For the convenience of our clients, we also offer the options to meet via video conference or by telephone

Helping People Move
Forward With Their Lives
  1. Home
  2.  » 
  3. Probate Litigation
  4.  » How long does probate take?

How long does probate take?

On Behalf of | Jan 22, 2019 | Probate Litigation

If you have a loved one that passes away, you probably want to wrap up his or her estate as quickly as possible. It can be tough to have to deal with the aftermath and the financial aspects of a person’s life. Things may feel slow going, especially if the estate has to go through probate. If this is your situation, then you probably wonder just how long it takes to get through the process in a Michigan court.

The answer is not a simple one. According to the State Bar of Michigan, the minimum amount of time for probate is about five months. However, it could take years to move a case through the system. It just depends on the estate.

In every case, you must alert any creditors of the situation. They then have four months in which to respond. If they do not respond or you can wrap up things with them quickly and there are no other issues with the estate, then the court may be able to quickly wrap things up within the five-month time frame.

Often, though, there are additional things that will slow a case down. If anyone has an objection, this will require more time to work through. If you need to sell a house that was part of the estate, the case remains open until the house sells, which could take a couple of months or a couple of years. Any additional issues will also take time to resolve and may slow down the probate process. This information is for education and is not legal advice.