How Long Does Probate Take? These 5 Factors Can Make All the Difference
The answer to “how long does probate take” varies based on state laws, the size of the estate, and whether you’ve got property in the mix.
Slogging through a seemingly endless probate process is the last thing you want to do while you’re in the midst of grieving for the loss of a loved one. So, it’s only natural to ask, “How long does probate take?” — especially when you’re handling a major asset like a house.
Unfortunately, there’s no simple answer to this question.
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Most law firms estimate the probate process takes around six to nine months for a typical estate. However, the online estate planning platform Trust & Will reports an average timeline of 20 months. Surprisingly, only 2% of surveyed participants expect probate to take that long.
Sometimes though, probate can be resolved much sooner.
Just ask expert probate real estate agent Raylene Lewis, who has over two decades of experience and ranks in the top 5% of agents in the College Station, Texas area.
“It all depends on your state’s probate laws. In Texas, if you’re an only child, there’s a will in place, and everything goes according to plan, you could go through probate in three weeks. However, most people are looking at a minimum of eight to 12 weeks to properly go through probate.”
So, how do you determine how long probate will last for you? Let’s take a look at the five biggest probate timeframe influencers.
