39 jurisdictions · read from each statute
How long probate takes, state by state
No statute says "probate takes N months", but every one sets a creditor claim period, and an estate is rarely closed before it ends. The median period on this site is 122 days, counted from different events in different states.
- 1Shortest period 61 days
- 2Longest period 365 days
- 3Median period 122 days
- 4States listed 39
| State | Claim period | Counted from | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 4 months | first publication of the notice to creditors | AS 13.16.450 |
| Arizona | 4 months | first publication of the notice to creditors | A.R.S. § 14-3801(A) |
| Arkansas | 6 months | first publication of notice to creditors | Ark. Code Ann. § 28-50-101(a)(1) |
| California | 4 months | the date letters are first issued to a general personal... | Cal. Prob. Code § 9100(a) |
| Colorado | 4 months | first publication of the notice (the date in the notice may... | C.R.S. § 15-12-801(1) |
| Delaware | 8 months | the decedent's death | 12 Del. C. § 2102(a) |
| District of Columbia | 6 months | first publication of notice of the appointment of a personal... | D.C. Code § 20-903(a) |
| Florida | 3 months | first publication of the notice to creditors | Fla. Stat. § 733.702(1) |
| Georgia | 3 months | publication of the personal representative's last notice | O.C.G.A. § 53-7-41 |
| Idaho | 4 months | first publication of the notice | Idaho Code § 15-3-801(a) |
| Illinois | 6 months | first publication of the notice to creditors | 755 ILCS 5/18-3(a) |
| Indiana | 3 months | first published notice to creditors | Ind. Code § 29-1-14-1 |
| Iowa | 4 months | the second publication of the notice to creditors | Iowa Code § 633.410(1) |
| Kansas | 4 months | first publication of notice | K.S.A. 59-2239 |
| Maine | 4 months | first publication of the notice | 18-C M.R.S. § 3-801(1) |
| Maryland | 6 months | the decedent's death | Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 8-103(a) |
| Massachusetts | 12 months | the decedent's death | M.G.L. c. 190B, § 3-803(a) |
| Michigan | 4 months | publication of notice to creditors | MCL 700.3803(1) |
| Minnesota | 4 months | the court administrator's notice | Minn. Stat. § 524.3-801 |
| Mississippi | 90 days | first publication of notice to creditors | Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-151 |
| Missouri | 6 months | first published notice of letters | RSMo § 473.360.1 |
| Montana | 4 months | first publication of the notice | Mont. Code Ann. § 72-3-801(1) |
| Nebraska | 2 months | first publication of notice to creditors | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2485(a)(1) |
| Nevada | 90 days | first publication of the notice to creditors | NRS 147.040(1) |
| New Hampshire | 6 months | the original grant of administration | RSA 556:3 |
| New Jersey | 9 months | the decedent's death | N.J.S.A. 3B:22-4 |
| New Mexico | 4 months | first publication of the notice | N.M. Stat. Ann. § 45-3-801(A) |
| New York | 7 months | the issue of letters | N.Y. Surr. Ct. Proc. Act § 1802 |
| North Carolina | 3 months | first publication or posting of the notice | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 28A-14-1(a) |
| North Dakota | 3 months | first publication or mailing of the notice | N.D. Cent. Code § 30.1-19-01 |
| Ohio | 6 months | the decedent's death | Ohio Rev. Code § 2117.06(B) |
| Oregon | 4 months | publication of notice to interested persons | ORS 115.005(2)(a) |
| Pennsylvania | 12 months | the first complete advertisement of the grant of letters | 20 Pa.C.S. § 3532(a) |
| Rhode Island | 6 months | first publication | R.I. Gen. Laws § 33-11-5(a) |
| South Carolina | 8 months | first publication of the notice to creditors | S.C. Code § 62-3-801(a) |
| South Dakota | 4 months | first publication of the notice | SDCL 29A-3-801(a) |
| Tennessee | 12 months | the decedent's death (outer limit; the published notice sets... | Tenn. Code Ann. § 30-2-307(d) |
| Texas | No fixed bar | no fixed bar for unsecured claims: a claim may be presented... | Tex. Est. Code § 355.001 |
| Washington | 4 months | first publication of notice | RCW 11.40.051(1)(b)(i) |
Why the starting point matters
Some states count from the death (Massachusetts, Ohio, Delaware, New Jersey, Maryland), so the date is fixed however slowly the court moves. Most count from the first publication of notice or the issue of letters, so the period only starts once someone has been appointed. Several also set an outer limit measured from the death for creditors who never got notice.
States not listed here either had no claim-period section that could be read on the date checked or are excluded for the reasons on the small estate page. See also the executor timeline guide.
General information, not legal advice. Probate Clock does not refer anyone to lawyers.