separate question from tracking. If you are still weighing that up, our overview of what probate is and when it is needed may help, and our pricing page sets out how fees are agreed before any work begins.
Tracking probate in Scotland and Northern Ireland
This guide covers England and Wales. The other UK nations run separate systems. In Scotland the equivalent process is called confirmation and is handled through the sheriff court rather than HMCTS, so the tracking routes and contact points differ. Northern Ireland has its own probate service as well. If the estate you are dealing with sits in Scotland or Northern Ireland, use that nation's probate or confirmation service rather than the HMCTS channels above.