Legal costs and timelines, in plain numbers. Not a law firm.
Timelines, sourced
How long does probate take?
Every figure sourced and dated. Updated 2026-08-31.
For a typical uncontested estate with a valid will, probate runs 6 to 12 months from filing to final distribution. Add real property, multiple heirs, or tax filings and it routinely runs 12 to 24 months.
The spread is the story
States differ enormously. Texas independent administration, the fast end, typically completes in 4 to 8 months. Court filing fees range $50 to $1,200 depending on state and county, and total probate cost typically lands at 3% to 7% of the gross estate.
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If those months and that share of the estate are what you want your family to avoid, the comparison that matters is in Will vs trust.
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Sources for every figure on this page
6 to 12 months: Alix 2026: typical uncontested estate with a valid will (published estimate, retrieved 2026-08-31).
12 to 24 months: Alix 2026: estates with real property, multiple heirs, or tax filings (published estimate, retrieved 2026-08-31).
4 to 8 months: 48HourProbate state guide 2026: Texas independent administration (published estimate, retrieved 2026-08-31).
$50 to $1,200: Trust & Will 2026: probate court filing fee range by state and county (published estimate, retrieved 2026-08-31).
3% to 7%: SwiftProbate 2026: total probate cost share of gross estate (published estimate, retrieved 2026-08-31).
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