Probate is a supervised process for transferring what a person owned to the people entitled to it. Its length depends less on the size of the estate than on how organised the paperwork is.
In a straightforward matter, appointment of a personal representative takes a few weeks. Creditor notice periods run for months. Distribution follows once claims and taxes are settled.
Assets with beneficiary designations, joint titles or a funded trust pass outside the process entirely. That is usually where planning earns its keep.
The best thing a family can do in the first fortnight is gather statements, deeds and the original will. Everything after that moves faster.
This note is general information, not legal advice. Every matter turns on its own facts — speak with a lawyer before acting.
