How Long Does Probate Take in Delaware?

One of the first things people want to know is how long probate takes. It’s a fair question - and an important one if you’re trying to plan around real estate sales, bills, or distributions to family members.

The short answer: most Delaware probate cases take about a year from start to finish. Some move faster, and others take longer, but a year is a good general rule of thumb.

Once you file the petition and get appointed as executor, a few key deadlines start the clock:

• Within three months: You’ll need to file an inventory - a list of all the property the person owned at the time of death. That includes things like clothing, furniture, vehicles, household contents, bank accounts, and real estate.
• Within one year: You’ll file the estate accounting. This report shows the value of everything that came into the estate, what debts and expenses were paid, and what remains to distribute to heirs.

Those two filings are the backbone of the probate process. Once the accounting is reviewed and approved by the Register of Wills, the estate can be closed.

Some estates take more than a year - especially when there are:

• Disputes among family members or beneficiaries
• Questions about debts or creditor claims
• Complications with selling property or transferring titles

Even in those cases, most of the time isn’t spent in active court appearances. It’s waiting - waiting for deadlines to pass, for sales to finalize, or for paperwork to be reviewed and approved.

If the estate is straightforward, with no disputes and few debts, it can sometimes wrap up in eight to ten months. Filing everything on time and keeping good records goes a long way toward speeding things up.

Probate in Delaware isn’t an overnight process, but it also doesn’t have to drag on endlessly. Knowing what’s ahead - and keeping the filings organized and on schedule - helps everything move smoothly.

I help Delaware families stay organized through every stage of the probate process - from opening the estate to the final accounting. If you’re unsure where to start or how to stay on schedule, reach out and we’ll walk through your next steps together.