How Long Does It Take to Wind Up an Estate in Scotland?

The amount of time that it will take to wind up an estate will depend on the nature and extent of the estate – for small estates the process can be reasonably straightforward, but for those that are more complex the time taken to administer the estate can be significantly longer.

Generally speaking, an estate will take at least six months to wind up. There are guidelines which must be followed when it comes to undertaking this process, and key amongst these provisions are rules relating to any unexpected creditors who may emerge once the administering of the estate is underway. There may be unpaid debts or outstanding bills that are not apparent on initial inspection of the estate – time must be taken before settling the state so that all debts can be paid off before the estate is distributed.

As with many legal issues, communication is fundamentally important in this regard. Our experienced executry solicitors will take the time to review the estate and provide you with a rough estimate as to how long the winding up process should take. We can provide you with an outline of what work will need to be carried out and how long it should take to complete each stage. Your lawyer will be able to identify potential issues that may arise, to give you a clear and straightforward idea about what to expect over the coming months.