[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.london-law.co.uk\/solicitor-holding-money-after-probate\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.london-law.co.uk\/solicitor-holding-money-after-probate\/","headline":"How long can a solicitor hold money after probate?","name":"How long can a solicitor hold money after probate?","description":"In today\u2019s blog, we look at the procedure involved in probate after the grant of probate is issued and give you some ideas as to the length of time that is reasonable for a solicitor to hold money before they release those monies to beneficiaries. First steps in the process Once the grant of probate [...]","datePublished":"2020-05-22","dateModified":"2025-05-21","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.london-law.co.uk\/author\/coby\/#Person","name":"coby","url":"https:\/\/www.london-law.co.uk\/author\/coby\/","identifier":17,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.london-law.co.uk\/wp-content\/litespeed\/avatar\/095b94eeb56f604e46bfd6673afa9194.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.london-law.co.uk\/wp-content\/litespeed\/avatar\/095b94eeb56f604e46bfd6673afa9194.jpg","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"AlexanderJLO London Law","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.london-law.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/ajlo-logo.png","url":"https:\/\/www.london-law.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/ajlo-logo.png","width":460,"height":275}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.london-law.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/How-long-can-a-solicitor-hold-money-after-probate.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.london-law.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/How-long-can-a-solicitor-hold-money-after-probate.jpg","height":853,"width":1280},"url":"https:\/\/www.london-law.co.uk\/solicitor-holding-money-after-probate\/","commentCount":"19","comment":[{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https:\/\/www.london-law.co.uk\/solicitor-holding-money-after-probate\/#Comment1","dateCreated":"2026-03-09 08:11:28","description":"Thank you for your interest in our blog Lisa.\r\n \r\nIt is possible that the finalisation of the accounts may be taking time due to the complexity of the estate but obviously I don\u2019t have access to the file so cannot say for certain.\r\n \r\nI suggest that you request interim payments to be made whilst accounts are finalised and I recommend you request the full accounts from your solicitor in writing and request a timescale for them to provide them.\r\n \r\n \r\nBest wishes\r\n\r\nPeter Johnson\r\n\r\nPartner","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Peter Johnson","url":"https:\/\/www.reviewsolicitors.co.uk\/48002929\/peter-charles-johnson"}},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https:\/\/www.london-law.co.uk\/solicitor-holding-money-after-probate\/#Comment2","dateCreated":"2026-03-02 08:30:20","description":"I am the executor and the probate solicitor has taken over 5 weeks from the sale of the house to produce a final statement for me to sign off. I have been in touch with her daily but to no avail. All parties have submitted ID and inheritance forms and all debts have been paid. How long should it take to produce a final statement for me to sign so the 3 beneficiaries can get their money.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Lisa Giles","url":""}},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https:\/\/www.london-law.co.uk\/solicitor-holding-money-after-probate\/#Comment3","dateCreated":"2025-10-14 17:08:51","description":"Thank you for your interest in our blog Karen.\r\n\r\nIt may be an oversight on the part of the solicitor but it would be usual practice to send the grant (or at least a copy) to the executor on their receipt.\r\n\r\nI would suggest that you request the same in writing requesting it is forwarded within seven days and if it is not then initiate the firm\u2019s complaints procedure which should be on their website and should have been forwarded to you at the outset.\r\n\r\nI hope this helps\r\n\r\nPeter Johnson\r\nSenior Partner","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Peter Johnson","url":"https:\/\/www.reviewsolicitors.co.uk\/48002929\/peter-charles-johnson"}},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https:\/\/www.london-law.co.uk\/solicitor-holding-money-after-probate\/#Comment4","dateCreated":"2025-10-13 09:49:37","description":"Thank you for your interest in our blog Susan.\r\n \r\nObviously I do not have access to the file so it\u2019s difficult to give any specific advice. Probate can be a lengthy process depending upon the complexity of the estate.\r\n \r\nI would suggest that you begin by contacting the executors to try and ascertain the reason for the delay. Ultimately they are the solicitor\u2019s client and best placed to pressure them to respond.\r\n \r\nIf you and the beneficiaries are also executors or in the alternative the solicitors are, then I suggest that you draw your concerns to the firm\u2019s senior or complaints partner (the firm\u2019s website may assist in providing details) and if that did not bring any advancement to consider a formal complaint.\r\n \r\nI hope that this helps.\r\n\r\nPeter Johnson\r\n","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Peter Johnson","url":"https:\/\/www.reviewsolicitors.co.uk\/48002929\/peter-charles-johnson"}},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https:\/\/www.london-law.co.uk\/solicitor-holding-money-after-probate\/#Comment5","dateCreated":"2025-10-08 19:59:18","description":"My mother died in March 2023 probate was granted In February 2024  inheritance tax was paid all shares etc were sold and an interim payment  was given to the 3 beneficiaries we want closure of my mum's estate but we are still waiting for a closure solicitors are non communicative very frustrating. As we keep having to pay income tax on the money they hold with no idea what the hold up is","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Susan","url":""}},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https:\/\/www.london-law.co.uk\/solicitor-holding-money-after-probate\/#Comment6","dateCreated":"2025-09-14 19:00:03","description":"Myself and my sister are  both Executors.  We have enlisted a Solicitor.  Probate was granted on 7th January 2025. we have yet to receive the official document.  