Petition for preliminary distribution: earliest filing date (two months after letters)

2 months after date letters first issued to a general personal representative, under Cal. Prob. Code 11620.

Rule text

A petition for an order for preliminary distribution of all, or a portion of, the share of a decedent's estate to which a beneficiary is entitled may not be filed unless at least two months have elapsed after letters are first issued to a general personal representative.

Cal. Prob. Code 11620, official source

Calculate this deadline

Deadline
Thursday, January 7, 2027
  1. Trigger (Date letters first issued to a general personal representative): Friday, November 6, 2026.
  2. Add 2 months: Wednesday, January 6, 2027.
  3. The period includes its last day, so the earliest day to act is the next court day: Thursday, January 7, 2027.
Rules applied
Cal. Prob. Code 11620
A petition for an order for preliminary distribution of all, or a portion of, the share of a decedent's estate to which a beneficiary is entitled may not be filed unless at least two months have elapsed after letters are first issued to a general personal representative.
Official source
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 12b, 10, 17(b)(4), applied to probate proceedings by Prob. Code 1000; Cal. Rules of Court, rule 1.10
CCP 12: "The time in which any act provided by law is to be done is computed by excluding the first day, and including the last, unless the last day is a holiday, and then it is also excluded." CCP 12a(a): "If the last day for the performance of any act provided or required by law to be performed within a specified period of time is a holiday, then that period is hereby extended to and including the next day that is not a holiday. For purposes of this section, “holiday” means all day on Saturdays, all holidays specified in Section 135 and, to the extent provided in Section 12b, all days that by terms of Section 12b are required to be considered as holidays." CCP 12b: "If any city, county, state, or public office, other than a branch office, is closed for the whole of any day, insofar as the business of that office is concerned, that day shall be considered as a holiday for the purposes of computing time under Sections 12 and 12a." CCP 10: "Holidays within the meaning of this code are every Sunday and any other days that are specified or provided for as judicial holidays in Section 135." CCP 17(b)(4): "“Month” means a calendar month, unless otherwise expressed." Prob. Code 1000(a): "Except to the extent that this code provides applicable rules, the rules of practice applicable to civil actions, including discovery proceedings and proceedings under Title 3a (commencing with Section 391) of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure, apply to, and constitute the rules of practice in, proceedings under this code."
Official source
  • Waiting period; file on or after the day following the computed date ('at least two months have elapsed'). Runs from letters to a GENERAL PR, not special administration letters.
  • If the clerk's office is closed or inaccessible on the last day (weather, emergency or local closure orders), the deadline may be extended. Check local orders.

This calculator applies the cited rules to the dates you enter. It is not legal advice. Court orders, local rules, and case-specific facts can change a deadline; verify before relying on it. Rule set pending attorney review.

Worked example

Date letters first issued to a general personal representative on Monday, March 15, 2027, personal service: due Monday, May 17, 2027.

  1. Trigger (Date letters first issued to a general personal representative): Monday, March 15, 2027.
  2. Add 2 months: Saturday, May 15, 2027.
  3. That day is a Saturday, but this date is fixed by the rule and does not move: Saturday, May 15, 2027.
  4. The period includes its last day, so the earliest day to act is the next court day: Monday, May 17, 2027.

Notes

Waiting period; file on or after the day following the computed date ('at least two months have elapsed'). Runs from letters to a GENERAL PR, not special administration letters.

Related deadlines

All California probate deadlines

Local rules by county

County local rules and courtroom procedures can add to or change this deadline. Pick a county to calculate with them applied.

Rules current as of 2026-10-23. Confirm against the official source and any local rule or court order before relying on a date. Rules changelog.