Planning your Will or dealing with probate can feel daunting, especially when you’re unsure how long everything is supposed to take. Clear timelines help you plan, reduce stress, and feel confident about the process.
Callum Leighton, Associate Solicitor and Team Leader in the Wills, Trusts & Probate team at Jackson Lees, explains typical timings for key milestones, including:
- Writing and signing a Will
- Registering Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs)
- Probate timescales
- Land Registry updates linked to estate administration
- Court of Protection matters
- How Jackson Lees helps keep things moving
If you’d like personalised advice tailored to your circumstances, our team is here to help.
How long does it take to make and sign a Will in England & Wales?
There’s no set legal deadline for drafting a Will in England and Wales. The timescale really depends on:
- How straightforward or detailed your wishes are
- Whether you need wider estate planning advice
- How quickly you’re able to review and approve the draft
Once your Will is ready, it must be signed correctly to be legally valid. That means:
- You sign in front of two adult witnesses (18+)
- Your witnesses must watch you sign, and then sign in front of you
- Beneficiaries, or their spouse/civil partner, cannot act as witnesses
Timelines vary by case. We’ll give you a personalised plan at the outset and update you at every milestone so you’re always in the know.
How long does LPA registration take?
Current Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) timescales are typically:
- 8 –10 weeks to process and register an LPA
- This includes a mandatory 4‑week waiting period
If anything is incorrect, missing signatures, errors, or objections, the process takes longer.
That’s why getting the application right for the first time makes a real difference. Our specialised team check your application carefully to avoid delays.
How Long Is Probate Taking Right Now?
The Probate Registry’s current guidance is that it can take up to 12 weeks from the date they receive an application to issue a Grant of Probate. That said, probate times have improved in recent years, especially for digital applications. As of late 2024 and into 2025:
- Straightforward online applications: around 2–5 weeks, with some granted in as little as a week once documents are accepted
- Paper applications: generally, 12–15 weeks
Every estate is different, but we’ll give you an early indication of likely timescales based on your circumstances.
How long do Land Registry updates take?
Land Registry timeframes vary depending on the type of update. As a general guide:
Simple updates
(e.g., name corrections or straightforward changes)
- Often automated and can be quick
- Where manual checks are needed, the Land Registry currently estimates around 5–6 months
More detailed updates
(e.g., transfers of ownership or adding rights)
- Usually start within 11 months and complete within 13–14 months
First registrations
- Typically completed within 11–14 months, although complex cases can take longer
If a delay could affect a sale, remortgage, or transaction, we can request a free expedite, and most expedited applications are completed within around 10 working days.
Our Team Is Here to Help
When it comes to Wills, probate, and estate Administration, delays are often avoidable. Our team prides itself on momentum, clarity, and thoroughness.
Here’s how we help everything progress smoothly when protecting the future of your estate:
- Clear timelines from day one: You’ll always know what’s happening in the moment, and what happens next.
- Plain‑English updates: No jargon, no guesswork, no chasing required.
- Attention to detail: Our meticulous approach prevents the errors that so often stall Wills, LPAs or probate applications.
- Proactive communication with third parties: We chase, check in, and keep pressure on where needed, so things don’t drift.
- Fast‑track requests where possible: Including Land Registry expedites and digital probate where criteria are met.
If you need help with a Will, probate, LPAs or estate administration, please give us a call, request a callback, or make an enquiry to see our team can help.