We’re here to help you navigate probate with confidence.

USAA members can access affordable probate services from the most trusted name in online estate planning and settlement.

Welcome USAA members

USAA members can schedule a free, 30-minute consultation with a probate expert. We can help you figure out:

  • Whether or not you need probate

  • Which probate service best fits your needs

  • How much the probate services you're considering cost

Schedule a free consultation

Choose the right plan for you.

First, create your account and tell us about your unique circumstances. Then, we’ll match you with the best plan for your needs.

  • Concierge Support

    Lighten your load with personalized support from your dedicated probate specialist who will help guide you through every step. Prices starting at:
    $1,999 - $3,900
    *Payment plan available
    Book a Free Probate Call

    Learn More

    • Phone support

    • Access to our team of probate specialists

    • Coordinating electronic signatures with family members (where accepted)

    • Public notice prepared and guided publishing

    • Conference calls with your family

    • Price excludes public notice and filing fees

  • Attorney Support

    Let a licensed probate attorney and your dedicated probate specialist take care of the estate with this full-service probate plan. Prices starting at:
    $5,000 - $7,900
    *Payment plan available
    Book a Free Probate Call

    Learn More

    All features in Concierge plan, plus:

    • E-filing court documents, if available

    • Limited scope attorney representation

    • Specific legal advice for your case

    • Price excludes public notice and filing fees

How it Works

Simplifying the probate process.

Figuring out probate can be overwhelming and time-consuming.

  • 1

    Open probate

    To begin probate, we’ll help you prove to your local county court that you’re the right person to settle the estate, taking the guesswork out of the steps and necessary documents.

  • 2

    Inventory assets and debts

    Uncover all of the assets owned by the estate and we’ll help you create a plan to take care of each asset and debt and present that plan back to the court for approval prior to executing.

  • 3

    Distribute the estate

    Once our plan is approved, it’s time to execute the plan. This might include things like selling property, closing accounts, or distributing money to heirs.

  • 4

    Close the estate

    Now that all assets have been distributed, we will help you in submitting documentation that proves we executed the plan accordingly. The estate is now closed and you can take a deep sigh of relief.

Probate support from the most trusted name in online estate planning and settlement.

We’re proud to be a category leader in estate planning and settlement on Trustpilot. Don’t take our word for it, check out what Trust & Will members have to say.

“I felt empowered by their knowledge and organization of all the forms I needed. The explanation of what had to be done was so easy to follow. I couldn’t believe that it was over within a matter of weeks– everything was taken care of.”

Verda Wells
Probate member, 2018

"After doing some research online, we reached out and got an immediate response. Here I am, I don’t have any legal experience, but I was able to do it with the help of Trust & Will in not much time. Our experience with them was professional, easy to work with, and sympathetic to the needs that we had and what we were going through emotionally."

Michelle Riccordella
Probate member, 2018

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Commonly Asked Questions

When must a Will be probated?
Probating a Will is a court process that includes determining if a valid Will exists, inventorying assets and property belonging to the estate, taking care of the decedent’s financial liabilities, and identifying heirs and beneficiaries. Once all financial liabilities have been satisfied, and no claims have been submitted against the estate, the remaining property and assets can be distributed.

Because this is an intensive process, probating a Will can take time. For example, in California probate law states that the executor or personal representative must complete probate within one year of the date of their appointment. However, there are certain exceptions. For instance, a personal representative may file for an extension if they experience reasonable delays. They are granted 18 months to complete probate if federal estate taxes are filed. Learn more about how the probate process works by state.
How long does it take to probate a Will?
A personal representative of an estate is given a set amount of time to probate a Will. This time frame is defined by state laws. However, the actual amount of time it takes for a Will to pass through probate can be much shorter or longer due to a variety of factors. For instance, in California, the probate process can take as little as nine months and take as long as two years or more. A personal representative may experience valid delays for reasons outside of their control. In this case, they may file for extensions with their respective probate court. The probate court itself may also experience administrative delays. Read our guide on the average probate process timeline to learn more.
What can delay the probate process?
There are several factors that could potentially cause delays in the probate process. Some are court-related delays that are unrelated to the estate. For instance, the COVID-19 pandemic led to shutdowns and delays that added months to the probate process in many states. There are also estate-specific scenarios that could potentially impede individual timelines. For instance, conflict between beneficiaries could arise. Claims, infighting and lawsuits can delay the process. Problems with assets, such as difficulty organizing and identifying assets or assets belonging to more than one state can create complications. Last but not least, the filing and payment of a variety of applicable taxes can eat up the timeline.
How long do you have to file probate after death?
A Will must be filed for probate shortly following the death of its testator (the person who created the Will.) The exact time frame can vary from state to state, but is typically about a month. In California, a personal representative of the estate (typically the nominated executor) has 30 days to file a Will for probate following the person’s death. If the personal representative doesn’t file the Will with the required timeframe, then they are waiving their right to be appointed executor. Read our article on how long you have to file probate after death to learn more.
What assets have to go through probate?
Assets that must pass through probate include any financial asset, personal property, or real estate that the decedent owned in their name at the time of passing. These are called probate assets. There are some exceptions, called non probate assets, that do not have to pass through probate. Common examples include assets and accounts with beneficiary designations, assets and property that were transferred into a Trust (and are thus owned by the Trust and not the decedent), and certain types of property with payable-on-death or survivorship rights attached to them. Understanding the differences between probate and non probate assets is a critical piece to preparing for the probate process. We explain this in detail here.

1. The USAA Member discount applies to probate packages purchased from Trust & Will. There are no discounts for state fees, court fees and costs for public filings.

Trust & Will’s probate services are not designed or intended to support complex probate needs. Services not available in all counties or states.

The trademarks, logos and names of other companies, products and services are the property of their respective owners.

Use of the term "member" or "membership" refers to membership in USAA Membership Services and does not convey any legal or ownership rights in USAA. Restrictions apply and are subject to change.

USAA Life General Agency, Inc. is not affiliated with Trust and Will or Huge Legal Technology Company, Inc., nor does USAA guarantee the quality of the products or services available on this site. Although USAA receives compensation from and may promote and/or recommend the products offered by this company, consumers should review the product carefully prior to making a purchasing decision.

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