Andrew Wilkinson considers the pros & cons of embracing 21st century technology
- The Probate Registry now accepts online probate applications, following a successful trial in 2017.
- But what has finally dragged the Probate Registry into the 21st century? And what does it mean for solicitors? Moreover, is it a sign of more to come?
The probate process usually involves the swearing of the oath, which means an appointment with another solicitor (or commission for oaths). You pay the fee (typically £7), recite some fairly undecipherable wording with your hand on the Bible (or alternative religious book). The solicitor signs and stamps their details, and the documents get sent off to the post. But not for much longer. The Probate Registry has realised that the swearing of oaths is an archaic and quite frankly pointless process, only serving to give solicitors a greater sense of their own importance. Instead, the Probate Registry now allows documents to be verified by a statement of truth—a simple acknowledgement that the document is correct.
This change is to be welcomed. We
