How Long Does Probate Take in Georgia? What to Expect When Selling an Inherited Property

If you’re wondering how long probate takes in Georgia, you’re not alone. It’s probably one of the most commonly searched questions people have when they’re dealing with an estate.

And I get it. When you inherit a house, you may be thinking about the mortgage, property taxes, utilities, maintenance, and everything else that comes with owning a property. The last thing you want to hear is that you have to wait months and months before you can do anything with it.

The good news is that the Georgia probate process doesn’t necessarily mean you have to wait until probate is completely finished to sell the property.

I’m Brad, The Probate House Guy. I’m an active real estate investor and a licensed real estate agent in the state of Georgia. Over the last 10 years, I’ve helped more than 300 sellers get their properties sold, whether through a cash sale or by listing the property traditionally.

I’ve learned a thing or two about probate and estates along the way, so I’m sharing what I know.

Just keep in mind, I’m not an attorney, and nothing I say should be taken as legal advice. You should always consult with a probate attorney or real estate attorney about your specific situation.

How Long Does Probate Take in Georgia?

So, how long does probate usually take in Georgia?

The average probate case in Georgia typically takes about 6 to 9 months.

However, that’s just an average. Some estates can take longer, sometimes up to a year or even longer, depending on the circumstances.

There are several things that can cause a probate case to drag out.

For example, maybe you can’t locate all of the heirs. Maybe someone isn’t cooperating or isn’t playing their part in the process. Or maybe the heirs are fighting over the inheritance.

Then you have what we call family dynamics or infighting.

All of those things can make probate take much longer. In some situations, it can even take years.

The county where the probate case is being handled can also make a difference. Some counties are simply a little slower than others.

But here’s the part that a lot of people don’t realize.

Do You Have to Wait Until Probate Is Finished to Sell the House?

No—not necessarily.

The entire probate process may take 6 to 9 months, but that does not mean you necessarily have to wait 6 to 9 months to sell an inherited house.

Once you’re appointed as the administrator or executor, you will usually have the ability to sell the property, or you can get the judge to give you the additional authority needed to sell it.

In many situations, that means you can potentially have the legal power to sell the inherited property within 30 to 60 daysafter starting the probate process.

We’ve even seen cases move faster than that.

For example, we’ve had probate cases where the letters were issued in as little as five weeks from the petition, including one in Cobb County, which generally takes a little longer.

So, while the entire probate process may take several months, selling the house can happen much sooner.

Why Selling the Property During Probate Can Matter

Think about what happens if you have an inherited property sitting there while probate is going on.

You may still have:

• A mortgage
• Property taxes
• Utilities
• Maintenance costs
• Other carrying costs

If you can’t afford to keep paying those expenses, the situation can become a real burden.

And if you start probate right away, you may be able to get the legal authority to sell the house within 30 to 60 days.

That can turn the house into cash rather than leaving you with a property that’s sitting there costing you money every month.

There’s also the risk of the property sitting vacant. You could end up with a house that gets burglarized, has windows broken, or simply deteriorates while everyone is waiting for probate to be completed.

And honestly, I think we can all agree—you’d rather have cash in the bank than a house that’s costing you a couple hundred bucks every month to keep up.

Thinking About Selling an Inherited House in Georgia?

If you’ve inherited a property and you’re trying to figure out what your options are, we’d be happy to talk with you about it.

Whether you’re considering a cash offer or you want to list the property traditionally, simply fill out the form below and a member of our team will get in touch with you as soon as possible.

There’s no need to make a decision right away. We can simply talk through the options for the property and help you understand what may make sense for your situation.

The Probate Process Is More Than Just Selling the Property

There’s another important distinction when talking about how long probate takes in Georgia.

The probate process isn’t simply:

File probate → Sell the house → Done.

The entire process can involve selling the property, distributing the money to the heirs, filing the final tax return, and officially closing everything out.

That’s why you can have a situation where the property is sold relatively quickly, but the probate case itself remains open for several more months.

So when someone says probate takes 6 to 9 months, they’re talking about the overall process—not necessarily how long it takes before you can sell the inherited house.

Complex Estates Can Take Much Longer

Of course, every estate is different.

You might have a very simple estate with only a few things to deal with, or you could have a really complicated estate with multiple heirs and generations involved.

We actually dealt with a property like that several years ago.

There were 30 heirs involved, across multiple generations, because nobody had probated anything through those generations.

Eventually, someone wanted to sell the house that had been in the family for years.

But before we could get everything done, we had to get signatures and sign-offs from 30 different people.

It was an absolute train wreck.

And, needless to say, that was a very expensive probate.

That’s a good example of why you can’t always look at the average 6-to-9-month timeline and assume your particular estate will follow it exactly.

How Quickly Can You Sell a Probate Property in Georgia?

The answer depends on your specific situation.

Generally, once you’ve been appointed and have the proper authority to sell the property, you may be able to move forward with selling it well before the entire probate case is completed.

In many cases, that could be within 30 to 60 days.

But there are a lot of factors that can affect the timeline.

For example, if you decide to list the property traditionally, the amount of time it stays on the market can add to the overall timeline. Once the property sells, you still have the rest of the estate process to complete, including distributing the assets and closing everything out.

That’s why it’s important to talk with a probate attorney about your particular estate. They can help you understand how the legal process applies to your situation.

What Is the Average Probate Timeline in Georgia?

To recap:

Average Georgia probate timeline: About 6 to 9 months

More complicated cases: Can take a year or longer

Potential timeline to get authority to sell: Often around 30 to 60 days, depending on the circumstances

Fast example: We’ve seen letters issued in as little as five weeks

The big takeaway is this: Probate may take several months to fully complete, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to wait several months before you can sell the inherited property.

If you’re dealing with an inherited house, it’s worth finding out what your options are early in the process—especially if the property has a mortgage, property taxes, utilities, or other ongoing expenses.

What Should You Do With an Inherited Property in Georgia?

If you’ve inherited a property and you’re trying to figure out whether you should sell it for cash or put it on the market, I’d be happy to talk with you.

I’m Brad, The Probate House Guy. I’m a licensed real estate agent here in Georgia, and I also buy houses for cash. Over the last 10 years, I’ve helped more than 300 sellers get their properties sold.

Whether you want a quick cash offer, an easy sale, or you’d rather list the property traditionally, we can talk through your options.

Simply fill out the form below and a member of our team will be in touch with you ASAP.

And remember, every probate situation is different, so make sure you speak with a qualified probate attorney about the legal side of your specific estate.