Probate in Kent County, Delaware
When someone who lived in Kent County dies, probate is handled by the county probate court. This page points you to that court and summarizes the Delaware rules that apply — the small-estate threshold, the key deadlines, and the instruments Delaware uses. For your own dates and numbers, use the free calculators linked below.
Where to file
Probate is filed in Kent County, where the person who died last lived. Local forms, e-filing rules, and scheduling vary by county — confirm with the county probate court.
Find your court — Delaware Courts — Hours & LocationsDoes this estate need full probate?
Delaware lets smaller estates skip full probate using the Affidavit for distribution without grant of letters (12 Del. C. §2306) for estates up to $50,000.
Check your estate Source — 12 Del. C. §2306, as amended by HB 333 (85 Del. Laws c.281; $30k→$50k eff. 2026-06-11)Key probate deadlines in Delaware
- Lodge the will with the court
- 10 days after the date of death
- File the estate inventory
- 3 months after appointment as personal representative
- Creditor-claim period closes
- 8 months after the date of death (outer bar: 8 months from death)
Good to know in Delaware
- The court empowers the personal representative with Letters Testamentary / Letters of Administration.
- The estate closes with the Decree of Distribution.
- Delaware has no state estate or inheritance tax.
Talk it through, or find a local pro
Ask the guide a question about probate in Kent County, or browse vetted probate attorneys and real-estate advisors who work in Delaware.
Selling an inherited home? Estimate the tax with the capital-gains calculator. Just getting started? Print the Delaware after-a-death checklist.