How Much Does Probate Cost?

The filing fee for the petition to appoint the fiduciary is $34.

The advertising fee for a notice of filing the petition requesting that the fiduciary be appointed when there are no waivers of advertising is approximately $25, depending on the city or town.

The advertising fee for creditors posted after the fiduciary is appointed is approximately $25, depending on the city or town.

The cost of the bond filed by an executor is typically $0 because most Wills waive the requirement that the bond be insured (surety).

The cost of the bond filed by an administrator of an intestate estate can range from $200 to $800, depending on the value of the probate assets if the court requires surety on the bond. (This is one of the many reasons why it is better to have a Will than not.)

There is a fee paid to the probate court at the time the estate inventory is filed. The fee is 1% of the personal property shown on the inventory. The fee is capped at $1,500. The fee does not apply to real estate. The examples below illustrate how the inventory filing fee is calculated:

$100,000 personal property = $1,000 fee.

$200,000 personal property = $1,500 as the fee is capped after exceeding $150,000 of personal property.

$500,000 house = $0 as the fee is only applied to personal property, not real estate.

When an estate is closed by Affidavit of Complete Administration there is a filing fee of $34.

In addition to filing fees, there may be fees charged by attorneys, accountants, and other professionals.