Committees

Probate

Inquiry

Following the announcement that a General Election will be held on 4 July, Select Committees will be unable to meet from 24 May and will cease to exist from 30 May until after the General Election. This work has therefore closed.

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 and protected from rogue traders. The inquiry will take 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. The inquiry is interested in 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.

Read the Call for evidence to find out more about this Inquiry.

This inquiry is no longer accepting evidence

The deadline for submissions was Monday 22 January 2024.

Reports, special reports and government responses

No reports or special reports published.

Correspondence

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Letter from Sarah Sackman KC MP, Minister for Courts and Legal Services, dated 29 January 2025 relating to the Probate Inquiry
Inquiry Probate
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Correspondence
Letter from Sir Robert Neill MP KC (Hon), Chair, Justice Committee to Mike Freer MP, Minister for Courts and Legal Services, dated 23 May 2024, regarding the Probate Inquiry
Inquiry Probate
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Correspondence
Letter from Sir Robert Neill KC, Chair, Justice Committee to Mike Freer MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Ministry of Justice, dated 20 February 2024 regarding the probate inquiry
Inquiry Probate
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Correspondence

Oral evidence transcripts

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21 May 2024
Inquiry Probate
Witnesses Mike Freer (Minister for Courts and Legal Services at Ministry of Justice), and Helen Measures (National Services Director at HM Courts and Tribunals Service)
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Oral Evidence
30 April 2024
Inquiry Probate
Witnesses Sophie Wales (Regulatory Policy Director at the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales), Mark Walley (CEO at the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners), Stephen Ward (Director of Strategy and External Relations at the Council of Licensed Conveyancers), and Ian Bond (Chair at the Law Society's Probate Professional User Group)
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Oral Evidence
16 April 2024
Inquiry Probate
Witnesses Jo Summers (Private tax and wealth partner at Jurit), and Stuart Simpson (Head of Equiniti Benefactor at Equiniti)
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Oral Evidence

Written evidence

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Vincent Trussell (PRO0020)
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Empty Homes Network (PRO0096)
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Miss Laura Brown (Paralegal at Lawson West Solicitors) (PRO0071)
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Other publications

No other publications published.

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