Select committee: Justice Committee
Probate
Closed
Opened 22 Nov 2023
Closed 30 May 2024
Justice Committee Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Inquiry scope (the committee's words)
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 .
Where it stands
The inquiry is closed, opened 22 November 2023.
The committee has not published a report yet.
Evidence
- 3 oral evidence sessionsLatest 21 May 2024
- 9 witnesses
Recent activity
- Letter from Sarah Sackman KC MP, Minister for Courts and Legal Services, dated 29 January 2025 relating to the Probate Inquiry4 February 2025, 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 Inquiry24 May 2024, Correspondence
- Oral evidence session21 May 2024, Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions
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| Date | Session and witnesses | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 21 May 2024 |
Oral evidence session
Helen Measures · HM Courts and Tribunals Service,
Mike Freer · Ministry of Justice
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| 30 Apr 2024 |
Oral evidence session
Ian Bond · the Law Society's Probate Professional User Group,
Mark Walley · the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners,
Sophie Wales · the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales,
Stephen Ward · the Council of Licensed Conveyancers
|
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| 12 Mar 2024 |
Oral evidence session
Alex McDowell · Remember A Charity,
Angela Morrison · Cancer Research UK,
Dave Hawes · Devon Air Ambulance Trust
|
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Who gave evidence
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| Witness | Organisation | Sessions |
|---|---|---|
| Alex McDowell · Vice Chair | Remember A Charity | 1 |
| Angela Morrison · Chief Operating Officer | Cancer Research UK | 1 |
| Dave Hawes · Director of Finance & Infrastructure | Devon Air Ambulance Trust | 1 |
| Helen Measures · National Services Director | HM Courts and Tribunals Service | 1 |
| Ian Bond · Chair | the Law Society's Probate Professional User Group | 1 |
| Mark Walley · CEO | the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners | 1 |
| Mike Freer · Minister for Courts and Legal Services | Ministry of Justice | 1 |
| Sophie Wales · Regulatory Policy Director | the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales | 1 |
| Stephen Ward · Director of Strategy and External Relations | the Council of Licensed Conveyancers | 1 |
Correspondence
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