This information is not legal advice. Costs vary significantly by jurisdiction, case complexity, and attorney. Consult a licensed attorney for advice specific to your situation.
Our methodologyEstate Administration Costs
Full legal representation of an executor or administrator through the entire estate settlement process including probate, asset marshaling, debt payment, tax filings, and distribution to beneficiaries. Typically billed as a percentage of estate value or hourly.
Cost by Case Type
| Case Type | Estimated Cost * |
|---|---|
| Uncontested (both parties agree) | $258 – $599 |
| Contested (court required) | $1,677 – $3,891 |
| Flat Fee Arrangement (hourly equivalent) | $516 – $1,197 |
Filing fees (court costs, separate from attorney fees): $100 – $400
* Estimated based on national averages. Costs vary significantly by jurisdiction, case complexity, and attorney experience.
Cost Comparison by Location
418 locations with verified cost data
Cost Comparison — Estate Administration
Low
$645
Typical
$1,071
High
$1,496
Low
$607
Typical
$957
High
$1,307
Low
$628
Typical
$970
High
$1,312
Low
$690
Typical
$1,125
High
$1,560
Low
$636
Typical
$1,063
High
$1,490
Low
$698
Typical
$1,133
High
$1,568
Low
$790
Typical
$1,377
High
$1,964
Low
$613
Typical
$960
High
$1,307
Low
$550
Typical
$861
High
$1,172
Low
$692
Typical
$1,130
High
$1,568
Low
$619
Typical
$1,011
High
$1,404
Low
$656
Typical
$1,088
High
$1,521
Low
$563
Typical
$875
High
$1,187
Low
$864
Typical
$1,479
High
$2,094
Low
$727
Typical
$1,186
High
$1,645
Low
$676
Typical
$1,084
High
$1,493
Low
$540
Typical
$834
High
$1,128
Low
$614
Typical
$980
High
$1,346
Low
$679
Typical
$1,098
High
$1,516
Low
$650
Typical
$1,025
High
$1,400
Low
$736
Typical
$1,222
High
$1,707
Low
$653
Typical
$1,054
High
$1,455
Low
$725
Typical
$1,213
High
$1,701
Low
$720
Typical
$1,206
High
$1,692
Low
$540
Typical
$834
High
$1,128
Low
$666
Typical
$1,114
High
$1,562
Low
$727
Typical
$1,182
High
$1,637
Low
$700
Typical
$1,162
High
$1,624
Low
$768
Typical
$1,314
High
$1,860
Low
$762
Typical
$1,277
High
$1,793
Low
$616
Typical
$960
High
$1,305
Low
$700
Typical
$1,161
High
$1,621
Low
$583
Typical
$912
High
$1,242
Low
$616
Typical
$988
High
$1,360
Low
$616
Typical
$988
High
$1,360
Low
$643
Typical
$1,067
High
$1,491
Low
$518
Typical
$764
High
$1,011
Low
$724
Typical
$1,191
High
$1,657
Low
$709
Typical
$1,150
High
$1,591
Low
$599
Typical
$935
High
$1,272
Low
$736
Typical
$1,284
High
$1,831
Low
$576
Typical
$889
High
$1,202
Low
$638
Typical
$1,049
High
$1,460
Low
$678
Typical
$1,134
High
$1,590
Low
$660
Typical
$1,060
High
$1,460
Low
$771
Typical
$1,278
High
$1,784
