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Applications for Probate on the Internet Are Still Chaotic

December 11, 2019 By Richard Farrell

While the higher probate tax is on indefinite hold at least for now, the digital scheme it was supposed to help fund is still chaotic. The Register blew the cover on October 30, 2019, as the disgraceful treatment of mourners continued unabated.

That’s because closing out a dear-departed person’s will has always been an important step down the road to accepting what has happened, and moving on.

However, Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service seems oblivious to the chaotic state of what appears to be an ill-conceived system. Or perhaps officialdom simply does not care about the chaos continuing since April 2019.

A Cacophony of Silence Leaving People in Pain

The new system was supposed to speed up probate application processing, and therefore completion of wills. The idea was good, what with some inheritors on financial tenterhooks and facing financial ruin due to delays.

However, the Courts and Tribunals Service unfortunately clogged the works up with an abnormally number of probate applications during the parliamentary impasse over new, higher fees that are since shelved. As a result, we now have a new IT system which is barely limping through a massive backlog evidence suggests it cannot accommodate.

Excuses may be good enough for bureaucrats in their digital ivory towers. However, the backlog has grown from ‘up to four weeks’ to considerably longer since then. It’s pity we can’t have two streams. One for the wealthy hoping to dodge the higher rates and one for ordinary people, the government is supposed to serve.

Real Life Examples of Chaos Courtesy of The Register

A customer told The Register the online service was advertised as taking ten days to process grants of probate, and wills. However they complained of it taking 45 days and longer.

They had not received any explanations for this, and were in the dark regarding how long their applications will take. Instead, they received canned replies reminiscent of a farmyard if you know what I mean.

Another complainant has had their application in the pipeline since 2018, yet still does not know when Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service will get around to attending to it.  We understand that all’s fair in love and government computers. It might be fairer to the public to reinstate the previous system though.

A third solicitor remarked that older applications appeared to be slowing down, as a result of recent applications apparently receiving priority. “We still await grants where the application was made in the summer. We have also seen an increase in errors that require the return of the grant so it can be corrected and reissued.”

Law Society Sees Light At the End of the Tunnel

Law Society president Simon Davis told The Register “Over the past several months, the delays to probate grant applications have caused undue stress for grieving families.

“We are relieved to hear these delays are starting to ease, and will continue to work with the Courts and Tribunals Service to reduce the backlogs, and create a probate service fit for the 21st century.

As far as we are aware the old system worked well for the first 18 years of the 21st century. If the Service were a private company it could have have withered in the face of competition years ago.

Related

Filed Under: Probate Valuation Tagged With: bureaucrats in their digital ivory towers, Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals, probate contents valuation, proposed digital probate scheme, winding up an estate

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We provide a full house clearance and property management solution:

  • We clear hoarded houses, regardless how big or how cluttered
  • We clear all types and sizes of property, irrespective of location, or access is restricted or where parking is difficult or not available.
  • We can help avoid water damage by draining the central heating system.
  • We can secure the property and change the locks.
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As well normal house clearances we specialise in clutter clearance and we can clear a hoarded house which may contain years of accumulated possessions, or which have abnormal amounts of general household items, sometimes as a result of compulsive hoarding syndrome.

Equally we can help to clear a property where the occupants were previously unwell and unable to care for themselves or their property which sometimes results in insanitary, dangerous or just plain unpleasant conditions.

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Client Reviews

Patrick Macavoy
May 20, 2022
 by Patrick Macavoy on Avery Associates
A Seamless Experience

I had my late mother's flat to clear out. The contact with AA was a pleasure from day one, starting with the receptionist. Jeffrey then came out to look... Read More

Jenny Schon
Dec 3, 2021
 by Jenny Schon on Avery Associates
Well done

This truly is a 'one stop shop' for all things relating to Probate valuations and clearance. Jeffrey is a 'facilitator' and full marks to him for finding... Read More

Kevin Anderson
Oct 26, 2021
 by Kevin Anderson on Avery Associates
Fantastic and Reliable

Our aunt was a recluse and hoarder. She died leaving two properties in London that were dilapidated and completely hoarded. Unfortunately, because everything... Read More

It was a pleasure to assist Kevin

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