Free Tool

Probate & Estate Cost Estimator

Estimate the costs and timeline for probating an estate. Get a detailed breakdown of attorney fees, court costs, and other expenses based on estate value and complexity.

TL;DR

Probate costs typically range from 3-7% of estate value, with a minimum of $1,500-$5,000 for simple estates. Timeline is usually 6-12 months for straightforward cases. Contested estates can cost 2-3x more and take years to resolve. Having a will reduces both costs and time.

Understanding Probate Costs

Probate is the court-supervised process of distributing a deceased person's assets. While often necessary, it comes with significant costs and can take months or even years to complete.

The total cost depends on estate value, whether there's a valid will, the complexity of assets, and whether any family members contest the distribution. Understanding these factors helps you plan and potentially take steps to minimize probate exposure.

Average Cost

3-7%

Of estate value

Average Timeline

6-12 mo

Simple estates

Contested Estates

2-5 yrs

Much higher costs

Estimate Probate Costs

Enter estate details below

$

Include real estate, investments, bank accounts, and other assets

Ways to Reduce or Avoid Probate

Living Trust

Assets in a living trust bypass probate entirely

Joint Ownership

Property with survivorship rights transfers automatically

Beneficiary Designations

Life insurance, retirement accounts transfer directly

Payable-on-Death Accounts

Bank accounts with POD/TOD designations

Small Estate Affidavit

Simplified process for smaller estates

Mediation

Resolve disputes without costly litigation

Frequently Asked Questions

Probate is the legal process of validating a will and administering a deceased person's estate. It involves proving the will is valid, inventorying assets, paying debts and taxes, and distributing remaining assets to beneficiaries. The process is supervised by a probate court.
Probate costs typically range from 3-7% of the estate's value, including attorney fees (often 2-4% of estate value), court filing fees ($200-$1,000+), executor fees (0-5% depending on state), appraisal costs, and miscellaneous expenses. Simple estates cost less; contested estates cost significantly more.
Simple probate cases take 6-9 months. Average estates take 9-18 months. Complex or contested estates can take 2-5 years. Factors affecting timeline include estate complexity, state laws, creditor claim periods, tax issues, and family disputes.
Assets that bypass probate include: jointly held property with survivorship rights, assets with designated beneficiaries (life insurance, retirement accounts), property in living trusts, payable-on-death bank accounts, and transfer-on-death securities.
While not legally required in most states, an attorney is highly recommended for all but the simplest estates. Attorney fees are usually paid from the estate. Complex estates, family disputes, or business interests make legal help essential.
If someone dies without a will (intestate), state intestacy laws determine asset distribution. This typically means: spouse receives a share, then children, then parents, then siblings. The court appoints an administrator instead of an executor. This process often takes longer and costs more.

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Helpful Articles

Understanding the Probate ProcessHow to Avoid Probate