Legal & Estate

Probate & Estate Settlement Calculator

Pick the state where the decedent resided, enter the probate estate value (only assets that pass through court), and we'll estimate executor fees, attorney fees, court costs, and a typical timeline. Numbers come from each state's probate code or, where none exists, from commonly billed ranges.

State of residence

Probate estate value (USD)

Exclude life insurance, retirement w/ beneficiaries, joint tenancy, trust assets.

Estate has a valid will?

Expected complexity

What counts as "probate estate"

✓ Solely-owned real estate, bank/brokerage accounts without POD/TOD
✓ Personal property, vehicles titled only in the decedent's name
✓ Business interests without a succession/operating agreement
✗ Life insurance with named beneficiaries
✗ 401(k)/IRA with named beneficiaries
✗ Joint tenancy / tenancy by entirety
✗ Trust assets (already distributed per trust terms)

States with statutory fee schedules

California — Probate Code §10800 sets tiered % for both executor and attorney.
Florida — §733.6171 reasonable fee; many use the old statutory schedule as a guide.
Iowa — §633.198 sets a sliding scale.
Missouri — §473.340 sliding scale.
Montana — §72-3-333 sliding scale.
Wyoming — §2-7-820 sliding scale.

All other states use "reasonable compensation" based on time, skill, and outcome.

Small-estate shortcuts

Most states offer a simplified path below a value threshold:

CA — $184,500 (Prop 58 adjusted)
TX — $75,000
FL — $75,000 (no homestead)
NY — $50,000 small-estate affidavit
IL — $100,000 small-estate affidavit

Thresholds update periodically; confirm with the local probate court.

Deep dive

Read the state-by-state walkthrough

13-minute guide with the 50-state landscape, fee schedules, and how to legally minimize probate cost.

Read guide