This final installment of this column’s probate topic will discuss how long the probate process takes to complete. The truth is, probate litigation — whether completed in Florida or elsewhere — can take a bit of time. Every case is different.
For some individuals, the probate process can be completed rather quickly. Unfortunately, this is a process that can also seem to drag on for others. The facts of one’s case will largely determine how long the process takes to complete.
There are various things than can add to the amount of time it takes to close out an estate. These include the need to sell real estate, resolve disputes, clear debts or even deal with questions about the validity of a will. Cases that are deemed simple and without many of these problems can be closed in three to six months but usually no sooner, as creditors must be given the opportunities to make claims before an estate can be closed. Estates that are more complex can certainly take more time.
There is no doubt about it, the probate process can be a confusing and, sometimes, frustrating thing — one that no one wants to sit through any longer than is necessary. It is certainly the last thing anyone wants to deal with after losing a loved one, which is understandable. With the assistance of legal counsel, an estate’s personal representative and other family members can get questions answered, gain understandings of how probate litigation is handled in Florida and work to get through the probate process as quickly as possible.
Source: floridabar.org, “Probate In Florida: 17. How long does probate take?”, Accessed on March 10, 2016