In reply to annieman:
I've done two estates now as lay exor (mother and a friend); all in, it took about a year to bring things to a close. It can take longer if the probate office (if probate is being applied for) are dragging their heels like they are at the mo, and there are issues or delays closing off any tax liability (if there's outstanding tax, the exors may want to retain some funds to cover any remaining liabilities). It's possible to pay income tax before the usual deadlines to get matters closed but some people prefer to hold off paying till the usual deadlines. If it's a capable friend or relative doing the exor work, and they have the time, energy, inclination and spirit to push things along, it can be fairly quick. If it's solrs, they tend to do work in rotation and can take their own sweet time (but have to prioritise other stuff as well, and TBH, I've waited as exor when my lovely solrs had to put me on a back-burner for a week becase an urgent custody case came in); equally, I've heard some horror stories about the length of time solrs have taken to sort out an estate (never put a solr as sole exor in your will); you might have better luck talking to any lay exor. Also, bear in mind that a will is a private matter until probate, and if you're not in the will or a close/dependent relative of the deceased, you don't really have any right to ask questions, and won't get to see the will until after probate. even if you think you're a beneficiary, you don't have be to told anything in the early stages, but it's probably good sense for the exors to speak to the beneficiaries.
There's also no official closure of the estate. All it really amounts to is distributing the assets afger liabilities etc (possibly with some funds held over to pay tax and fees) and drawing up some accounts (which are a private matter for the exors and beneficiaries, they don't have to be submitted anywwhere or published, which IMHO seems a bit of a loophole, but never mind!).
IANAL.
Post edited at 10:58