To track a probate application in England and Wales, sign in to the same government probate account you applied through and open the application to see its status. If a solicitor applied, they track it through MyHMCTS. You can also phone the probate helpline on 0300 303 0648 or email contactprobate@justice.gov.uk with your reference (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change).
gov.uk says a postal application should produce a grant letter or email within 12 weeks (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change), so the real question is usually not how long probate takes but whether your case has been stopped. For the wider picture, see our overview of what probate is.
How do you track a probate application online?
You track a personal application by signing back in to the government probate service with the account you used to apply, then opening the case. There is no separate tracking website: the status lives inside your application, and you need your account details or 16-character reference to reach it.
- Sign in to the probate service. Use the Government Gateway or email login you created when you applied at gov.uk, which is the same account, not a new one (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change).
- Open your application. Select the case for the person who died. The status shows near the top, with the date it last changed.
- Read the status and any message. If the service needs something, it appears here and is usually emailed too, so check your spam folder.
- Note your reference number. Keep the 16-character reference to hand, as you need it for any call, email or MP letter about the case.
Postal applicants have no self-service tracker and check progress by phone or email instead, covered below. A solicitor who applied for you tracks the case through MyHMCTS and can update you directly.
What do the tracking statuses mean?
The probate tracker moves through a short set of stages, from received to grant issued. The one that matters most is stopped, which means the registry has paused your case and needs something to continue. The labels below reflect what applicants commonly see, though wording can vary (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change).
| Status you may see | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Received or in progress | Your application and documents are logged and waiting to be examined. | Wait. No action is needed yet. |
| Being examined | A caseworker is checking your application against the will and estate details. | Wait, and watch your email for queries. |
| Stopped | The case is paused because something is missing, unsigned or does not match. | Read the query, fix it and reply quickly. See below. |
| Ready to issue | Checks are complete and the grant is being prepared. | Wait for the grant to arrive by post. |
| Grant issued | Your grant of representation has been sent out. | Use it to collect assets and administer the estate. |
How do you chase probate by phone, email or MP?
You can chase a probate application by phoning the helpline, emailing the registry, or, past 12 weeks, copying in your MP. Each route needs your 16-character reference and the deceased's full name. The current contacts are below (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change).
| Route | Detail (as at August 2026) |
|---|---|
| Probate helpline | 0300 303 0648, Monday to Friday, 9am to 1pm (gov.uk). |
| contactprobate@justice.gov.uk, with your reference in the subject line (gov.uk). | |
| Your MP | After 12 weeks, copying your local MP into an email can help move a stalled case. |
Chase at 12 weeks, not before: gov.uk says a postal application should produce a grant letter or email within 12 weeks, and to contact the Courts and Tribunals Service Centre if it has not (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change). A clean online case sitting quietly for a few weeks is usually normal. If you have not applied yet, see our step-by-step guide to applying for probate.
What a stopped application means, and how to fix it fast
A stopped status is the single most common reason a grant is late, and it is nearly always fixable. It means a caseworker has paused the case and raised a query, so the clock does not restart until you reply. Answering in full, not in parts, gets the case moving again.
Most stops trace back to the same causes: a missing original will, or one posted with a staple or clip mark suggesting a page was removed; an unsigned statement of truth, or one signed by the wrong person; a name, date or value that does not match across the will, death certificate and application; or an inheritance tax position that has not cleared with HMRC.
- Read the exact query. Note precisely what is being asked for, on your account and in your email. Do not guess.
- Gather everything at once. If the registry needs a document and an explanation, send both together, so the case is not stopped again.
- Reply through the route given. Use the method the query specifies, quoting your 16-character reference on every page and email.
- Follow up after two weeks. If the status has not changed, phone the helpline to confirm your reply reached the case.
If the stop concerns a missing or damaged will, act carefully, as the wrong document can cause a fresh query; our guide to tracing a lost will covers the safe options. Where an estate is large, taxable or disputed, many hand the correspondence to a specialist.