What Changed
- Judiciary provided three-year application numbers and processing timeframes for Probate Registry grants.
- HAD reported annual totals and average 10-day processing times for small estate Confirmation Notices under Cap. 10.
- HYAB explained why centralised will registration does not confer legal validity under the Wills Ordinance (Cap. 30).
### Background and Overview
Members of the public in Hong Kong SAR who execute wills primarily rely on private law firms or handle the execution process themselves, as the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has not established an official centralised will registration system. On November 11, 2026, the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, provided a written reply to a Legislative Council question raised by the Hon Christine Fong regarding the management of wills, probate application statistics, small estate administration, and the potential feasibility of establishing a digitised or centralised will registration system.
The response, compiled after consulting the Judiciary, affects estate executors, beneficiaries, legal practitioners, and members of the public administering estates in Hong Kong SAR. It outlines official statistics from 2023 through 2025 regarding grants issued by the Probate Registry of the High Court, confirmation notices issued by the Home Affairs Department (HAD), safe deposit box inspections, and the statutory requirements governing wills under Hong Kong SAR law.
### Probate Registry Processing Statistics (2023–2025)
Under the Probate and Administration Ordinance (Cap. 10), an executor may apply to the Probate Registry of the High Court for a grant of probate following the death of a testator. Statistics provided by the Judiciary detail the disposal of applications over the past three years:
* **2023:** Out of 23,718 total applications disposed of, 15,138 involved grants without a will, 7,373 involved grants with a will, and 1,207 involved other applications (such as resealing and summary administration of estates).
* **2024:** Out of 26,609 total applications disposed of, 17,307 involved grants without a will, 8,037 involved grants with a will, and 1,265 involved other applications.
* **2025:** Out of 26,028 total applications disposed of, 16,717 involved grants without a will, 8,045 involved grants with a will, and 1,266 involved other applications.
The Judiciary noted that it does not maintain statistics on the average processing times for these specific application types. However, across the three-year period, approximately 99 percent of grant applications submitted by unrepresented applicants resulted in a grant issued within 60 days of filing. For applications lodged by solicitors on behalf of applicants (which are usually more complicated), approximately 50 percent had the grant issued within 60 days of filing, around 20 percent were issued between two and six months, and around 15 percent were issued between six and 12 months.
### Confirmation Notices for Small Estates and Safe Deposit Box Inspections
Under section 60K of the Probate and Administration Ordinance (Cap. 10), if all properties beneficially owned by a deceased person in Hong Kong SAR as at the date of death consist solely of money not exceeding $50,000 in aggregate, and the deceased did not hold any property as trustee or manager of a Tso or Tong, an executor or person entitled in priority may apply to the Estate Beneficiaries Support Unit (EBSU) of the HAD for a Confirmation Notice (CN).
Applications received by the EBSU were recorded as follows:
* **2023:** 5,417 total CN applications received (177 with a will; 5,240 without a will).
* **2024:** 4,799 total CN applications received (151 with a will; 4,648 without a will).
* **2025:** 4,841 total CN applications received (147 with a will; 4,694 without a will).
The EBSU pledges to issue a CN within 12 working days after receiving an application and all required documentation. The average processing time for applications both with and without a will is approximately 10 working days.
Regarding safe deposit boxes, HAD officers witness inspections under a "Certificate for Necessity of Inspection of Bank Deposit Box" and prepare an inventory list. From 2023 to 2025, the number of inspection cases where a will was discovered during the process was recorded as:
* **2023:** 3,559 total inspection cases per deceased person; 138 cases with a will found (3.9%).
* **2024:** 3,441 total inspection cases per deceased person; 139 cases with a will found (4.0%).
* **2025:** 3,266 total inspection cases per deceased person; 152 cases with a will found (4.7%).
### Government Position on Centralised Will Databases and Digital Authentication
Addressing proposals regarding centralised will databases or integration with the "iAM Smart" digital authentication system, the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) highlighted that existing databases in other jurisdictions are primarily led and operated by legal or notarial professional bodies. Such databases function mainly to allow authorised persons to search for information post-death, with entries uploaded via legal professionals.
Crucially, registration in such databases does not constitute legal authentication of a will nor alter inheritance rights. Under the Wills Ordinance (Cap. 30) of Hong Kong SAR, legal validity depends on fulfilling statutory formalities at execution. A registered entry cannot replace original will documents in legal proceedings, confirm legal validity, or rule out unregistered or subsequently made wills. Consequently, the Probate Registry and HAD must examine physical will documents regardless of registration. HYAB indicated it will continue monitoring external developments while enhancing public education on will-making.
### Frequently Asked Questions
**Q1: Does Hong Kong SAR currently have an official centralised database for registering wills?**
No. Hong Kong SAR does not have an official centralised will registration system or database.
**Q2: How long does the Probate Registry take to issue a grant of probate or administration?**
For unrepresented applicants, around 99 percent had the grant issued within 60 days from filing over the past three years. For solicitor-represented applicants, around 50 percent had grants issued within 60 days, 20 percent between two and six months, and 15 percent between six and 12 months.
**Q3: What are the criteria for obtaining a Confirmation Notice for a small estate without full probate?**
All properties beneficially owned by the deceased in Hong Kong SAR at death must consist entirely of money not exceeding $50,000 in aggregate, and the deceased must not have held property as a trustee or manager of a Tso or Tong.
**Q4: Would registering a will on a database guarantee its legal validity in Hong Kong SAR?**
No. Under the Wills Ordinance (Cap. 30), legal validity depends on compliance with statutory execution formalities. Registration does not authenticate a will, confirm its validity, or exclude unregistered or subsequently executed wills.
Who May Be Affected
Executors, estate beneficiaries, legal practitioners, and members of the public administering estates in Hong Kong SAR.
What to check next
- Check future Legislative Council discussions or Home and Youth Affairs Bureau announcements regarding probate policy and public education.
This article provides general information and does not constitute legal advice. Consult the official text and obtain advice appropriate to your circumstances where needed.