Estate & Probate Cost Calculator

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does probate cost?

Probate typically costs 3-7% of the gross estate. In statutory-fee states like California and Florida, attorney and executor fees are set by statute - California, for example, pays each 4% on the first $100,000, scaling down to 1% above $1M. Court fees, appraisals, and bonds add 1-2% more.

How long does probate take?

A simple, uncontested probate usually takes 6-12 months. Complex estates with real estate in multiple states, business interests, or contested wills can take 2-5 years. Small-estate procedures (often available for estates under $50,000-$184,500 depending on the state) can resolve in weeks.

Are estate taxes a real concern?

For most families, no - the federal estate tax exemption is $13.61M per person in 2024 (set to drop to roughly $7M in 2026 absent legislation). Several states (e.g., Massachusetts, Oregon, Washington, New York) have much lower thresholds, sometimes $1M-$2M. Inheritance taxes (Pennsylvania, Iowa, Kentucky, others) apply to recipients.

How can I reduce probate costs?

Use a revocable living trust, name beneficiaries on retirement accounts and life insurance, hold accounts as joint tenants with right of survivorship or with TOD/POD designations, and use small-estate affidavits where eligible. Up-front planning of $1,500-$5,000 commonly saves 10-20x that in probate fees.

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This calculator provides information for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and individual circumstances. Do not rely on this tool for legal decisions. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for legal advice.

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How This Calculator Works

This tool layers the two distinct costs that shrink an estate before heirs receive anything: death taxes and administration costs. On the tax side it applies the simplified 2026 federal estate-tax model - a ~$13.99M lifetime exemption with a flat 40% rate on the taxable amount above it - then adds a separate state estate tax computed as your state rate × the taxable estate. On the administration side it sums attorney fees (hourly rate × estimated hours), a fixed allowance for court costs, filing fees and appraisals (roughly $7,000 combined), and executor or trustee compensation modeled at 3% of the gross estate. Total taxes plus total administration are subtracted from the estate to show the net passing to beneficiaries, alongside a 12–24 month timeline scaled to attorney hours.

What Probate Actually Costs

For estates that are not subject to federal tax - the vast majority, since under 0.1% of estates exceed the exemption - administration is the real expense. All-in probate frequently runs 3–8% of the gross estate. A $500,000 estate often loses $15,000–$40,000 to attorney fees, executor commissions, appraisals, bond premiums, and publication costs. Some states still permit statutory percentage attorney fees (for example a tiered schedule on the gross estate rather than the net), which can dramatically inflate the bill on a home-heavy estate with a large mortgage.

State Variation Is Enormous

State estate or inheritance tax: only a minority of states impose one; thresholds and rates differ widely, and a few states tax inheritances received by non-spouse, non-lineal heirs separately from the estate itself.

Executor compensation: some states set a statutory percentage, others require "reasonable" fees - the 3% model here is a midpoint, not a rule.

Court and filing fees: vary by county and by estate size; the fixed figures used here are national-average placeholders.

Small-estate procedures: many states allow affidavit or summary administration below a dollar threshold, bypassing most of these costs entirely.

How to Reduce the Bill

The single largest lever is keeping assets out of probate: a funded revocable living trust, payable-on-death and transfer-on-death designations, joint titling with right of survivorship, and up-to-date beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and life insurance all pass outside the probate estate. Each dollar that avoids probate avoids the percentage-based administration drag this calculator models. Estates approaching the federal exemption should also model lifetime gifting and credit-shelter or marital-trust planning, which this tool does not capture.

Common Mistakes

Confusing the gross estate (what executor fees often apply to) with the net estate after debts - a heavily mortgaged property inflates fees without inflating wealth.

Assuming "I have a will" avoids probate - a will is a probate document; only non-probate transfers skip the process.

Ignoring the time cost: heirs typically wait many months for distribution, during which assets may be illiquid.

Treating these figures as exact - they are planning estimates only. Estate tax law, exemption amounts, and state rules change frequently; confirm current numbers and consult a qualified estate attorney for your situation.

Estate & Probate Cost Calculator

Frequently Asked Questions

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