The Westminster lensArchive · Written questions · 75 tabled · 74 answered

Written questions by Collinge.

Every parliamentary written question tabled by Lizzi Collinge this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.

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Department:All (75)Department of Health and Social Care (14)Treasury (12)Department for Transport (8)Home Office (7)Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (6)Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (6)Department for Education (5)Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (5)Department for Work and Pensions (3)Cabinet Office (3)Ministry of Justice (2)Department for Business and Trade (2)

Showing 1–2 of 2 · Ministry of Justice

27 Oct 2025·Ministry of Justice·Answered

Asked

Whether his Department plans to review regulations on time limits for executors of wills to apply for probate.

There are no plans to review the law on time limits for executors to apply for probate. The existing legal framework offers flexibility, accepting the probate process is a complex one undertaken at an emotional time for many personal representatives.There is currently no maximum time limit within which a personal representative must obtain a grant of probate, but there are penalties laid down for administering an estate without a grant of representation, and there are time limits for paying tax for which an estate is liable prior to applying for a grant.There are also mechanisms for beneficiaries and other interested parties to hold personal representatives to account for failure to act in applying for probate, and if necessary to seek their removal.

10 Oct 2025·Ministry of Justice·Answered

Asked

Whether his Department has considered introducing a statutory time limit for executors to apply for probate following a person’s death.

There is currently no maximum time limit within which a personal representative must obtain a grant of probate, but there are penalties laid down for administering an estate without a grant of representation, and there are time limits for paying tax for which an estate is liable prior to applying for a grant.There are also mechanisms for beneficiaries and other interested parties to hold personal representatives to account for failure to act in applying for probate, and if necessary to seek their removal.The existing legal framework offers flexibility, accepting the probate process is a complex one at an emotional time for many personal representatives and there are no plans at present to reform the law.

Sources

SourceUK Parliament Members API

MethodQuestion and answer text as published. Question preamble (“To ask the…”) trimmed for readability; answers shown in full.