50 states and DC

Probate Guides by State

Each state sets its own small estate limit, timeline and court fees. Pick your state to see its numbers and the steps to open a probate case.

Choose a state

Alabama

Small estate:$25,000

Timeline:6-12 months to 24 months

Courts:67 probate courts

Alaska

Small estate:$150,000

Timeline:6-12 months to 24 months

Courts:29 probate courts

Arizona

Small estate:$75,000

Timeline:4-6 months to 18 months

Courts:15 probate courts

Arkansas

Small estate:$100,000

Timeline:6-12 months to 24 months

Courts:75 probate courts

California

Small estate:$208,850

Timeline:9-12 months to 36 months

Courts:58 probate courts

Colorado

Small estate:$70,000

Timeline:6-9 months to 24 months

Courts:64 probate courts

Connecticut

Small estate:$40,000

Timeline:6-12 months to 24 months

Courts:8 probate courts

Delaware

Small estate:$30,000

Timeline:6-9 months to 18 months

Courts:3 probate courts

District of Columbia

Small estate:$40,000

Timeline:6-12 months to 24 months

Courts:1 probate court

Florida

Small estate:$150,000

Timeline:6-12 months to 24 months

Courts:67 probate courts

Georgia

Small estate:$10,000

Timeline:6-12 months to 24 months

Courts:159 probate courts

Hawaii

Small estate:$100,000

Timeline:6-12 months to 24 months

Courts:5 probate courts

Idaho

Small estate:$100,000

Timeline:6-9 months to 18 months

Courts:44 probate courts

Illinois

Small estate:$150,000

Timeline:6-12 months to 24 months

Courts:102 probate courts

Indiana

Small estate:$100,000

Timeline:6-9 months to 18 months

Courts:92 probate courts

Iowa

Small estate:$100,000

Timeline:6-12 months to 24 months

Courts:99 probate courts

Kansas

Small estate:$40,000

Timeline:6-9 months to 18 months

Courts:105 probate courts

Kentucky

Small estate:$15,000

Timeline:6-12 months to 24 months

Courts:120 probate courts

Louisiana

Small estate:$75,000

Timeline:6-12 months to 24 months

Courts:64 probate courts

Maine

Small estate:$40,000

Timeline:6-12 months to 18 months

Courts:16 probate courts

Maryland

Small estate:$50,000

Timeline:6-12 months to 18 months

Courts:24 probate courts

Massachusetts

Small estate:$25,000

Timeline:6-12 months to 24 months

Courts:14 probate courts

Michigan

Small estate:$25,000

Timeline:5-7 months to 24 months

Courts:83 probate courts

Minnesota

Small estate:$75,000

Timeline:6-9 months to 18 months

Courts:87 probate courts

Mississippi

Small estate:$50,000

Timeline:6-12 months to 24 months

Courts:82 probate courts

Missouri

Small estate:$40,000

Timeline:6-12 months to 24 months

Courts:115 probate courts

Montana

Small estate:$50,000

Timeline:6-12 months to 18 months

Courts:56 probate courts

Nebraska

Small estate:$50,000

Timeline:6-12 months to 24 months

Courts:93 probate courts

Nevada

Small estate:$100,000

Timeline:6-12 months to 18 months

Courts:17 probate courts

New Hampshire

Small estate:$10,000

Timeline:6-12 months to 18 months

Courts:10 probate courts

New Jersey

Small estate:$20,000 ($50,000 spouse/partner)

Timeline:6-9 months to 24 months

Courts:21 probate courts

New Mexico

Small estate:$50,000

Timeline:6-12 months to 18 months

Courts:33 probate courts

New York

Small estate:$50,000

Timeline:7-9 months to 24 months

Courts:62 probate courts

North Carolina

Small estate:$20,000 ($30,000 spouse sole heir)

Timeline:6-12 months to 24 months

Courts:100 probate courts

North Dakota

Small estate:$50,000

Timeline:6-12 months to 18 months

Courts:53 probate courts

Ohio

Small estate:$35,000 ($100,000 if all to spouse)

Timeline:6-9 months to 24 months

Courts:88 probate courts

Oklahoma

Small estate:$50,000

Timeline:6-12 months to 24 months

Courts:77 probate courts

Oregon

Small estate:$275,000

Timeline:6-12 months to 18 months

Courts:36 probate courts

Pennsylvania

Small estate:$50,000

Timeline:6-12 months to 24 months

Courts:67 probate courts

Rhode Island

Small estate:$15,000

Timeline:6-12 months to 18 months

Courts:5 probate courts

South Carolina

Small estate:$45,000

Timeline:6-12 months to 24 months

Courts:46 probate courts

South Dakota

Small estate:$50,000

Timeline:6-12 months to 18 months

Courts:66 probate courts

Tennessee

Small estate:$25,000

Timeline:6-12 months to 24 months

Courts:95 probate courts

Texas

Small estate:$75,000

Timeline:6-9 months to 24 months

Courts:254 probate courts

Utah

Small estate:$100,000

Timeline:6-12 months to 18 months

Courts:29 probate courts

Vermont

Small estate:$10,000

Timeline:6-12 months to 18 months

Courts:14 probate courts

Virginia

Small estate:$75,000

Timeline:6-12 months to 24 months

Courts:134 probate courts

Washington

Small estate:$100,000

Timeline:4-6 months to 24 months

Courts:39 probate courts

West Virginia

Small estate:$100,000

Timeline:6-12 months to 18 months

Courts:55 probate courts

Wisconsin

Small estate:$50,000

Timeline:6-12 months to 18 months

Courts:72 probate courts

Wyoming

Small estate:$200,000

Timeline:6-12 months to 18 months

Courts:23 probate courts

County courts

Find the court in your county

Each county page lists the probate court's address, phone number and hours, and its filing fees and forms where we have them.