Probate cost calculator
Probate on a $500,000 estate in California costs about $26,435 in court and legal fees. An online living trust costs from $149, once.
California's small estate limit is $208,850. Above it, the estate usually goes through probate.
- Court fee to open probate source$435
- Attorney fee sourceSet by state law$13,000
- Executor fee sourceSet by state law$13,000
Probate total$26,435
- Quicken WillMaker & Trust Plus sourceOne-time price for one person$149
- Yearly feeoptional yearly renewal$40
- Moving a home into the trustSet by your county recordercounty recording fee
Trust total$149+
Assets left outside the trust can still need probate.
What this counts
The court fee to open probate, plus attorney and executor fees where state law sets them. Where the law sets no attorney fee, lawyers charge by the hour or a flat fee. Enter a quote to include it. Executors who are family often waive their fee.
A living trust avoids probate only for assets you move into it. The trust price is a one-time online plan for one person. Compare will and trust costs.
Probate rules by state
Estates under the small estate limit can often skip full probate. Fee types come from each state's law.
| State | Small estate limit | Court fee ($300k estate) | Attorney fee | Executor fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $47,000 | varies by county | No legal schedule | Legal maximum |
| Alaska | $50,000 | $250 | not confirmed | not confirmed |
| Arizona | $200,000 | varies by county | No legal schedule | No legal schedule |
| Arkansas | $100,000 | not confirmed | Set by state law | Legal maximum |
| California | $208,850 | $435 | Set by state law | Set by state law |
| Colorado | $88,000 | $229 | No legal schedule | No legal schedule |
| Connecticut | $40,000 | $1,165 | No legal schedule | No legal schedule |
| Delaware | $50,000 | varies by county | not confirmed | not confirmed |
| District of Columbia | $80,000 | $575 | No legal schedule | No legal schedule |
| Florida | not confirmed | $399 | State law presumes this fee is reasonable | State law presumes this fee is reasonable |
| Georgia | not confirmed | varies by county | No legal schedule | Set by state law |
| Hawaii | $100,000 | $215 | No legal schedule | No legal schedule |
| Idaho | $100,000 | $166 | No legal schedule | No legal schedule |
| Illinois | $150,000 | varies by county | No legal schedule | No legal schedule |
| Indiana | $100,000 | $177 | No legal schedule | No legal schedule |
| Iowa | $50,000 | $600 | Legal maximum | Legal maximum |
| Kansas | $75,000 | $110 | No legal schedule | No legal schedule |
| Kentucky | $30,000 | not confirmed | No legal schedule | Legal maximum |
| Louisiana | $200,000 | varies by county | No legal schedule | Set by state law |
| Maine | $52,500 | $500 | No legal schedule | No legal schedule |
| Maryland | $50,000 | $200 | No legal schedule | Legal maximum |
| Massachusetts | $25,000 | $390 | No legal schedule | No legal schedule |
| Michigan | $53,000 | $763 | No legal schedule | No legal schedule |
| Minnesota | $75,000 | varies by county | No legal schedule | No legal schedule |
| Mississippi | $75,000 | varies by county | No legal schedule | No legal schedule |
| Missouri | $40,000 | $365 | Legal minimum | Legal minimum |
| Montana | $100,000 | $70 | No legal schedule | No legal schedule |
| Nebraska | $100,000 | $22 | No legal schedule | No legal schedule |
| Nevada | $25,000 | varies by county | Allowed by law; lawyers may bill hourly instead | Set by state law |
| New Hampshire | not confirmed | $305 | No legal schedule | No legal schedule |
| New Jersey | $50,000 | $100 | No legal schedule | Set by state law |
| New Mexico | $50,000 | $30 | No legal schedule | No legal schedule |
| New York | $50,000 | $625 | No legal schedule | Set by state law |
| North Carolina | $20,000 | $1,320 | No legal schedule | Legal maximum |
| North Dakota | $100,000 | not confirmed | No legal schedule | No legal schedule |
| Ohio | $35,000 | varies by county | No legal schedule | Set by state law |
| Oklahoma | $50,000 | not confirmed | No legal schedule | Set by state law |
| Oregon | $75,000 | $591 | No legal schedule | Set by state law |
| Pennsylvania | $50,000 | varies by county | No legal schedule | No legal schedule |
| Rhode Island | $15,000 | varies by county | No legal schedule | No legal schedule |
| South Carolina | $45,000 | $395 | No legal schedule | Legal maximum |
| South Dakota | $100,000 | $115 | No legal schedule | Set by state law |
| Tennessee | $50,000 | varies by county | not confirmed | not confirmed |
| Texas | $75,000 | varies by county | No legal schedule | Legal maximum |
| Utah | $100,000 | $375 | No legal schedule | No legal schedule |
| Vermont | not confirmed | $500 | not confirmed | not confirmed |
| Virginia | $75,000 | varies by county | No legal schedule | No legal schedule |
| Washington | $100,000 | $290 | No legal schedule | No legal schedule |
| West Virginia | $50,000 | varies by county | No legal schedule | Set by state law |
| Wisconsin | $50,000 | $600 | not confirmed | Set by state law |
| Wyoming | $400,000 | $310 | Set by state law | Set by state law |
General information from official state sources, not legal advice. Checked Oct 10, 2026.