Probate

Two adult siblings talking SOMBERLY NOT SMILING in the hallway of a terraced house, the closed front door

Wills, Probate & Later LifeEngland and Wales

Probate explained: when you need it and how long it takes

Probate is the legal authority to deal with what someone leaves behind. Not every estate needs it, the tax has to be sorted out before you can apply, and the wait is measured in months rather than weeks.

Law In Life · 3 September 2026

a middle aged man looking for some lost papers in his home office, he cant find them anywhere.

Wills, Probate & Later LifeEngland and Wales

How to recover ownership of an inherited property with lost deeds

Losing the paperwork for an inherited home can be daunting, but most properties are registered with HM Land Registry, making ownership recovery more straightforward than expected. This guide outlines steps to establish ownership, whether the property is registered or not, and highlights key legal considerations.

3 September 2026