Low
$723
Typical
$1,176
High
$1,629
Low
$565
Typical
$870
High
$1,176
Low
$809
Typical
$1,381
High
$1,953
Low
$614
Typical
$1,019
High
$1,424
Low
$636
Typical
$1,063
High
$1,491
Low
$760
Typical
$1,325
High
$1,890
Low
$660
Typical
$1,045
High
$1,429
Low
$631
Typical
$1,018
High
$1,405
Low
$761
Typical
$1,303
High
$1,844
Low
$581
Typical
$916
High
$1,252
Low
$722
Typical
$1,190
High
$1,658
Low
$672
Typical
$1,092
High
$1,511
Low
$638
Typical
$1,032
High
$1,426
Low
$564
Typical
$876
High
$1,189
Low
$672
Typical
$1,124
High
$1,576
Low
$702
Typical
$1,134
High
$1,566
Low
$660
Typical
$1,045
High
$1,430
Low
$520
Typical
$767
High
$1,015
Low
$659
Typical
$1,064
High
$1,468
Low
$738
Typical
$1,249
High
$1,761
Low
$613
Typical
$983
High
$1,354
Low
$656
Typical
$1,061
High
$1,467
Low
$751
Typical
$1,256
High
$1,761
Low
$770
Typical
$1,318
High
$1,866
Low
$620
Typical
$978
High
$1,335
Low
$609
Typical
$978
High
$1,346
Low
$569
Typical
$878
High
$1,186
Low
$605
Typical
$954
High
$1,303
Low
$660
Typical
$1,059
High
$1,459
Low
$649
Typical
$1,078
High
$1,506
Low
$687
Typical
$1,118
High
$1,548
Low
$692
Typical
$1,125
High
$1,559
Low
$598
Typical
$959
High
$1,320
Low
$613
Typical
$969
High
$1,326
Low
$647
Typical
$1,083
High
$1,518
Low
$621
Typical
$979
High
$1,337
Low
$757
Typical
$1,293
High
$1,828
Low
$662
Typical
$1,098
High
$1,535
Low
$712
Typical
$1,155
High
$1,598
Low
$626
Typical
$1,049
High
$1,473
Low
$736
Typical
$1,222
High
$1,707
Low
$651
Typical
$1,089
High
$1,527
Low
$646
Typical
$1,080
High
$1,514
Low
$579
Typical
$912
High
$1,246
Low
$701
Typical
$1,155
High
$1,610
Low
$641
Typical
$1,072
High
$1,503
Low
$548
Typical
$846
High
$1,144
Low
$819
Typical
$1,448
High
$2,076
Low
$701
Typical
$1,155
High
$1,610
Low
$727
Typical
$1,182
High
$1,637
Low
$581
Typical
$903
High
$1,225
Low
$672
Typical
$1,078
High
$1,484
Low
$526
Typical
$813
High
$1,100
Low
$799
Typical
$1,411
High
$2,024
Low
$554
Typical
$860
High
$1,167
Low
$615
Typical
$1,005
High
$1,395
Low
$661
Typical
$1,066
High
$1,471
Low
$616
Typical
$984
High
$1,351
Low
$724
Typical
$1,240
High
$1,755
Low
$642
Typical
$1,065
High
$1,489
Low
$567
Typical
$874
High
$1,181
Low
$749
Typical
$1,305
High
$1,862
Low
$629
Typical
$1,028
High
$1,426
Low
$695
Typical
$1,127
High
$1,560
Low
$611
Typical
$977
High
$1,344
Low
$712
Typical
$1,161
High
$1,610
Low
$637
Typical
$1,047
High
$1,458
Low
$563
Typical
$881
High
$1,200
Low
$594
Typical
$936
High
$1,279
Low
$623
Typical
$1,005
High
$1,387
Low
$681
Typical
$1,101
High
$1,521
Low
$623
Typical
$1,000
High
$1,377
Low
$567
Typical
$898
High
$1,229
Low
$705
Typical
$1,163
High
$1,620
Low
$608
Typical
