A law firm has reported a 12% rise in the number of people paying £3 to block the administration of an estate for six months - which corresponds with official data showing an increase in the number of probate cases open for at least six months.

People disputing a will can challenge a probate application by paying £3 for a ‘caveat’ that stops all applications for probate on the estate being granted for six months. The caveat can be extended for another six months. Data obtained by TWM Solicitors from the Ministry of Justice shows that the number of caveat applications jumped by 12% to 11,589 in the 12 months to 31 July 2025.

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Stuart Downey, a partner in the firm’s will, trust and estate disputes team, put the rise down to rising property prices and more complex family dynamics increasing the likelihood of disagreements.

‘A 12% rise in probate caveats is a clear warning sign that more grieving families are finding themselves in dispute at what is already a difficult time. Higher-value estates mean there is more at stake and greater scope for disagreement over both the terms of a will and who should administer it,’ Downey said.

Probate figures published by HM Courts & Tribunals Service show a steady increase in the number of cases open for six-12 months since July last year, although data released today shows the open caseload dropped slightly in February 2026. The number of cases open for 12-24 months has been slowly climbing over recent months and stood at 2,315 in February 2026. The data shows small fluctuations in the total open caseload over the last few months. It stood at 42,151 in February.