Probate Cost Estimator

ANALife Services AuthorityNational Calculator Authority›Probate Cost Estimator

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Probate Cost Estimator

Estimate the total cost of probating an estate including court filing fees, attorney fees, executor compensation, appraisal fees, and miscellaneous expenses. Results are estimates only and vary by state and complexity.

Gross Estate Value ($)

State

General / Other State California Florida New York Texas Illinois Pennsylvania Ohio

Estate Complexity

Simple (few assets, no disputes) Moderate (multiple assets, minor issues) Complex (disputes, business interests, litigation)

Attorney Fee Structure

Statutory / Percentage-Based Hourly Rate Flat Fee

Attorney Hourly Rate ($/hr)

Estimated Attorney Hours

Flat Attorney Fee ($)

Executor Fee Structure

Statutory / Percentage-Based Waived (family member) Professional Executor (higher rate)

Real Property Appraisal Needed?

Yes No

Number of Real Properties

Surety Bond Required?

Yes No

Formal Accounting Required?

Yes No

Calculate Probate Costs

function proShowHideFields() { var atType = document.getElementById('pro-attorney-type').value; document.getElementById('pro-hourly-row').style.display = (atType === 'hourly') ? '' : 'none'; document.getElementById('pro-hours-row').style.display = (atType === 'hourly') ? '' : 'none'; document.getElementById('pro-flat-row').style.display = (atType === 'flat') ? '' : 'none'; } document.getElementById('pro-attorney-type').addEventListener('change', proShowHideFields);

function proGetCourtFee(estateValue, state) { // Court filing fees by state (approximate 2024 schedules) // Most states use a tiered flat fee or small percentage if (state === 'CA') { // CA Probate Code §70670 – filing fee schedule if (estateValue 0) fee += Math.min(estateValue, 100000) * 0.04; if (estateValue > 100000) fee += Math.min(estateValue - 100000, 100000) * 0.03; if (estateValue > 200000) fee += Math.min(estateValue - 200000, 700000) * 0.02; if (estateValue > 900000) fee += Math.min(estateValue - 900000, 9100000) * 0.01; if (estateValue > 10000000) fee += (estateValue - 10000000) * 0.005; return fee; } // FL §733.6171 – attorney reasonable compensation (percentage guideline) if (state === 'FL') { var fee = 0; if (estateValue > 0) fee += Math.min(estateValue, 1000000) * 0.03; if (estateValue > 1000000) fee += Math.min(estateValue - 1000000, 2000000) * 0.025; if (estateValue > 3000000) fee += (estateValue - 3000000) * 0.02; return Math.max(fee, 1500); } // NY SCPA §2307-a – attorney fee (percentage of estate) if (state === 'NY') { var fee = 0; if (estateValue > 0) fee += Math.min(estateValue, 100000) * 0.05; if (estateValue > 100000) fee += Math.min(estateValue - 100000, 200000) * 0.04; if (estateValue > 300000) fee += Math.min(estateValue - 300000, 700000) * 0.03; if (estateValue > 1000000) fee += Math.min(estateValue - 1000000, 4000000) * 0.025; if (estateValue > 5000000) fee += (estateValue - 5000000) * 0.02; return fee; } // General / other states: ~2–4% of estate value if (estateValue 0) fee += Math.min(estateValue, 100000) * 0.04; if (estateValue > 100000) fee += Math.min(estateValue - 100000, 100000) * 0.03; if (estateValue > 200000) fee += Math.min(estateValue - 200000, 700000) * 0.02; if (estateValue > 900000) fee += Math.min(estateValue - 900000, 9100000) * 0.01; if (estateValue > 10000000) fee += (estateValue - 10000000) * 0.005; return fee * multiplier; } // FL §733.617 – personal representative compensation if (state === 'FL') { var fee = 0; if (estateValue > 0) fee += Math.min(estateValue, 1000000) * 0.03; if (estateValue > 1000000) fee += Math.min(estateValue - 1000000, 2000000) * 0.025; if (estateValue > 3000000) fee += (estateValue - 3000000) * 0.02; return fee * multiplier; } // NY SCPA §2307 – executor commissions if (state === 'NY') { var fee = 0; if (estateValue > 0) fee += Math.min(estateValue, 100000) * 0.05; if (estateValue > 100000) fee += Math.min(estateValue - 100000, 200000) * 0.04; if (estateValue > 300000) fee += Math.min(estateValue - 300000, 700000) * 0.03; if (estateValue > 1000000) fee += Math.min(estateValue - 1000000, 4000000) * 0.025; if (estateValue > 5000000) fee += (estateValue - 5000000) * 0.02; return fee * multiplier; } // General: ~2–3% of estate var basePct = (estateValue ' + 'Cost ComponentEstimated Amount' + 'Court Filing Fees (' + stateLabel + ')' + proFmt(courtFee) + '' + 'Attorney Fees (' + atLabel + (complexity !== 'moderate' ? ', ' + complexityLabel + ' adj.' : '') + ')' + proFmt(adjustedAttorney) + '' + 'Executor / Personal Representative Fees (' + execLabel + ')' + proFmt(adjustedExecutor) + '' + 'Surety Bond Premium' + proFmt(bondPremium) + '' + 'Real Property Appraisal (' + nProps + ' propert' + (nProps === 1 ? 'y' : 'ies') + ')' + proFmt(appraisalFee) + '' + 'Accounting / CPA Fees' + proFmt(accountingFee) + '' + 'Miscellaneous (notices, copies, recording)' + proFmt(adjustedMisc) + '' + 'Total Estimated Probate Cost' + proFmt(totalCost) + '' + '' + 'As % of Estate: ' + pctOfEstate.toFixed(2) + '%

' + 'Estimated Range: ' + proFmt(lowEstimate) + ' – ' + proFmt(highEstimate) + '

' + 'Range reflects ±20% variability based on local market rates, judge discretion, and case-specific factors.

'; }

#### Formulas Used

Total Probate Cost = Court Filing Fee + Attorney Fee + Executor Fee + Bond Premium + Appraisal Fee + Accounting Fee + Miscellaneous Fees

Court Filing Fees: State-specific tiered schedules (e.g., CA Probate Code §70670, FL §28.241, NY SCPA §2402, PA 0.35% of estate).

Statutory Attorney Fees (CA – Probate Code §10810): 4% of first $100,000 + 3% of next $100,000 + 2% of next $700,000 + 1% of next $9,100,000 + 0.5% above $10,000,000

Statutory Attorney Fees (FL – §733.6171): 3% of first $1,000,000 + 2.5% of next $2,000,000 + 2% above $3,000,000

Statutory Attorney Fees (NY – SCPA §2307-a): 5% of first $100,000 + 4% of next $200,000 + 3% of next $700,000 + 2.5% of next $4,000,000 + 2% above $5,000,000

Executor Fees: Same statutory schedules as attorney fees per state law (CA §10800, FL §733.617, NY SCPA §2307). Professional executors: ×1.5 multiplier.

Surety Bond Premium: max($250, Estate Value × 0.7%)

Appraisal Fee: Number of Properties × $550 (average per property)

Accounting Fee: max($500, Estate Value × 0.4%)

Miscellaneous: Base ($500–$2,500 by complexity) + Estate Value × 0.1%

Complexity Multiplier applied to statutory attorney and executor fees: Simple = 0.75×, Moderate = 1.0×, Complex = 1.5×

% of Estate: Total Cost ÷ Gross Estate Value × 100

#### Assumptions & References

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References