Is there any reason why this has not been sent to us.?.  We have requested this a few times .We haven't had a satisfactory answer to this","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Karen","url":""}},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https:\/\/www.london-law.co.uk\/solicitor-holding-money-after-probate\/#Comment7","dateCreated":"2025-09-14 05:47:58","description":"Thank you for your interest in our blog Karen.\r\n\r\nIt may be an oversight on the part of the solicitor but it would be usual practice to send the grant (or at least a copy) to the executor upon its receipt.\r\n\r\nI would suggest that you request a copy in writing requiring it to be  forwarded within seven days and if it is not, then initiate the firm\u2019s complaints procedure which should be on their website and should have been forwarded to you at the outset. Or come back to us!\r\n\r\nI hope this helps. \r\n\r\nPeter Johnson\r\nSenior Partner","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Peter Johnson","url":"https:\/\/www.reviewsolicitors.co.uk\/48002929\/peter-charles-johnson"}},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https:\/\/www.london-law.co.uk\/solicitor-holding-money-after-probate\/#Comment8","dateCreated":"2025-09-11 17:49:45","description":"Myself and my sister are  both Executors.  We have enlisted a Solicitor.  Probate was granted on 7th January 2025. we have yet to receive the official document.  Is there any reason why this has not been sent to us.?.  We have requested this a few times .We haven't had a satisfactory answer to this","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Karen","url":""}},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https:\/\/www.london-law.co.uk\/solicitor-holding-money-after-probate\/#Comment9","dateCreated":"2025-08-11 21:24:35","description":"My nans probate has come back the solicitor has all money owed he said I would be doing accounts later this month and has to be approved by my uncle who was incharge of will why do they say they will do accounts later Im the month why not straight away","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Toni Jones","url":""}},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https:\/\/www.london-law.co.uk\/solicitor-holding-money-after-probate\/#Comment10","dateCreated":"2024-08-06 05:39:14","description":"Dear Sarah\n\nThank you for your interest in our blog. \n\nThese are matters which I am reluctant to go into detail in over a public forum due to confidentiality reasons. I will email you directly.\n\nBest wishes\n\nPeter Johnson\nSenior Partner","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Peter Johnson","url":"https:\/\/www.reviewsolicitors.co.uk\/48002929\/peter-charles-johnson"}}],"about":["Blog","Private Client and Wills and Probate"],"wordCount":572,"articleBody":"In today\u2019s blog, we look at the procedure involved in probate after the grant of probate is issued and give you some ideas as to the length of time that is reasonable for a solicitor to hold money before they release those monies to beneficiaries.First steps in the processOnce the grant of probate or letter of administration is received, the first thing your solicitors will do is send it to any financial institutions where the deceased person had an account. This includes banks, mortgage companies, and insurance firms, who will usually refuse to release funds without this document.As soon as your solicitor has access to the funds, they may need to pay an initial instalment of inheritance tax. They may also need or want to place a Creditor\u2019s Notice in the Gazette, the Public Record, and local papers, in case the estate has any unknown debts.The solicitor’s procedure after the funds have been releasedWhen the financial institutions involved with the estate have released funds, your solicitor will go on to (not necessarily in this order):Pay the bill for the funeralStart paying beneficiariesDeal with any outstanding enquiries from the Department for Work and Pensions \u2013 this step, if it\u2019s necessary, can take a long timeSell shares and other assets or transfer them to beneficiaries. If they have placed a Creditor\u2019s Notice, they should wait until the minimum two-month response period is up before they do thisPay any remaining debtsSell or transfer any propertyFinalise any outstanding legal work, such as setting up trustsPay the full amount of inheritance tax and any outstanding income taxFinalise your records and make any outstanding distributions to beneficiariesWhat is the timescale for the distribution of assets?It is difficult to give any precise timescale for distribution of the assets especially when the sale of property and pensions are involved as there are often third parties involved. The Creditor\u2019s Notice which is advertised in The Gazette has a two-month response period therefore beneficiaries should not expect any assets to be released during this period. After this time, the solicitor may be able to (depending on the size of the estate) start making interim payments to the beneficiaries. Your solicitor does however have a professional obligation to deal with the matter within a reasonable period of time and not to unduly delay the administration.As a beneficiary are you worried that the executives and\/or lawyers are not releasing your bequest quickly enough? Are you an executor under pressure from beneficiaries who is making little progress in obtaining updates on funds from the lawyers? At Alexander JLO we have decades of experience of dealing with all aspects of law and will be happy to discuss your case in a free no obligation consultation. Why not call us on +44 (0)20 7537 7000, email us at info@london-law.co.uk or get in touch via the contact us button\u00a0 and see what we can do for you?This blog was prepared by Alexander JLO\u2019s senior partner, Peter Johnson on 22nd May 2020 and is correct at the time of publication. With decades of experience in almost all areas of law Peter is happy to assist with any legal issue that you have. He is widely regarded as one of London\u2019s leading lawyers. His profile on the independent Review Solicitor website can be found Here "},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"How long can a solicitor hold money after probate?","item":"https:\/\/www.london-law.co.uk\/solicitor-holding-money-after-probate\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]