Probate Court Fees Compared Across States
Court fees for opening an estate come in four shapes: a flat fee, a fee by value bracket, a percentage of the inventory, or a base fee plus so much per $100.
Fee for a $100,000 and a $500,000 estate
| State | $100,000 | $500,000 | Schedule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $149 | $149 | A.R.S. § 12-284(A) |
| Florida | $395 | $395 | Fla. Stat. § 28.2401(1) |
| Iowa | $200 | $1,000 | Iowa Code § 633.31 |
| Maryland | $200 | $1,000 | Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-206(b)(2) |
| Massachusetts | $390 | $390 | Probate and Family Court fee table (mass.gov) |
| Michigan | $150 | $150 | MCL 600.880 |
| Nevada | $72 | $72 | NRS 19.013(1) |
| New York | $420 | $1,250 | N.Y. Surr. Ct. Proc. Act § 2402 |
| North Carolina | $506 | $2,106 | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-307 |
| Ohio | Itemised | Itemised | Ohio Rev. Code § 2101.16 |
| Oregon | $591 | $591 | ORS 21.170(1) |
| Virginia | $25 | $30 | Va. Code § 17.1-275(A)(3) |
| Washington | $250 | $250 | RCW 36.18.020(2)(f) and (6) |
Worked examples
- North Carolina, $250,000 of personal property: $106 + 40¢ per $100 ($1,000) = $1,106 (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-307).
- Maryland, $75,000 probate estate: $100; a $40,000 estate pays $0 (Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 2-206(b)(2)).
- Iowa, $300,000 of probate assets: 0.2% of $300,000 = $600 (Iowa Code § 633.31).
The small-estate saving
Where a small-estate route applies, the court charge is usually far lower or nil — an affidavit handed to a bank costs no court fee at all. Compare the small estate limits before opening full probate.
Sources
Each schedule is linked on its state fee page, checked 2026-10-20. States without a readable schedule are listed on the fees hub and the methodology page.
Questions
How much does it cost to open probate?
The court's own fee ranges widely by state, from nothing in some value brackets to over a thousand dollars for large estates under value-based schedules. Publication, copies and bonds are extra.
Can probate court fees be waived?
Most courts waive or reduce fees for people who cannot pay; ask the clerk for the fee waiver form.