How long does probate take in California?
By Sam Yusufi, Certified Probate & Trust SpecialistUpdated
Short answer
Many California probates take 9 to 18 months, and some take longer. The good news: the house can usually be sold before the estate closes, once the Personal Representative has Letters and the authority to sell.
What affects the timeline
- How long it takes the court to appoint the Personal Representative and issue Letters.
- Whether the sale needs court confirmation, which adds a hearing date.
- Whether any heir objects to the Notice of Proposed Action.
- Whether family members agree on the plan for the house.
The typical steps for selling (full authority)
- The court appoints the Personal Representative and issues Letters.
- A probate referee appraises the home. This can happen while the house is being prepared.
- The Personal Representative signs a listing agreement.
- The home is marketed and shown.
- An offer is accepted.
- The Notice of Proposed Action goes to every heir. The 15-day clock starts.
- If no one objects, the sale moves to closing.
- If someone objects, the sale goes to court confirmation, with the overbid process.
If the home is in a trust instead, the sale is usually faster, because most trust sales don't involve the court at all.
Official source: California Courts, how formal probate works