Data discovered by a law company has shown a rise in the number of people paying to block an estate’s administration.
It has long been possible to delay a Probate application when there are doubts about the contents of a Will or the capacity of the testator. Those looking to block Wills proceedings are required to pay a £3 fee to stop the Probate process for six months, and it has recently been reported that there has been a 12% increase in these types of applications. To ensure Wills are clear and precise, Will writing solicitors in North Wales work closely with their clients so this document meets all legal requirements.
Challenges to Wills for the small fee are called caveats and they prevent any applications to the Will for the prescribed six-month period. It is also possible to extend these caveats by a further six months in certain cases. During 2025, almost 12,000 caveat applications were submitted.
HM Courts and Tribunals Service has released statistics to show that more and more Probate cases are open and unresolved for at least a year due to these challenges. In February 2026, there were reportedly almost 2,500 Probate cases delayed and waiting to be processed. These statistics demonstrate the importance of forward planning with legal experts and discussing Wills contents with loved ones.
Talk to us today at Bennett Smith Solicitors and ask us to help you to get your Will and estate in good order.
