Digital legacy much faster than paper

BOLTON, Aug. 15, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The latest management information from HMCTS shows that digital probate applications are, on average, almost twice as fast as traditional paper applications. Today’s probate attorneys faster and more efficiently than ever before, thanks to the existing digital infrastructure.

In May 2022, the average duration of a digital probate application was approximately 13.5 weeks with a break and 4.1 weeks without a break. In comparison, paper applications lasted approximately 22.8 weeks when stopped and 8.9 weeks without stops.

This means that digital probate applications can be submitted, reviewed and amended if necessary much faster.

“It’s no surprise,” said Stephen Mills, senior consultant at Legacy Wills & Probate, “that more probate attorneys than ever are turning to digital probate filings. They rely less on couriers, the whole process is simpler and the immediacy of the digital infrastructure allows us to make changes and significantly reduce downtime.”

Following the news, HMCTS has said it recognizes that further action is needed to expedite paper applications. Paper applications tend to be more complex and more difficult to correct in the event of an error or omission. However, there is no reason for the significantly longer waiting time that paper applications suffer.

In addition, paper-based applications also result in a significant number of phone calls to local registries, causing further delays in the processing of paper-based applications.

As part of its commitment to expediting paper probate applications and reducing disruption time, HMCTS has confirmed that more staff are being trained to handle probate matters with the goal of reducing the number of delayed or stopped applications and expediting new applications. A large part of the new employees comes from the training and further education of existing CTSC (Courts &…