$971
High
$1,334
Low
$695
Typical
$1,130
High
$1,565
Low
$805
Typical
$1,327
High
$1,849
Low
$558
Typical
$880
High
$1,202
Low
$617
Typical
$988
High
$1,359
Low
$736
Typical
$1,222
High
$1,707
Low
$777
Typical
$1,331
High
$1,884
Low
$682
Typical
$1,124
High
$1,567
Low
$702
Typical
$1,173
High
$1,645
Low
$736
Typical
$1,222
High
$1,707
Low
$725
Typical
$1,213
High
$1,700
Low
$702
Typical
$1,134
High
$1,566
Low
$752
Typical
$1,312
High
$1,871
Low
$599
Typical
$966
High
$1,334
Low
$607
Typical
$999
High
$1,390
Low
$550
Typical
$856
High
$1,161
Low
$656
Typical
$1,067
High
$1,478
Low
$640
Typical
$1,027
High
$1,414
Low
$593
Typical
$962
High
$1,331
Low
$620
Typical
$969
High
$1,317
Low
$688
Typical
$1,120
High
$1,551
Low
$618
Typical
$987
High
$1,355
Low
$629
Typical
$1,015
High
$1,400
Low
$610
Typical
$965
High
$1,321
Low
$563
Typical
$866
High
$1,170
Low
$687
Typical
$1,151
High
$1,616
Low
$542
Typical
$849
High
$1,155
Low
$773
Typical
$1,323
High
$1,874
Low
$683
Typical
$1,115
High
$1,547
Low
$706
Typical
$1,196
High
$1,685
Low
$778
Typical
$1,328
High
$1,878
Low
$548
Typical
$843
High
$1,139
Low
$705
Typical
$1,163
High
$1,620
Low
$687
Typical
$1,115
High
$1,543
Low
$805
Typical
$1,327
High
$1,849
Low
$599
Typical
$967
High
$1,334
Low
$629
Typical
$1,015
High
$1,400
Low
$641
Typical
$1,015
High
$1,388
Low
$782
Typical
$1,290
High
$1,798
Low
$557
Typical
$879
High
$1,200
Low
$546
Typical
$855
High
$1,164
Low
$704
Typical
$1,169
High
$1,633
Low
$518
Typical
$765
High
$1,012
Low
$555
Typical
$858
High
$1,160
Low
$671
Typical
$1,078
High
$1,484
Low
$633
Typical
$1,017
High
$1,401
Low
$725
Typical
$1,213
High
$1,700
Low
$667
Typical
$1,068
High
$1,468
Low
$638
Typical
$1,022
High
$1,405
Low
$634
Typical
$985
High
$1,336
Low
$580
Typical
$901
High
$1,223
Low
$864
Typical
$1,479
High
$2,094
Low
$573
Typical
$919
High
$1,266
Low
$557
Typical
$857
High
$1,158
Low
$701
Typical
$1,156
High
$1,612
Low
$623
Typical
$1,006
High
$1,389
Low
$622
Typical
$993
High
$1,364
Low
$589
Typical
$943
High
$1,298
Low
$819
Typical
$1,373
High
$1,927
Low
$589
Typical
$945
High
$1,301
Low
$595
Typical
$971
High
$1,347
Low
$558
Typical
$880
High
$1,202
Low
$573
Typical
$919
High
$1,265
Low
$635
Typical
$1,020
High
$1,404
Low
$699
Typical
$1,169
High
$1,639
Low
$687
Typical
$1,118
High
$1,548
Low
$619
Typical
$992
High
$1,366
Low
$702
Typical
$1,153
High
$1,605
Low
$626
Typical
$965
High
$1,304
Low
$651
Typical
$1,080
High
$1,509
Low
$579
Typical
$929
High
$1,279
Low
$799
Typical
$1,392
High
$1,986
Low
$620
Typical
$995
High
$1,370
Low
$609
Typical
$973
High
$1,336
Low
$623
Typical
$997
High
$1,372
Low
$560
