Free tool · Wills, Probate & Estates
Probate Cost Estimator
Add up what settling an estate through probate may cost: attorney, executor, court and other fees. There is no single national rate, so the tool doesn't guess a percentage. Enter your own quotes, or use the California and Florida attorney fee schedules built in. Only assets that go through probate count, and those with a named beneficiary, a joint owner or a trust usually skip it.
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- Figures checked Sep 30, 2026
Your estimate
Enter the probate estate and your fee details. The total updates as you type.
Only assets that go through probate. Leave out anything with a named beneficiary, a joint owner with survivorship, or a trust.
Estimated probate cost
$0
This is an estimate, not a quote. Enter the estate value and your fee details to see a total.
Not yet counted: attorney fees. Fill in the details above to complete the total.
| Attorney feesEnter the estate value | Needs input |
|---|---|
| Executor feeWaived | $0 |
| Court filing fees | $0 |
| Appraisals and valuations | $0 |
| Bond premium | $0 |
| Notices to creditors (publication) | $0 |
| Accounting and tax preparation | $0 |
| Extra legal fees (disputes, property sales, tax) | $0 |
| Other costs | $0 |
| Total | $0 |
Federal estate tax, state estate or inheritance tax, debts owed by the estate and the cost of the funeral are not included here.
What probate costs include
Probate is the legal process for transferring property after the person who owned it has died. The total bill is made up of several separate lines, and only some of them depend on the size of the estate.
- Court filing fees. California Courts say the filing fee is typically $435, and that the costs of administration are often well over $1,000 and can be much more. Other states and counties set their own fees.
- Attorney fees. Often the largest line. Some states set them by law, and in others they come from a quote, a flat fee or an hourly rate.
- Executor fee. The executor may be entitled to a fee, and family members can choose to waive it.
- Other costs. Appraisals, a court bond, notices to creditors, accounting and tax preparation, and certified copies.
The same court's self-help site says California probate typically takes 9 to 18 months and can take longer. Timing in other states varies, so ask the court clerk or an attorney in your state.
How attorney fees are set: two statutory schedules
California and Florida publish a fee schedule in their statutes. Both cover ordinary services only. The California schedule is the same for the attorney and the executor and is applied to the appraised value of the estate, without subtracting mortgages or other debts. Florida treats its schedule as a presumptively reasonable attorney fee, not a fixed price.
California (attorney and executor each)
| Slice of the estate | Rate |
|---|---|
| First $100,000 | 4% |
| Next $100,000 | 3% |
| Next $800,000 | 2% |
| Next $9 million | 1% |
| Next $15 million | 0.5% |
| Above $25 million | A reasonable amount set by the court |
Florida (attorney, presumptively reasonable)
| Estate value | Fee |
|---|---|
| $40,000 or less | $1,500 |
| Over $40,000, up to $70,000 | $750 more |
| Over $70,000, up to $100,000 | $750 more |
| Next $900,000 (to $1 million) | 3% |
| $1 million to $3 million | 2.5% |
| $3 million to $5 million | 2% |
| $5 million to $10 million | 1.5% |
| Above $10 million | 1% |
For example, a California estate with an appraised value of $500,000 has a statutory attorney fee of $13,000 for ordinary services: $4,000 on the first $100,000, $3,000 on the next $100,000 and $6,000 on the remaining $300,000. The Florida benchmark for the same estate is $15,000. The court can allow more for extraordinary work, and the executor can claim a separate fee on the same California scale.
In other states, ask for the fee arrangement in writing before you hire anyone, and use the quote in the estimator.
Which assets count, and how people reduce the bill
Probate fees in the statutory states are based on what goes through probate. California Courts list these as passing outside probate:
- Bank accounts held jointly with a right of survivorship.
- Accounts with a named beneficiary, sometimes called payable-on-death or transfer-on-death accounts.
- Real property held in joint tenancy.
- Property with a transfer-on-death deed.
- Property owned by a trust.
Some states also offer simpler routes for smaller estates. In California, for a death on or after April 1, 2025, a personal property affidavit is available when the assets total $208,850 or less and 40 days have passed, and a court petition can transfer a main home worth under $750,000 without full probate. Those limits are California's. Check your own state court's self-help site, and see our guide to probate fees and costs and the estate inventory checklist for how to list what the person owned.
If you're the executor, our explainer on what an executor does covers the job. If there was no will, read what happens when someone dies without one.
Frequently asked questions
How much does probate cost?
How long does probate take?
Do I need a lawyer for probate?
Which assets avoid probate?
Does the estate owe federal estate tax as well?
Does the executor get paid?
Sources we checked
- 1.California Probate Code section 10810: attorney compensation · California Legislative Information
- 2.California Probate Code section 10800: personal representative compensation · California Legislative Information
- 3.Florida Statutes section 733.6171: attorney compensation · Florida Legislature
- 4.If you need to do formal probate · California Courts Self-Help Guide
- 5.Check if you can use a simple process · California Courts Self-Help Guide
- 6.Inventory and estimate the value of the estate · California Courts Self-Help Guide
- 7.Estate tax · Internal Revenue Service
- 8.What's new: estate and gift tax · Internal Revenue Service
Please note: General information, not legal, financial or medical advice. Check the details with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Rules and prices change, so confirm anything important with the organization concerned. If you spot something out of date, tell us.
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