One of the first questions families ask me is, “How long will probate take?” The honest answer is that it depends on the estate, but most Colorado probates follow a predictable path. Here’s a realistic timeline, and how the sale of a house fits into it.
Please note: I’m a real estate broker, not an attorney. Every estate is different, so confirm the details and deadlines with a Colorado probate attorney.
The short answer
A simple, uncontested Colorado estate often takes roughly six months to a year. Estates with disputes, hard-to-value assets, tax issues or real estate in several states can take longer.
Step 1: Opening the estate (first few weeks)
Someone, usually the person named in the will, applies to the court to be appointed Personal Representative. Many Colorado estates use informal probate, which is handled largely through paperwork and can move quickly when there’s a valid will and no disagreement. Once appointed, the Personal Representative receives Letters, the document that gives authority to act for the estate, including selling a house.
Step 2: Notice to creditors (about 4+ months)
The Personal Representative typically publishes a notice to creditors in a local newspaper once a week for three consecutive weeks. Under Colorado law, the deadline for creditors to file claims can be no earlier than four months after the first publication. Separately, most claims against the deceased person are barred one year after the date of death. This creditor period is often the main reason an estate can’t close sooner.
Step 3: Inventory and valuation
The Personal Representative identifies the estate’s assets and their values, including the home’s value on the date of death. Learn more in our guide to date-of-death home valuations.
Step 4: Selling the house (can happen during probate)
Good news: in most cases you don’t have to wait for probate to end to sell the home. Once the Personal Representative has Letters, they can usually list and sell the property, often within the first few months. A typical sale takes about 30 to 60 days from accepted offer to closing. Supervised or contested estates may need court involvement, so check with your attorney.
Selling during probate can help the estate avoid months of mortgage payments, utilities, insurance and upkeep on a vacant home. Read our step-by-step guide to selling a home in probate.
Step 5: Paying debts, taxes and expenses
After the creditor period, the Personal Representative pays valid claims, final expenses and any taxes due.
Step 6: Distributing and closing the estate
Remaining assets, including any sale proceeds, are distributed to the heirs, and the Personal Representative closes the estate with the court.
What slows probate down
- Disagreements between heirs or a contested will
- No will, or an unclear one
- Missing paperwork or hard-to-find assets
- A house that needs major work or a full cleanout before it can sell
- Property in more than one state
How we help
We help Personal Representatives and families sell homes in probate across Colorado, coordinate with attorneys, and offer free date-of-death valuations. Visit our probate page, call us at (720) 403-2940, or request a cash offer if the estate needs a fast, as-is sale.