Typical
$876
High
$1,193
Low
$551
Typical
$863
High
$1,174
Low
$639
Typical
$1,033
High
$1,427
Low
$685
Typical
$1,129
High
$1,574
Low
$680
Typical
$1,110
High
$1,541
Low
$636
Typical
$1,021
High
$1,406
Low
$621
Typical
$1,030
High
$1,440
Low
$579
Typical
$907
High
$1,234
Low
$687
Typical
$1,115
High
$1,543
Low
$620
Typical
$1,008
High
$1,397
Low
$564
Typical
$894
High
$1,224
Low
$604
Typical
$943
High
$1,281
Low
$612
Typical
$982
High
$1,353
Low
$581
Typical
$896
High
$1,211
Low
$583
Typical
$919
High
$1,255
Low
$582
Typical
$904
High
$1,227
Low
$581
Typical
$916
High
$1,251
Low
$673
Typical
$1,108
High
$1,543
Low
$864
Typical
$1,479
High
$2,094
Low
$639
Typical
$1,060
High
$1,482
Low
$684
Typical
$1,124
High
$1,565
Low
$864
Typical
$1,479
High
$2,094
Low
$642
Typical
$1,005
High
$1,368
Low
$583
Typical
$898
High
$1,214
Low
$652
Typical
$1,082
High
$1,512
Low
$665
Typical
$1,126
High
$1,587
Low
$642
Typical
$1,073
High
$1,505
Low
$783
Typical
$1,341
High
$1,898
Low
$646
Typical
$1,031
High
$1,417
Low
$638
Typical
$995
High
$1,352
Low
$711
Typical
$1,144
High
$1,576
Low
$619
Typical
$1,008
High
$1,396
Low
$630
Typical
$1,030
High
$1,430
Low
$578
Typical
$911
High
$1,244
Low
$729
Typical
$1,223
High
$1,716
Low
$712
Typical
$1,180
High
$1,648
Low
$613
Typical
$1,018
High
$1,422
Low
$694
Typical
$1,126
High
$1,558
Low
$618
Typical
$991
High
$1,364
Low
$702
Typical
$1,134
High
$1,566
Low
$805
Typical
$1,327
High
$1,849
Low
$670
Typical
$1,075
High
$1,480
Low
$684
Typical
$1,135
High
$1,586
Low
$644
Typical
$1,028
High
$1,411
Low
$726
Typical
$1,187
High
$1,648
Low
$693
Typical
$1,133
High
$1,572
Low
$625
Typical
$963
High
$1,300
Low
$617
Typical
$964
High
$1,312
Low
$669
Typical
$1,073
High
$1,476
Low
$553
Typical
$855
High
$1,156
Low
$792
Typical
$1,356
High
$1,920
Low
$537
Typical
$840
High
$1,144
Low
$640
Typical
$1,000
High
$1,360
Low
$563
Typical
$870
High
$1,177
Low
$547
Typical
$807
High
$1,068
Low
$740
Typical
$1,217
High
$1,694
Low
$588
Typical
$941
High
$1,294
Low
$645
Typical
$1,036
High
$1,426
Low
$620
Typical
$995
High
$1,369
Low
$612
Typical
$969
High
$1,326
Low
$857
Typical
$1,466
High
$2,075
Low
$728
Typical
$1,200
High
$1,672
Low
$711
Typical
$1,144
High
$1,576
Low
$645
Typical
$1,036
High
$1,426
Low
$635
Typical
$988
High
$1,340
Low
$685
Typical
$1,113
High
$1,540
Low
$609
Typical
$983
High
$1,356
Low
$673
Typical
$1,083
High
$1,492
Low
$792
Typical
$1,351
High
$1,911
Low
$728
Typical
$1,220
High
$1,712
Low
$760
Typical
$1,298
High
$1,836
Low
$642
Typical
$1,005
High
$1,368
Low
$594
Typical
$931
High
$1,267
Low
$793
Typical
$1,383
High
$1,972
Low
$893
Typical
$1,556
High
