A typical uncontested probate in Los Angeles County often takes about 12 to 18 months from filing to final distribution. Simpler estates may finish sooner, while estates with real estate sales, tax issues, missing heirs, or family disputes can take two years or longer.

California law builds several waiting periods into every probate case, so even a straightforward estate cannot be wrapped up in a few weeks. Los Angeles County also has one of the busiest probate courts in the country, which can add time at each stage that requires a hearing.

Here is what the process looks like, step by step, and what you can do to keep it moving—or avoid it altogether.

The California Probate Timeline, Step by Step

1. Filing the petition (weeks 1–4). The process begins when someone—usually the executor named in the will, or a close family member if there is no will—files a Petition for Probate with the Superior Court. Gathering the will, death certificate, and information about heirs and assets can take a few weeks.

2. Notice and the first hearing (roughly 1–3 months after filing). Before the first hearing, notice must be published in a local newspaper and mailed to heirs and beneficiaries. In Los Angeles County, the first hearing is often set several weeks or more after filing, and it can be continued if the court finds problems with the paperwork.

3. Letters issued. If the judge approves the petition, the court issues “Letters”—the document that gives the executor or administrator legal authority to act for the estate. Until Letters are issued, no one can sell estate property or access most estate accounts.

4. Inventory and appraisal (within about 4 months of Letters). The personal representative must prepare an inventory of estate assets. Most non-cash assets are valued by a court-appointed probate referee.

5. Creditor claim period (at least 4 months). Creditors generally have four months from the date Letters are issued to file claims against the estate. The estate cannot be closed until this period has run and valid claims are paid.

6. Managing and selling assets (often several months). This is frequently the longest stage. Selling a house, paying debts, filing final income tax returns, and resolving any disputes all happen here. Some sales require court confirmation, which means another hearing.

7. Petition for final distribution. Once the work is done, the personal representative files a petition asking the court to approve an accounting, fees, and the final distribution plan. This requires another hearing date.

8. Distribution and discharge. After the court signs the final order, assets are distributed to the beneficiaries and the personal representative is discharged.

What Makes Probate Take Longer in Los Angeles?

Several factors commonly add months to a probate case:

• Court backlogs and continued hearings. If a petition is missing information, the hearing may be continued, which can push the case back weeks or months.
• Real estate. Selling a house through probate involves appraisals, listing, and sometimes court confirmation of the sale.
• No will or an unclear will. Identifying heirs and determining who should serve can take extra time.
• Family disputes or will contests. Litigation can extend probate by a year or more.
• Tax issues. Final income tax returns, and estate tax returns for very large estates, must be resolved before final distribution.
• Hard-to-find assets or heirs. Missing records or beneficiaries who cannot be located slow everything down.

Can Probate Be Faster?

Sometimes. A well-organized estate, prompt filings, and complete paperwork help avoid continuances. When a personal representative needs authority quickly—for example, to protect property or meet a deadline—the court may grant special Letters on an expedited basis. Learn more about expedited probate petitions in California.

Some estates may also qualify for a simplified process instead of full probate. California offers shortcuts for lower-value estates, and recent law changes expanded options for passing a primary residence. See our posts on non-probate transfers of small estates and California’s big probate shift in 2025.

How Much Does Probate Cost in California?

Time is not the only cost. In California, attorney and executor fees in a typical probate are set by statute and are based on the gross value of the estate—not what is left after the mortgage is paid. For an estate with a gross value of $1 million, the statutory attorney fee and the statutory executor fee are each $23,000, before court costs, appraisal fees, and other expenses.

You can estimate the cost for a specific estate with our probate calculator, and learn more in Probate Fees vs. Trust Administration in California.

How to Help Your Family Avoid Probate

For most families, the best way to avoid a lengthy probate is to plan ahead. A properly funded revocable living trust allows a successor trustee to manage and distribute assets privately, without waiting on court hearings. Beneficiary designations and certain forms of ownership can also pass assets outside of probate.

A will alone does not avoid probate. If your estate plan relies only on a will—or if your trust was never fully funded—your family may still face the timeline above.

Help With Probate in Los Angeles County

Whether you are facing probate now or want to spare your family from it later, Tyre Law Group, PC can help. Founded by Tony J. Tyre, a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization, our firm guides families through probate and trust administration throughout Los Angeles County and the San Gabriel Valley.

Schedule a free probate consultation to talk about your situation and your options.