More than 65,000 applications for probate grants were made across England and Wales in the first three months of 2026, according to Ministry of Justice figures.

For a family dealing with a death in Twickenham or elsewhere in South West London, however, probate can still feel like an unfamiliar process.

So what exactly is probate, when is it needed, how long does it take and what does it cost?

What is probate?

Where someone dies leaving a valid Will, an executor may need a Grant of Probate before they can deal with certain assets in the estate.

Before applying, the executor will usually need to identify the deceased person's assets and debts, estimate the value of the estate and deal with any required Inheritance Tax reporting.

The grant is part of the wider estate-administration process.

Once the appropriate authority is available, relevant assets can be collected, liabilities settled and the remaining estate distributed.

Do you always need probate?

No. Whether a grant is required depends on the assets involved, their value and how they were owned.

Some jointly owned assets may pass to the surviving owner, while banks and other institutions can have their own thresholds and requirements.

A grant is more likely to be needed where property was owned in the deceased person's sole name or where a financial institution requires formal authority before releasing funds.

How long does probate take?

There are two timescales to keep separate. GOV.UK says applicants will usually receive probate within 12 weeks of submitting an application, although it can take longer if more information is needed.

Ministry of Justice statistics for January to March 2026 show probate grants taking around five weeks on average across the cases measured.

The whole estate can take much longer to administer because property, tax, debts, investments and beneficiary distributions may still need to be dealt with after the grant is issued.

How much does a probate application cost?

The current government application fee is £526 where the estate is worth more than £5,000.

There is no application fee where the estate is worth £5,000 or less.

Other costs may arise depending on the estate, including valuation, property or professional-support costs.

Because court fees can change, the current GOV.UK fee page should always be checked before an application is submitted.

Can I apply myself?

Yes. Executors can apply for probate themselves online or by post.

Some people choose professional support where the estate contains property, Inheritance Tax, complicated assets, disputes or difficult family circumstances, or where they would prefer someone else to manage the process.

What if there is no Will?

If there is no valid Will, the estate is dealt with under the rules of intestacy.

An eligible person may apply to become the administrator, and where formal authority is required the relevant grant is generally Letters of Administration rather than a Grant of Probate.

Getting started in Twickenham

A sensible first step is to locate the Will, if there is one, identify the executor and begin gathering information about the estate.

From there, it is possible to establish whether a grant is likely to be required and what needs to happen next.

Richmond Wills & Probate supports families with probate and estate administration across Richmond, Teddington, Twickenham and the wider south west London area.

Support can range from helping families understand whether a grant is required through to managing the wider estate-administration process.

For a no-obligation conversation visit its website here or call 07487 851555 or 020 3930 3457.

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