Estate Planning · Probate

Net Estate Value and
Probate Exposure

Most people's estates split into two very different pools: assets that pass by beneficiary designation or joint titling and never touch a courtroom, and assets that go through probate. This sizes both, and puts an approximate range on what probate administration would cost on the probate half.

Data: 2026 (probate cost ranges are practice approximations, not statutory schedules)

Assets by Titling STEP 1

Real property

Solely owned real property ($) Titled in your name alone, no transfer on death deed.

Mortgage and liens on that property ($)

Real property held jointly with right of survivorship ($) Passes outside probate.

Financial accounts

Bank and brokerage, sole name, no beneficiary ($) Probate assets.

Bank and brokerage with payable or transfer on death ($) Non-probate.

Retirement accounts with a named beneficiary ($) Non-probate.

Retirement accounts, no beneficiary or estate as beneficiary ($) Probate.

Insurance, trust, business, and other property

Life insurance death benefit, named beneficiary ($) Non-probate, though still in the taxable estate if you own the policy.

Life insurance payable to the estate ($) Probate.

Assets held in a revocable living trust ($) Non-probate.

Business interests, sole name ($) Probate unless a buy-sell or trust transfer applies.

Vehicles, personal property, collectibles ($) Probate unless titled otherwise.

Other non-probate transfers ($)

Liabilities and Administration STEP 2

Unsecured debts ($) Cards, personal loans, medical.

Final expenses and funeral ($)

Filing status, for the exemption pointer only Compares gross estate to the federal transfer tax exemption. AL-178 carries the tax computation.

State Informational context only. Probate cost is user-set below; no per-state fee table is built into this tool, so state selection does not change the math.

Probate cost band Typical uses the percentages entered below as-is. Low and High scale them down or up by 30 percent.

Probate cost, low percent (%) Applied to the gross probate estate. Practice approximation, overridable.

Probate cost, high percent (%)

Fixed probate cost floor ($) Court fees and publication, applied even on small estates.

Small estate affidavit threshold ($) Below this many states allow a simplified process. Highly state-specific.

Estimated months to close probate, low

Estimated months to close probate, high

This is an illustrative estimate, not legal or tax advice. Estate outcomes depend on state law, titling, and beneficiary designations. Consult an estate attorney.

Probate costs vary widely by state, by county, and by whether the estate is contested. Some states set attorney and executor fees by statute, most do not. Treat the figures below as an approximate range only.

Estimated Probate Cost Range

Always a range, never a single figure

Estimated Net to Heirs

Probate half after costs, plus the full non-probate pool

Share of Estate Exposed to Probate

Probate gross over gross estate

Detail

Gross estate--

Probate estate, gross--

Non-probate transfers--

Debts and final expenses--

Net probate estate--

Cost drag on the full estate--

Estimated months to close--

Designation-addressable value--

Small estate threshold met--

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Net Estate Value andProbate Exposure

Net Estate Value and
Probate Exposure