0800 316 2224 For Brokers
For Borrowers

Inheritance & Probate Loans UK

Dealing with an estate can be complex and emotionally draining, especially when funds are tied up in probate. If you are a beneficiary or executor and need access to money before an estate is realised, an inheritance loan can provide you with breathing space.

We arrange inheritance loans that can release up to 50% of a future inheritance, helping cover inheritance tax, legal costs, property expenses, or day-to-day commitments while probate is ongoing.

By working with lenders that aren’t available to every broker and accessing exclusive, market-leading rates, our team can clearly explain your options and keep the process straightforward from start to finish. We’re clever like that.

Refer Your Case 0800 316 2224
Trustpilot
Clever Lending Team

What Makes Us So Clever?

We don’t just “find rates.” We guide you through the entire process, liaising with all parties and pushing things forward. So, whether you’re waiting on probate or needing access to inherited funds sooner, we’re clever about the details, so you don’t have to be.

Our Inheritance/ Executor Loan Process

Typical timing: Probate can take months and, in some cases, well over a year, which is exactly why inheritance bridging exists.

If documents are available upfront, funds can often be released within days.

Same-Day Sense Check

Send us a quick enquiry, including beneficiary vs executor, inheritance estimate, expected timeframe, and reason for funds and we will come back within 24 business hours with a clear plan and the likely structure of your loan.

DIP → Heads of Terms → Completion

Once this is approved, we submit the decision in principle (DIP) with the required estate documents (will, death certificate, probate status and beneficiary details). We’ll come back with terms and issue Heads of Terms. Once signed, we progress the full application through to offer and completion.

Inheritance Bridging Loan Case Studies

Auction flat

Funds in 7 working days; refinanced to BTL in month 3.

Chain-break

Completed purchase while selling the old home; loan redeemed in 3 months.

Light refurb

75% purchase bridge; works done; refinanced to lower-cost mortgage on completion.

(Anonymised; figures indicative.)

Inheritance & Executor Loan FAQs

Where the required information is available upfront, funds can often be released within days. We’ll confirm timescales based on your situation and where you are in the probate process.
Inheritance loans are typically assessed against the estate rather than personal credit. In most cases, no personal credit check is required.
Inheritance loans are usually not secured against the property itself. The loan is repaid from the estate once probate is complete.
Both. We can support executors (or personal representatives) managing the estate, as well as beneficiaries who need access to funds before the estate is finalised. The structure will depend on the purpose of the loan.
Common uses include paying inheritance tax, covering legal or probate fees, settling estate liabilities, funding property repairs before a sale, or providing financial support while probate is ongoing.
Typically, up to 50% of the expected inheritance can be released. The exact amount depends on the estate value, liabilities, and stage of probate.
Usually a copy of the will, details of the estate’s assets and liabilities, and information about the solicitor or professional handling probate. We’ll clearly explain what’s needed at the outset.
The loan is repaid once the estate is realised, usually following the sale of assets or distribution of funds after probate completes.
That’s common. We structure inheritance loans with probate timelines in mind and will talk you through how this is handled before you proceed.
Funds can typically be released within a few days of application, once the will, grant of probate (or letters of administration) and an estate schedule are provided. Because the loan is assessed against the estate rather than the beneficiary's personal credit, the process avoids most of the underwriting that slows mainstream lending. We aim for a same-day decision in principle.
Most inheritance and executor loan lenders advance up to 50% of the expected net inheritance, provided the estate value is clearly documented in the probate schedule. The maximum loan size depends on the estate's liquidity and asset mix. Higher percentages can be possible where assets are easily realisable (cash, listed shares) versus harder to sell (property, business interests).
Most beneficiary inheritance advances are repaid directly from the estate and don't require a personal credit check on the beneficiary. The lender's security is the future estate distribution. Executor loans secured against estate assets follow a similar logic. Where credit checks do apply, they're usually light-touch ID checks rather than full affordability assessments.
Probate loan costs are usually structured as a one-off fee or a fixed advance against the inheritance, rather than a monthly interest rate. Typical pricing equates to a single-digit percentage of the advance for short timescales, rising for longer estate administrations. We run pricing across the panel so you can compare fixed cost against the expected probate duration.
You apply with the will, grant of probate and a schedule of estate assets and liabilities prepared by the solicitor handling the estate. The lender assesses the expected net inheritance, agrees an advance up to 50%, and pays funds direct to you or to the solicitor's client account. When the estate is distributed, the solicitor settles the loan from your share.
Yes. Executor loans let personal representatives borrow against estate assets to settle inheritance tax, fund property repairs, cover legal costs or release a beneficiary's share early. The loan is secured against estate assets and repaid from estate proceeds. Lenders will want the appointed solicitor's confirmation along with a schedule of assets, liabilities and IHT position.
Yes. IHT funding is one of the most common uses for an executor loan, particularly where HMRC's "pay before probate" rule means tax falls due before liquid estate funds can be released. The loan covers the IHT bill so probate can be granted. Estate assets are then realised and the loan is repaid in full. We arrange IHT bridges regularly.
No. Clever Lending's inheritance and executor loans are not secured against the estate property. The lender's recourse is the future estate distribution, managed via the appointed solicitor handling probate. That removes the time and cost of registering a property charge, which is part of why funds can be released in days rather than weeks once the estate documents are to hand.
The loan is repaid in full from the estate when probate completes and assets are distributed, usually by the solicitor handling the estate, who deducts the loan amount from your beneficiary share before distributing the balance to you. There are no monthly payments during the loan term, which keeps administration simple and removes pressure during what is often a difficult time.

Cross-product questions, covering costs, timescales and which type of finance fits, are answered in our property finance FAQs.

Other ways we can help

Fast bridging loans Short-term finance for purchases, chain breaks and refurbishments. Commercial mortgages Finance for business premises, investment and mixed-use property. Development finance Funding for ground-up builds, conversions and heavy refurbishment. Buy to let mortgages From single lets to HMOs and portfolios. Auction finance Funding that keeps you inside the 28-day deadline. Large loans Mortgages for high-value property and high net worth clients. Complex income mortgages For the self-employed, directors and contractors.

Speak to Someone Clever About Inheritance/ Executor Loans

Send us a quick enquiry, and we’ll come back within 24 business hours with a realistic route forward.

There are no fees payable until we have found you a solution, and you will always speak to an advisor, not to a triage team passing you on. We believe in speaking to an expert from the start.

Call 0800 316 2224 Request a Callback
Our customers say Excellent 4.7 out of 5 based on 44 reviews Trustpilot
WhatsApp us