Austin Probate Lawyers

How Long Does it Take to Pass a Will Through Probate?

When the time comes to pass a will through probate, you’ll probably want to get it over with as quickly as possible. Lingering emotions will likely exist and it’s simply hard to deal with complicated legal matters. You may wonder how long it will take to complete the process. The answer is that it can vary greatly, depending on a number of factors.

How Organized Was the Decedent?

The time it takes to get a will through probate will largely depend on how organized the deceased party’s affairs are. The less organized the state in which the decedent left their important documents and receipts, the longer it will take to gather assets, file tax returns and pay debts. There are a number of other issues that could delay the process, such as:

• Lawsuits against the will
• Large numbers of assets to be sold
• Large amounts of debt to be settled
• Difficulty finding any of the heirs to the estate

What is the State’s Probate Process?

Each state has different laws and procedures regarding probate. The average timeframe for the probate process is 3 to 6 months in most states, but it can be closer to a year or more in others. These are averages, so expect the process to take longer if there are any complications or issues that could cause delay.

Contact Us

If you would like advice on how to best organize your financial documents and assets to reduce the length of the probate process, or would like help entering a will into probate, contact the Austin probate lawyers of Slater, Kennon & Pugh LLP at 512-338-1100.