$2,220
Low
$819
Typical
$1,373
High
$1,927
Low
$762
Typical
$1,295
High
$1,828
Low
$729
Typical
$1,234
High
$1,739
Low
$677
Typical
$1,093
High
$1,508
Low
$701
Typical
$1,153
High
$1,604
Low
$760
Typical
$1,298
High
$1,836
Low
$880
Typical
$1,506
High
$2,132
Low
$671
Typical
$1,107
High
$1,543
Low
$739
Typical
$1,238
High
$1,737
Low
$670
Typical
$1,113
High
$1,555
Low
$704
Typical
$1,159
High
$1,614
Low
$650
Typical
$1,025
High
$1,400
Low
$656
Typical
$1,040
High
$1,424
Low
$593
Typical
$940
High
$1,287
Low
$727
Typical
$1,195
High
$1,663
Low
$584
Typical
$908
High
$1,232
Low
$684
Typical
$1,110
High
$1,536
Low
$715
Typical
$1,179
High
$1,643
Low
$617
Typical
$985
High
$1,353
Low
$555
Typical
$855
High
$1,155
Low
$841
Typical
$1,440
High
$2,038
Low
$705
Typical
$1,163
High
$1,620
Low
$686
Typical
$1,131
High
$1,576
Low
$510
Typical
$753
High
$996
Low
$692
Typical
$1,130
High
$1,568
Low
$689
Typical
$1,136
High
$1,583
Low
$661
Typical
$1,106
High
$1,551
Low
$710
Typical
$1,159
High
$1,608
Low
$702
Typical
$1,134
High
$1,566
Low
$522
Typical
$823
High
$1,125
Low
$655
Typical
$1,070
High
$1,484
Low
$677
Typical
$1,122
High
$1,567
Low
$736
Typical
$1,222
High
$1,707
Low
$597
Typical
$958
High
$1,319
Low
$707
Typical
$1,165
High
$1,624
Low
$721
Typical
$1,170
High
$1,619
Low
$650
Typical
$1,014
High
$1,377
Low
$762
Typical
$1,295
High
$1,828
Low
$690
Typical
$1,135
High
$1,580
Low
$630
Typical
$1,025
High
$1,420
Low
$637
Typical
$1,017
High
$1,397
Low
$665
Typical
$1,072
High
$1,480
Low
$572
Typical
$896
High
$1,220
Low
$672
Typical
$1,097
High
$1,522
Low
$766
Typical
$1,311
High
$1,857
Low
$692
Typical
$1,124
High
$1,556
Low
$749
Typical
$1,273
High
$1,796
Low
$728
Typical
$1,233
High
$1,738
Low
$810
Typical
$1,386
High
$1,963
Low
$697
Typical
$1,180
High
$1,663
Low
$769
Typical
$1,341
High
$1,913
Low
$629
Typical
$1,029
High
$1,428
Low
$668
Typical
$1,117
High
$1,567
Low
$596
Typical
$962
High
$1,327
Low
$812
Typical
$1,389
High
$1,967
Low
$609
Typical
$977
High
$1,345
Low
$726
Typical
$1,187
High
$1,648
Low
$709
Typical
$1,151
High
$1,592
Low
$830
Typical
$1,420
High
$2,011
Low
$697
Typical
$1,169
High
$1,641
Low
$708
Typical
$1,165
High
$1,622
Low
$660
Typical
$1,096
High
$1,531
Low
$676
Typical
$1,122
High
$1,569
Low
$810
Typical
$1,386
High
$1,963
Low
$851
Typical
$1,457
High
$2,063
Low
$880
Typical
$1,506
High
$2,132
Low
$840
Typical
$1,438
High
$2,036
Low
$826
Typical
$1,415
High
$2,003
Low
$864
Typical
$1,479
High
$2,094
Low
$828
Typical
$1,417
High
$2,006
Low
$836
Typical
$1,431
High
$2,027
Low
$634
Typical
$993
High
$1,351
Low
$820
Typical
$1,404
High
$1,987
Low
$690
Typical
$1,154
