California Probate Costs and Fees

What Will an Attorney Charge for Probate in California?

The fee an attorney is allowed to charge in probate can be quite high. Often the fee falls dramatically short of being justified compared to the amount of work actually done. In most probate cases, there is no trial and little to no court appearances. Fees are primarily paid to cover the paperwork services the attorney performs (which is usually done by the attorney’s paralegal). Unfortunately, many people are shocked to discover just how expensive probate really is! Between filing and hearing fees and statutory attorneys fees, the cost of probate can easily rise to tens of thousands of dollars. Further, many people also fail to realize that the size of the estate under review has a direct effect on probate cost! In fact, estate size is the number one determinant of probate cost when using an attorney. Use our convenient probate calculator to find out what the statutory attorney’s fees would be in a particular case. Our calculator will not only show you the attorney fees costs to probate in California but also how much the estate will save using our non-attorney probate services.

Types of Fees in Probate

Probate is so expensive due to a plethora of court-mandated fees. For example, executors are responsible for ensuring the estate pays the following:

• initial filing fee ($435 in most California counties)
• final distribution filing fee ($435 in most California counties)
• court reporter hearing fee (typically $30)
• newspaper publication fee ($180-700)
• referee appraisal (0.1% of non-cash assets)
• third-party costs (approx. $1200-1800)
• statutory attorneys’ fees (ranges)

Unfortunately, some of these fees are unavoidable. However, executors can avoid some probate costs, either by self-representation or by avoiding probate altogether!

Avoidable Probate Costs

1. Attorneys’ Fees

Believe it or not, attorneys’ fees account for a huge percentage of the probate cost in California. In fact, California probate attorneys get paid both statutory and extraordinary fees.

When it comes to statutory fees, California laws outline exactly how much probate attorneys can charge. More specifically, probate lawyers are entitled to 4% of the first $100,000 of the estate’s value, 3% of the next $100,000, 2% of the next $800,000, and 1% for amounts over $1 million. Thus, the larger the estate, the higher the attorneys’ fees. Not to mention, a lawyer may also charge extraordinary fees based on the value of the estate, time spent performing extraordinary tasks, and the outcomes of those tasks. Therefore, estates and heirs benefit greatly from avoiding these fees altogether… but how exactly is that possible?

Probate Without a Lawyer

Luckily, successful probate without a lawyer is possible! While representing oneself in a probate case is not always the easiest task, there are endless free resources available to help executors through the process. For example, A People’s Choice’s California law blog is full of information on probating estates. Plus, local law libraries have guides for the probate process and self-representation in court! Finally, local probate courts provide information on local rules and court-specific documents.

That said, if you decide to represent yourself in a probate case, there are other options for legal document assistance! Specifically, registered legal document assistants such as A People’s Choice are here to help you complete and file your legal forms from start to finish. Plus, A People’s Choice offers a range of services, from simple document assistance to full-service help throughout the entire probate.

While we are not lawyers and cannot provide legal advice, A People’s Choice can help you ensure you are accurately completing the necessary forms to settle your loved one’s estate. Not to mention, we can keep probate cost down by saving you thousands compared to what you would spend on an attorney.

2. Courts’ Fees

Between filing, hearings, and other miscellaneous fees, repeated interactions with the court makes probate that much more expensive. However, not every estate requires a full probate. In fact, some estates are eligible to have assets distributed to beneficiaries under California’s simplified probate procedures.

Specifically, certain small estates are eligible for transfer by affidavit. Plus, others are transferable via a spousal property petition. While utilizing these simplified procedures will not save executors from paying all court fees, it will lessen the load quite a bit!

Small Estate Affidavits in California

Below is a quick description of California’s quick probate procedures for small estates in California.

• Real and personal property worth $20,000 or less – Successors can ask the court to “set aside” the estate.
• Real property worth $55,425 or less – Successors can file an Affidavit Re: Real Property of Small Value and provide an inventory and appraisal of the real property.
• Real and personal property worth $166,250 or less – Successors can collect the property and distribute it to the heirs with the Affidavit for Collection or Transfer of Personal Property.

Be sure to read up on the specific processes and requirements for each of these and other small estate procedures in California.

Spousal Property Transfer Petition

Finally, individuals with decedent spouses can file a Spousal Property Petition to transfer property without a full probate proceeding. While there will be a court hearing, this process is much simpler than probate. Spouses must simply fill out and file the petition along with their spouse’s will and a copy of any agreement (if applicable). Then, before the hearing, spouses must serve necessary parties and file an Order for a Spousal Property Petition. Feel free to contact A People’s Choice for more help with this process.

Costs to Probate in California with Attorney vs Non-Attorney

The costs comparison of using the services of a non-attorney vs an attorney to assist with the probate process might surprise you. Below are two comparison scenarios:

As you can see, the costs to probate in California can vary dramatically depending on which service you choose to help you through the process. Unless family members and creditors are fighting over assets, an attorney is not necessary to probate an estate. As mentioned above, probate is largely a matter of paperwork. At A People’s Choice, we can help you complete and file the forms with the appropriate court. You do not have to hire an attorney to probate an estate in California! An executor or administrator can charge the above referenced statutory fee as well. Note, the executor may not necessarily be the attorney. The estate’s appointed executor can retain an attorney to assist in probating the estate. This means the attorney and executor can both receive a statutory fee as reflected above.

Other Expected Costs to Probate in California

Other costs to probate in California include newspaper publication fees and the probate appraiser fee. The newspaper publication fee is somewhat consistent, ranging typically from $200 to $700, depending on the newspaper that handles publishing the probate notice. On the other hand, the probate appraiser, is allowed to charge 0.1% of the gross value of the appraised property.  Assets of $500,000 would demand a probate referee fee of $500 plus mileage and miscellaneous copying costs.

Of course, there are also court filing fees as well. In a full probate proceeding, there are at least two Petitions that must be filed, both of which trigger the payment of a court filing fee. The current court filing fee for the Petition to Probate is $435. Another filing fee of $435 must be paid with the Petition for Final Distribution. In addition, most courts also charge a court reporter fee of $30 with each Petition.  There are also other costs of probate associated with obtaining certified copies of Letters and recording the Order, but these are nominal and do not usually exceed $100.

As you can see, fees and costs to probate in California can quickly add up and completing probate in California can be a long process. Estates over $166,250 can take up to a year to settle. On the other hand, you can usually complete a small estate probate in 2-3 months. No matter whether your estate is large or small, hiring A People’s Choice allows you to avoid paying statutory attorneys fees. As a result, using a professional legal document assistant for probate, you will save thousands of dollars in probate costs. Contact us for more information on how to save money when probating your loved one’s estate.

Avoid High California Probate Costs and Fees With A People’s Choice

A People’s Choice has been in business since 1980 and has successfully helped thousands of people just like you. Consequently, your probate will be in good hands. Contact A People’s Choice to prepare your documents so that the probate of your family member’s estate can go by quickly and painlessly, whether it is full probate or simplified probate. Call us today at 800-747-2780.
When it comes to estates, it’s best to prepare as early as possible to avoid high California probate costs and fees. When you and your family think ahead about planning your estate, your heirs will have less complications and lower fees to face upon your death.

To plan your estate in the simplest, quickest way possible, contact A People’s Choice today. If you need help probating a will in California, A People’s Choice can cut down on your probate costs and save you thousands of dollars in California probate costs and fees. Plus, we can help you create a trust to avoid asking your heirs and beneficiaries to probate your estate after your death.

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