Probate cases have many fees. Fees paid to the Attorney and also to the Executor or Administrator are based on the estate’s value. So, what are those ‘other’ expenses of probate and how much are they?
Court Filing Fees
Most court-based estate settlement procedures will require some filing fee. Full estate administration in a California probate court requires two filing fees, for about $465 each in most counties, or $930 total.
Publication
Then newspaper publication. Most newspapers charge between $200 – $500, but we have seen prices significantly higher. We will help you find a newspaper acceptable to the court.
Court Certified Copies
The court keeps originals of most documents and returns copies. Some institutions, like banks and county recorders, are not impressed with normal copies and require ‘Certified’ copies. Not a problem, as court clerks will happily certify copies for about $50 each, sometimes less. Plan on at least two certified copies, more if there is real estate.
Referee Fee
Then there’s the statutory probate referee fee, one tenth of one percent of the appraised value. So, on an average estate of $600,000, the fee would be $600. You’ll also be invoiced for the referee’s costs, like travel and pictures, usually under $100.
Bond
California law requires that Executors and Administrators purchase a bond to protect the heirs from risk of loss. However, some of our clients have requested to waive the bond requirement when it’s not really needed, like when there is one one heir to the estate, and that heir is in charge. How much does bond cost? Well, bond fees vary, depending on credit scores, bond amount, and other factors. We’ve seen our bonded customers pay around one half of one percent, or $3,000 for an average estate.
Recording
If you inherit land or a house, which is not sold during probate, you must record the order to perfect your ownership rights. $200 seems about average for recording fees, but it’s up to the county.
It All Adds Up
For an average estate, you should expect about $2,500 in out of pocket fees and expenses, if the heirs are cooperative.