Justice Committee to hear from charities amid financial fears over Probate delays

• Evidence session
• Probate inquiry
• Tuesday, 12 March at 2.30pm
• Committee Room 5, Palace of Westminster
• Watch the session: parliamentlive.tv

The cross-party Committee of MPs will hear from senior representatives of Cancer Research UK, Devon Air Ambulance Trust and Remember A Charity and the Institute of Legacy Management on the significant impact of probate delays across the charitable sector, in particular organisations reliant on funding from gifts in wills. Discussion is expected to focus on the impact of delays, possible improvements and mitigations, plus suggestions for long term change. 

The Committee launched its inquiry in November 2023 amid reports the Probate Registry has been experiencing significant delays. There are wider concerns about how effectively beneficiaries, executors and the bereaved are supported through the process.

The inquiry is taking evidence on capacity, resources and delays across the probate service and the impact of digitisation and centralisation, including the effectiveness of the online probate portal. It is looking at people’s experiences of applying for probate including how the administration of probate could be improved for people who are already coming to terms with the loss of a loved one.   

Witnesses

From 2.30pm

• Alex McDowell, Vice Chair of Remember A Charity, also representing Institute of Legacy Management (Director of Fundraising at The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award)
• Angela Morrison, Chief Operating Officer, Cancer Research UK
• Dave Hawes, Director of Finance & Infrastructure, Devon Air Ambulance Trust

Further information

• Justice Committee
• About Parliament: Select committee
• Visiting Parliament: Watch committees

Image: UK Parliament/Tyler Allicock