High
$1,619
Low
$647
Typical
$1,057
High
$1,467
Low
$779
Typical
$1,281
High
$1,783
Low
$624
Typical
$997
High
$1,369
Low
$670
Typical
$1,111
High
$1,553
Low
$544
Typical
$852
High
$1,160
Low
$606
Typical
$979
High
$1,353
Low
$548
Typical
$852
High
$1,155
Low
$555
Typical
$869
High
$1,183
Low
$619
Typical
$991
High
$1,363
Low
$654
Typical
$1,035
High
$1,416
Low
$642
Typical
$1,005
High
$1,368
Low
$692
Typical
$1,124
High
$1,556
Low
$595
Typical
$942
High
$1,289
Low
$703
Typical
$1,157
High
$1,610
Low
$593
Typical
$950
High
$1,307
Low
$588
Typical
$927
High
$1,267
Low
$684
Typical
$1,134
High
$1,583
Low
$672
Typical
$1,124
High
$1,577
Low
$607
Typical
$992
High
$1,378
Low
$683
Typical
$1,124
High
$1,565
Low
$578
Typical
$926
High
$1,275
Low
$636
Typical
$1,020
High
$1,404
Low
$670
Typical
$1,093
High
$1,517
Low
$678
Typical
$1,148
High
$1,618
Low
$800
Typical
$1,369
High
$1,938
Low
$576
Typical
$911
High
$1,246
Low
$759
Typical
$1,324
High
$1,888
Low
$779
Typical
$1,281
High
$1,783
Low
$662
Typical
$1,092
High
$1,522
Low
$711
Typical
$1,173
High
$1,634
Low
$670
Typical
$1,075
High
$1,480
Low
$586
Typical
$937
High
$1,289
Low
$600
Typical
$996
High
$1,391
Low
$714
Typical
$1,185
High
$1,656
Low
$594
Typical
$937
High
$1,280
Low
$610
Typical
$993
High
$1,375
Low
$751
Typical
$1,259
High
$1,766
Low
$658
Typical
$1,063
High
$1,469
Low
$585
Typical
$928
High
$1,270
Low
$551
Typical
$851
High
$1,151
Low
$658
Typical
$1,092
High
$1,526
Low
$702
Typical
$1,155
High
$1,608
Low
$735
Typical
$1,281
High
$1,828
Low
$826
Typical
$1,413
High
$2,000
Low
$654
Typical
$1,035
High
$1,416
Low
$699
Typical
$1,171
High
$1,643
Low
$744
Typical
$1,260
High
$1,776
Low
$729
Typical
$1,234
High
$1,739
Low
$760
Typical
$1,300
High
$1,841
Low
$661
Typical
$1,097
High
$1,533
Low
$762
Typical
$1,295
High
$1,828
Low
$701
Typical
$1,153
High
$1,604
Low
$809
Typical
$1,381
High
$1,953
Low
$552
Typical
$858
High
$1,163
Low
$695
Typical
$1,212
High
$1,729
Low
$615
Typical
$982
High
$1,349
Low
$728
Typical
$1,197
High
$1,666
Low
$586
Typical
$865
High
$1,144
Low
$518
Typical
$764
High
$1,010
Low
$611
Typical
$994
High
$1,377
Low
$639
Typical
$1,061
High
$1,482
Low
$639
Typical
$1,044
High
$1,448
Low
$840
Typical
$1,484
High
$2,129
Low
$653
Typical
$1,053
High
$1,454
Low
$718
Typical
$1,215
High
$1,713
Low
$623
Typical
$1,006
High
$1,388
Low
$664
Typical
$1,060
High
$1,456
Low
$730
Typical
$1,210
High
$1,690
Low
$680
Typical
$1,100
High
$1,520
Low
$670
Typical
$1,101
High
$1,533
Low
$664
Typical
$1,085
High
$1,505
Low
$568
Typical
$896
High
$1,223
Low
$793
Typical
$1,358
High
$1,922
Low
$630
Typical
$1,017
High
$1,405