A will is filed with a probate court after a testator -- the person who made the will -- dies. However, probate courts in every state only accept a will if it is filed within a certain number of years after the testator's death. How many years after death you have to file a will depends on the laws of each state.
Deadlines
You may file a will with the probate court at any time after the testator's death and before the deadline set by state law. This deadline varies by state. For instance, North Dakota and New Mexico's deadline is three years after the testator's death; Texas allows four years, while Hawaii allows five. The time limit varies between three and six years.
Deadline Information
The number of years you have to file a will after a death is specified in each state's probate code. Many states have adopted the Uniform Probate Code (see Resources), but if your state has not, you can usually find this information by searching online for the name of your state and the phrase "probate code." The time limit for filing a will usually appears in the section of the probate code dedicated to probate, or probate and administration of wills. Alternatively, contact your local probate court to find out this information.
Read More: Is a Will Public Information After Death?
Purpose
The filing deadline in each state serves several purposes. First, it helps guard against the will being altered or forged, as the extra time may give someone the opportunity to do so. Second, the filing deadline helps ensure that the deceased's assets do not deteriorate or lose too much value by sitting around without anyone managing them for many years after death. Finally, the deadline helps ensure that witnesses to the will's signing and any beneficiaries will still be alive and able to testify in court or receive their shares of the estate.
Penalties
Most state probate codes include penalties for persons who have a deceased person's will but refuse to file it with the court or to give it to someone who will file it. These penalties range from a fine in most states, to jail time in Texas.
Resources
Writer Bio
A.L. Kennedy is a professional grant writer and nonprofit consultant. She has been writing and editing for various nonfiction publications since 2004. Her work includes various articles on nonprofit law, human resources, health and fitness for both print and online publications. She has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of South Alabama.