California Probate Fee Calculator

Curious what probate might cost in California? Enter the estate’s value below to get an instant estimate of the statutory attorney and executor fees under California law.

California Probate Fee Calculator

Estimate the statutory attorney and executor fees for a California probate based on estate value.

Gross Estate Value

Please enter a valid estate value greater than $0.

Include the personal representative’s (executor/administrator’s) statutory commission — California law entitles them to the same fee as the attorney, unless waived.

Attorney’s Statutory Fee $0

Executor/Administrator’s Statutory Fee $0

Estate value exceeds $25,000,000. Fees on the amount above $25,000,000 are set by the court and are not included in the estimate below.

Total Estimated Statutory Fees $0

This calculator provides a general estimate of ordinary statutory fees under California Probate Code §§ 10800 & 10810 for educational purposes only — it is not legal advice and is not a substitute for consulting an attorney. It does not include extraordinary fees (e.g., sale of real property, will contests, tax return preparation), court filing fees, appraisal fees, or other administration costs, which are billed separately and require court approval.

Schedule a Free Consultation →

How California Calculates Probate Fees

When a probate estate is administered in California, both the estate’s attorney and the personal representative (executor or administrator) are entitled to statutory compensation set by Probate Code § 10810 (attorney) and Probate Code § 10800 (personal representative). The fee is calculated as a sliding percentage of the estate’s gross value — it does not account for debts or the mortgage on real property.

Both the attorney and the personal representative are entitled to the same statutory amount, so most probates carry two statutory fees unless the personal representative waives their commission.

Statutory Fee Schedule

Estate Value	Fee Rate
First $100,000	4%
Next $100,000	3%
Next $800,000	2%
Next $9,000,000	1%
Next $15,000,000	0.5%
Above $25,000,000	Set by the court

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this estimate include all probate costs?

No. It covers only the ordinary statutory fees for the attorney and personal representative. Court filing fees (typically $435–$450+), probate referee/appraisal fees, publication costs, and any extraordinary fees for unusual work (selling real estate, contested claims, tax matters) are billed separately and require court approval.

Is the fee based on the estate’s equity or its full value?

Statutory probate fees are based on the estate’s gross fair market value at the time of the decedent’s death — mortgages, liens, and other debts are not subtracted before the fee is calculated.

Can probate fees be avoided?

Many California families avoid probate entirely with a properly funded revocable living trust. If you’re planning ahead, a trust-based estate plan can save your heirs both the statutory fees shown above and months of court delay.