The figures on this page are general estimates. Laws, fees, thresholds, and prices differ by state and change often, and your own situation may change the result. Before you act, confirm the current numbers and rules for California with a licensed professional — an attorney, tax advisor, or licensed agent as appropriate. Reading this page does not create a professional relationship.
This page is built to print. Use your browser's Print command and choose "Save as PDF" for a one-page California reference. Every figure below is compiled from the statutes and state authorities listed at the bottom — the same sources cited on our California probate pages.
California probate fees
| Item | California |
|---|---|
| Court filing fee | Roughly $435 per petition. A probate case usually involves more than one filing. |
| Attorney fees | Statutory under Cal. Prob. Code §10810: 4% of first $100,000, 3% of next $100,000, 2% of next $800,000, 1% of next $9M, 0.5% of next $15M. |
| Executor / personal representative fees | Same schedule as the attorney, under Cal. Prob. Code §10800. Both fees apply separately, so total ordinary fees are roughly double the schedule. |
| Fee basis | statutory |
| Appraisal / referee | California appoints a referee to appraise assets, typically charging about 0.1% of appraised value. |
Worked example
On a $500,000 California estate, the statutory executor commission is $13,000 (4% of $100k + 3% of $100k + 2% of $300k). The estate's attorney is entitled to the same $13,000 separately under §10810 — so statutory fees alone total about $26,000.
California thresholds and deadlines
| Item | California |
|---|---|
| Small-estate threshold | $208,850 for deaths between April 1, 2025 and March 31, 2026; rises to $239,700 for deaths on or after April 1, 2026. |
| Creditor claim period | Four months after letters are first issued to the personal representative (or 60 days after notice is mailed to a specific known creditor, whichever is later), under Cal. Prob. Code §9100. |
| Typical duration | 9 to 18 months for a routine case; longer in backed-up counties. |
| Simplified real-property transfer | Primary residence valued up to $750,000 may transfer through a simplified petition (AB 2016). |
| Transfer-on-death deed | California allows a Revocable Transfer on Death Deed (RTODD) for residential real estate under Cal. Prob. Code §5600 et seq. Owners can record a TOD deed naming a beneficiary; the property transfers to the beneficiary at death without probate. |
What passes outside California probate
These transfers are not part of the estate the fees above are calculated on:
- Beneficiary designations — retirement accounts, life insurance, payable-on-death accounts.
- Joint ownership with right of survivorship.
- Transfer-on-death deed — California allows a Revocable Transfer on Death Deed (RTODD) for residential real estate under Cal. Prob. Code §5600 et seq. Owners can record a TOD deed naming a beneficiary; the property transfers to the beneficiary at death without probate.
- Assets titled into a funded living trust.
Sources for this sheet
- Statutes: Cal. Prob. Code §10800; Cal. Prob. Code §10810; Cal. Prob. Code §13100; Cal. Prob. Code §13150–13158; Cal. Prob. Code §9100; Assembly Bill 2016
- State authority: California Courts Self-Help Center (courts.ca.gov)
- Attorney fees: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=10810&lawCode=PROB
- Executor fees: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=10800&lawCode=PROB
- Small-estate procedure: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=13100&lawCode=PROB
- Simplified real-property transfer: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB2016
Compiled August 15, 2026 from the sources listed above. Fee schedules, thresholds, and court costs are amended by legislatures and courts — confirm each figure against the cited statute or the California court before relying on it.
The full California guides
- How Much Does Probate Cost in California? — the full cost breakdown.
- How Much Does an Executor Get Paid in California? — the fee rule in detail.
- How Long Does Probate Take in California? — the timeline and its statutory floor.
- Executor Deadlines in California — inventory deadline, creditor-claim period and outer bar, each quoted from the statute.
- How to Avoid Probate in California — the transfers that pass outside it.
- How Much Does a Will Cost in California? — execution requirements and pricing.
Fee sheets for other states
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This sheet sets out California probate figures as published at the time of compilation. It is not legal advice. Figures and statutes change and their application depends on the specific estate. Confirm current figures with the California courts or a licensed California attorney.