How Long Does Probate Take for Real Estate in Los Angeles?

In Los Angeles County, probate typically takes 9 to 18 months to complete when real estate is involved — but it can take longer if court delays, disputes among heirs, or issues with selling the property arise.

Why Does Probate Take So Long in Los Angeles?

Los Angeles probate cases are often slowed down by several key factors:

Court Backlogs: LA County probate courts process thousands of cases annually, which can delay hearings and approvals.
Real Estate Involvement: Selling a home through probate adds extra steps — such as appraisals, notices to interested parties, and court confirmation (in some cases).
Executor Timelines: Executors may take additional time to clean, prepare, or decide when to sell the property.
Creditor Claims: There’s a mandatory 4-month window for creditors to file claims against the estate in California.

What’s the General Timeline for Probate With Real Estate?

Here’s a typical breakdown for a probate case involving a house in LA:

Step Timeline What Happens

1. File Petition Week 1–2 Petition for probate is submitted

to LA Superior Court.

2. First Hearing ~6–10 weeks Judge appoints an executor

/administrator.

3. Notice to Creditors 4 months Required waiting period for

minimum creditor claims.

4. Inventory & Appraisal Month 3–6 Executor gathers estate assets.

Probate Referee appraises the property.

5. Sell the Property Month 4–9 If allowed, executor lists the property.

Court confirmation may be needed.

6. Final Accounting & Month 9–18 Judge approves final accounting.

Distribution Assets are distributed. Probate closes.

Note: If court confirmation is required (common for sales without full authority), it may add 30–60 extra days to the timeline.

Does Selling a House in Probate Delay the Process?

It can — especially in LA where real estate transactions sometimes involve:

Heir disagreements over whether to sell or keep the home
Properties that need repairs or cleanup before listing
Out-of-state heirs who slow down paperwork and decisions
Buyers backing out if the timeline becomes uncertain

But with a proactive probate real estate specialist, you can often move the sale forward faster — even before the probate closes.

Does the Type of Probate Matter in LA?

Yes — there are two main probate types in California that affect the speed of the process:

1. Full Authority (under IAEA)

Gives the executor power to sell real estate without court confirmation.
Much faster.
Typically preferred in LA probate sales.

2. Limited Authority

Requires a court-confirmed sale.
Adds at least 30–45 days to your timeline.

If the probate court grants full authority, and the sale is clean, many families sell the property in under 60 days once listed.

How Does This Timeline Compare to Orange County?

While LA County often experiences longer court delays, Orange County probate cases may wrap up more quickly (as little as 6–12 months), especially when real estate is the only asset and the heirs are cooperative.

What Can You Do to Speed Up the Process?

Here’s what you (or your executor) can do right now:

Choose a local probate real estate agent who understands court procedures and timing.
File early. The sooner you file, the sooner you get on the court calendar.
Get a preliminary property evaluation. Knowing the value helps with appraisal and strategy.
Coordinate with your attorney. Sync your sale timeline with your legal obligations.
Prepare the property for listing early — even before the court officially authorizes a sale.