Written questions

Intestacy: Standards

Commons · Question 16409 · Tabled 7 Jul 2026 · Ministry of Justice · Official record

Answered 15 Jul 2026

Question

Asked by Sir Julian Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to help ensure the timely administration of estates when someone has died intestate.

Answer

Answered by Catherine Atkinson, 15 Jul 2026

There is no maximum time limit during which personal representatives must apply for a grant to administer an estate, or to distribute an estate after probate has been granted. The existing legal framework offers flexibility, accepting that the probate pro...