The length of time for a Probate varies with each Probate.  A petition for final distribution cannot be filed for a minimum of 4 months from the date that ‘the letters of testamentary/administration' are issued by the court.  ‘The letters’ is the legal document which puts the administrator/executor in charge of the estate. The earliest that the letters can be issued is approximately 6 weeks from the filing of the initial petition for Probate.  It takes about 6 weeks to obtain a court date for final distribution once the petition has been filed.  If the petition is approved, it then takes approximately 2 weeks for the order of distribution to be signed.  Therefore, the quickest time period for a Probate from beginning to end is approximately 7 months.  Most Probates take longer than 7 months.