Probate Timeline Calculator

Estimate expected probate duration and costs based on estate complexity.

Legal Disclaimer

This calculator provides general estimates only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws, regulations, and court procedures vary significantly by jurisdiction. Consult a licensed attorney in your area for advice specific to your situation.

Inputs

Estate Value

Number of Beneficiaries

Has Valid Will (1=Yes, 0=No)

Is Contested (1=Yes, 0=No)

Includes Real Estate (1=Yes, 0=No)

State Complexity (1=Simple, 2=Moderate, 3=Complex)

Tab to move between fields

Results

Estimated Duration

8 months

Estimated Total Cost

$30,000.00

≈ 15 gaming PCs

Court Filing Fees$500.00

How to Use This Calculator

Enter Estate Value and Number of Beneficiaries.
Indicate if there is a Valid Will and if the estate Is Contested.
Toggle Has Real Estate and set State Complexity (simplified vs. formal probate).
Review Estimated Duration in months — small estates with simplified procedures can close in 2–4 months.
Check Estimated Total Cost — probate fees typically run 3–8% of gross estate value.
Assets with named beneficiaries (IRAs, life insurance, TOD accounts) pass outside probate automatically.

How the result changes with Estate Value

Estate Value	Estimated Duration	Estimated Total Cost
$5,000,000.00	11 months	$150,000.00
$17,500,000.00	14 months	$525,000.00
$32,500,000.00	14 months	$975,000.00
$45,000,000.00	14 months	$1,350,000.00

What each input means

Estate Value: Total value of the probate estate.
Number of Beneficiaries: Number of estate beneficiaries.
Has Valid Will (1=Yes, 0=No): Whether the decedent left a valid will.
Is Contested (1=Yes, 0=No): Whether the estate is being contested.
Includes Real Estate (1=Yes, 0=No): Whether the estate includes real property.
State Complexity (1=Simple, 2=Moderate, 3=Complex): How complex is probate in your state? 1=Simplified process, 3=Formal probate required.

How this is calculated

Worked example, using the default values

Identify Input Parameters
4 parameters
Estate Value = 1000000, Number of Beneficiaries = 3, Has Valid Will (1=Yes, 0=No) = 1, Is Contested (1=Yes, 0=No) = 0 = 6 input(s) provided
Calculate Estimated Duration
Estimated Duration
8 = 8
Calculate Estimated Total Cost
Estimated Total Cost
30000 = $30,000
Calculate Court Filing Fees
Court Filing Fees
500 = $500