What Are The Deadlines and Timelines In California Probate?

 Key deadlines and timelines in California probate include:  

Contesting appointment of personal representative: at or before hearing (by filing written objections) Response to will contest: within 30 days after service of summons 

+}Petition to Revoke Probate: within 120 days after will is admitted to probate Inventory and Appraisal: within 4 months of issuance of letters Creditor Claim: 4 months after letters or 60 days after notice   For a downloadable (pdf) of the California probate deadlines and timelines guide, click California Probate Deadlines and Timelines.  

TYPE OF FILING  DEADLINES  Cal. Prob. Code  Petition To Establish Death  If administration pending, any time before filing of the petition for final distribution  §202  Reporting Death To Director Of Health Care Services  No later than 90 days after Decedent’s death  §215  Notice That Decedent’s Genetic Material Available For Purpose Of Posthumous Conception  Within·   4 months of issuance of death certificate OR·   Entry of judgment determining Decedents death, whichever occurs first  §249.5  Action To Impose Liability Under Section 249.6 (Improper Distribution Of Property After Receiving 249.5 Notice)  Within·   3 years after distribution of property OR·   3 years after discovery of fraud,whichever occurs later  §249.6  Disclaimer Of Interest  Within reasonable time after person able to disclaim acquires knowledge of interest (9 months after death or vesting presumed reasonable)  §279  Action To Establish Liability Of Decedent Covered By Insurance  Within 1 year after expiration of the limitations period otherwise applicable, if the limitations period otherwise applicable has not expired at the time of decedent’s death  §551  Petition For Exempt Property  Upon filing of inventory or subsequently during administration of estate  §6510  Petition To Select And Set Apart Probate Homestead  Upon filing of inventory or subsequently during administration of estate  §6520  Petition For Small Estate Set Aside  Any time prior to entry of order for final distribution of estate  §6600-6615  Petition For Administration By Named Executor In Will  Within 30 days of knowledge of decedent’s death or may be held to have waived right to appointment  §8001  Contesting Appointment Of Personal Representative  At hearing on petition or file written objections before hearing (hearing occurs 15-30 days, or upon request 30-45 days, from filing of petition)  §8003  Delivery Of Will To Clerk And Copy To Named Executor By Custodian Of Will  30 days after having knowledge of testator’s death  §8200  Petition For Probate Of Second Will  Later of·   120 days after issuance of order admitting first will to probate or determining decedent intestate, OR·    60 days after proponent first obtains knowledge of the will  §8226  Response To Will Contest  30 days after service of summons  §8250  Petition To Revoke Probate  ·   Within 120 days after a will is admitted to probate (not available to a party to a will contest or person who could have been a party with actual notice) OR·    before entry of order for final distribution if petition filed by minor or an incompetent  §8270  Filing Inventory And Appraisal And Section 480 Certification  Within 4 months after letters are first issued to a general personal representative  §8800  Written Objection To Appraisal  Anytime before hearing on petition for final distribution of the estate  §8906  Notice To Creditors  Within later of·   4 months after date letters are first issued·   30 days after personal representative first has knowledge of creditor  §9051  Filing A Creditor Claim  Expiration of the later of·   4 months after date letters are first issued to general personal representative·   60 days after date notice is mailed or personally delivered to creditor  §9100  Revision Or Amendment Of Creditor Claim  For no purpose after the earlier of·   Order of final distribution of estate·   1 year after letters of administration first issued to general personal representative  §9104  Service Of Creditor Claim On Personal Representative  Within the later of·   30 days of the filing of the claim or·   4 months after letters issue to a personal representative with general powers  §9150  Notice Of Death To Director Of Health Care Services/Director Of California Victim Compensation Board/Franchise Tax Board  Not later than 90 days after the date letters are first issued to a general personal representative  §9202  Action On A Rejected Claim  90 days from notice of rejection (rejection assumed if refusal or neglect to act within 30 days of filing)  §9250  Contest The Validity Of An Allowed Claim  Any time before settlement of the report or account of the personal representative in which first reported as allowed  §9254  Claim On Action (When No Action Pending At Death)  ·   90 days after notice of rejection given if claim due at time of notice·   90 days after claim becomes due if claim not due at time notice of rejection given  §9353  Claim On Action (When Action Pending At Time Of Death)  Application for order to substitute personal representative in action must be applied for within 3 months after notice of rejection given  §9370  Petition To Vacate Order Of Confirmation Of Sale  Within 60 days after confirmation of sale  §10351  Petition For Order Determining Amount Of Expenses Of Administration Of Encumbered Property  At any time before payment is made to satisfy all liens on the encumbered property sold  §10361.5  Action For Recovery Of Property Sold By A Personal Representative  The later of·   3 years after the settlement of the final account·   3 years after the discovery of any fraud upon which the action is based  §10382  Petition Requesting Allowance On The Compensation Of The Personal Representative Or Attorney For The Personal Representative  Any time after 4 months from issuance of letters  §10830  Petition Fixing And Allowing Personal Representative Compensation And Attorney For Personal Representative Compensation  At the time of the filing of the final account and petition for an order for final distribution  §10831  Account  ·   1 year after issuance of letters  §10950  Petition For Preliminary Distribution  Cannot be filed unless 2 months have elapsed after letters are first issued to general personal representative  §11620  Petition For Determination Of Persons Entitled To Distribution  Any time after letters issues and before order of final distribution  §11700  Petition For Order For Final Distribution Or Status Report Of Administration  ·   If no federal tax return required, within 1 year after issuance of letters·   If federal tax return required, within 18 months after issuance of letters  §12200  Small Estate Affidavit – Personal Property  Must wait to file a minimum of 40 days after death  §13100  Petition For Order Determining Succession To Real Property (Small Estates)  Must wait to file a minimum of 40 days after death  §13151  Small Estate Affidavit – Real Property  Must wait to file a minimum of 6 months after death  §13200  Surviving Spouse Right To Dispose Of Community Or Quasi-Community Property  After 40 days from death of spouse  §13540  Download California Probate Deadlines and Timelines.  How Long 

Can A California Estate Remain Open? 

The California Probate Code says that a Petition for Order for Final Distribution should be filed within 1 year from issuance of letters of administration, in an estate where no federal tax return is required.  If a federal tax return is required, the petition should be filed within 18 months of issuance of letters.  These deadlines apply to California probates that are not heavily litigated.  If the probate involves a will contest or other litigation, the estate will remain open longer.