If no will was written by the deceased, then their assets will go through the intestate probate process, meaning the court will rely on the state’s default rules to distribute the assets. In the probate process, the court will determine all potential family members and will distribute the assets. This will usually take between six to nine months to settle, and it could take longer if there are significant challenges or uncertainties, as litigation and investigation will need to be carried out.  That said, the time frame for having a will versus not having one is more or less the same. In both situations, the court is required to first catalog all of the assets in the deceased’s estate, and allow time for challenges, before the assets are distributed. So it’s not a straightforward process regardless.