The duration of a probate action is subject to many variables. Generally, it is not unusual for a probate to last approximately six months. However, it can and frequently does take far longer. Some issues that can delay the completion of the process can include: 1) Disputes among beneficiaries, including a Will Contest; 2) Difficulty locating heirs and beneficiaries; 3) Legal claims or liens against the estate that remain unsettled; 4) Real estate or other property that cannot be sold for some reason; 5) Creditor’s claims that arise late in the proceeding or fail to resolve; and/or 6) Legal actions by the Estate that remain outstanding.
An organized Personal Representative, guided by a competent attorney, are crucial to resolving and finishing a probate action.