Select Committee · Justice Committee

Probate

Status: Closed Opened: 22 Nov 2023 Closed: 30 May 2024
Inquiry scopeFollowing 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 .

Oral evidence sessions

3 sessions

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Date Session and witnesses Source
21 May 2024 Helen Measures · HM Courts and Tribunals Service, Mike Freer · Ministry of Justice View ↗
30 Apr 2024 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 View ↗
12 Mar 2024 Alex McDowell · Remember A Charity, Angela Morrison · Cancer Research UK, Dave Hawes · Devon Air Ambulance Trust View ↗

Who gave evidence

9 witnesses

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WitnessOrganisationSessions
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

3 letters

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