State by state
Probate and death certificates, state by state.
Every state draws the line for "small estate" somewhere different, uses a different court and a different office for death certificates. Pick the state where the person lived to see the numbers that apply — and the papers to have ready.
$100k or more · 15$25k – $100k · 31Under $25k · 3Structural test · 2
Small-estate estimator
Would your state let the family skip full probate?
Rough numbers are fine. Count only what would pass through probate — leave out anything with a named beneficiary, joint owner or trust.
An estimate from the statutory figures, not legal advice. Courts apply exclusions and adjustments — confirm with the clerk or an attorney.
ALAlabama$37kAKAlaska$50kAZArizona$200kARArkansas$100kCACalifornia$209kCOColorado$86kCTConnecticut$40kDEDelaware$30kDCDistrict of Columbia$80kFLFlorida$75kGAGeorgiatestHIHawaii$100kIDIdaho$100kILIllinois$150kINIndiana$100kIAIowa$50kKSKansas$75kKYKentucky$30kLALouisiana$125kMEMaine$51kMDMaryland$50kMAMassachusetts$25kMIMichigan$51kMNMinnesota$75kMSMississippi$75kMOMissouri$40kMTMontana$100kNENebraska$100kNVNevada$25kNHNew HampshiretestNJNew Jersey$20kNMNew Mexico$50kNYNew York$50kNCNorth Carolina$20kNDNorth Dakota$100kOHOhio$35kOKOklahoma$50kOROregon$75kPAPennsylvania$50kRIRhode Island$15kSCSouth Carolina$25kSDSouth Dakota$100kTNTennessee$50kTXTexas$75kUTUtah$100kVTVermont$45kVAVirginia$75kWAWashington$100kWVWest Virginia$50kWIWisconsin$50kWYWyoming$400k
Badge = the figure that gates the simplified small-estate path (first dollar amount where a state has several). Verified May 2026. Reference only, not legal advice.