How long does probate take in Pinellas County?

The short version, by type of probate

These are general ranges, not promises. Every estate is a little different. Our guide on summary vs. formal administration explains which type fits which estate.

Five things you can do this week to save time later

You can't speed up a judge, but you can make sure the file is complete the first time. Families who do these early tend to have the shortest probates.

1. Order extra certified death certificates. The court, the title company, banks, and insurers may each want one.
2. Locate the original will and deposit it with the Pinellas County Clerk within 10 days of learning of the death, as Florida law requires.
3. Make a family list. Write down every child, grandchild of a child who has passed, and spouse, with phone numbers and mailing addresses. If there's no will and no close family, include siblings, nieces, and nephews.
4. Talk to the other heirs early. A quick call saying, "Here's what's happening, you'll get papers to sign from an attorney," prevents a lot of confusion when the packet arrives.
5. Find a notary option for everyone. A bank branch, a UPS store, or remote online notarization. The heir who can sign the same day is the heir who doesn't hold up the case.

Where the time actually goes

People picture probate as one long wait for a judge. In reality, most of the clock runs before the petition is ever filed. These are the usual time sinks:

• Gathering documents. Death certificates, the original will, the deed, and basic information about every heir.
• Finding heirs. When there's no will, the attorney has to identify everyone entitled to a share. In a big family, that can mean cousins nobody has spoken to in years.
• Getting signatures. One heir who travels, works nights, or simply puts it off can hold up everyone else.
• Court review. The judge has to review and sign. If something in the file is incomplete, the Clerk or the court sends it back for corrections.
• Waiting periods in formal administration. The creditor period runs on its own clock and can't be rushed.

Our express route for qualifying estates

When we buy an inherited house and the estate qualifies for summary administration, the process can move quickly because the pieces are lined up in advance. An independent licensed Florida probate attorney prepares the filing. We pay the probate cost, typically about $3,000, and it is not deducted from the heirs' share.

1. We do one walkthrough of the house and make a cash offer.
2. The heirs agree on the offer and sign a purchase contract.
3. The attorney prepares the petition and the heirs' signature packet.
4. Heirs sign with a notary wherever they live, or by remote online notarization.
5. For estates that qualify, the court order often comes within 24 to 48 hours after the signed packet is filed.
6. Closing usually follows about a week later at a licensed Florida title company.

That's the best case, and it happens often. It doesn't happen every time. If the estate needs formal administration or a will has to be proven, we say so at the start and give you a realistic timeline instead.

Things that slow probate down, and what helps

When probate takes a long time anyway

Some estates are just hard. We handled a probate where a home left without a will passed to 42 relatives across the country. A title company and a national underwriter declined it as too complex. We located every heir. Twenty-eight signed voluntarily, and the rest were served and noticed under Florida partition law. No one contested, the court approved the sale, and it closed in spring 2026 with all 42 heirs paid their share.

That case didn't take 48 hours. It took patience. The point is that a slow probate is not a dead end.

While the case is open, someone still has to keep the house insured, the lawn cut, and the utilities on. Property taxes keep coming too, and they can rise sharply the year after the owner's death because the homestead exemption ends. Factor those carrying costs in when you weigh how long you can wait.

We're not attorneys. For a timeline on your specific estate, ask the probate attorney handling it.

We’re a home-buying company, not attorneys. This page is general information about Florida probate, not legal advice; an independent licensed Florida probate attorney represents the estate in every probate we pay for. Last updated November 2026.