Probate in Delaware runs about $35,22912 Del. C. § 2305 (fees "as provided by rule of the Court of Chancery"; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source on a $500,000 estate: attorney fees of typically 2.7%12 Del. C. § 2305 (fees "as provided by rule of the Court of Chancery"; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 4.3%12 Del. C. § 2305 (fees "as provided by rule of the Court of Chancery"; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate, plus the court filing fee, executor compensation, publication and any surety bond. The Delaware probate calculator estimates the cost by estate value.
Delaware runs supervised probate as the default12 Del. C. § 2301(a) (annual account rendered to the Court of Chancery until the estate is closed and a final account passed by the Court)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source: the court is involved at every step, with hearings for the executor's appointment, the inventory, the accountings and the final distribution. That procedural overhead drives both the cost and the timeline, and it is why a living trust is popular here: it bypasses the court entirely.
Estate planning attorneys in Delaware average $475Clio Legal Trends Report 2025Verified Jul 1, 2026View source an hour for wills and estates work. A flat-fee package runs $1,425Clio Legal Trends Report 2025Verified Jul 1, 2026View source to $2,850Clio Legal Trends Report 2025Verified Jul 1, 2026View source for a simple individual will and $4,390Clio Legal Trends Report 2025Verified Jul 1, 2026View source to $6,585Clio Legal Trends Report 2025Verified Jul 1, 2026View source for a basic revocable trust. An online service prices the same documents in the tens to low hundreds of dollars; the Delaware will cost calculator sets the two side by side.
In Delaware, estates with personal property of $50,000delcode.delaware.gov: 12 Del. C. § 2306Verified Sep 8, 2026View source or less skip probate with the Distribution Without Lettersdelcode.delaware.gov: 12 Del. C. § 2306Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, 30 daysdelcode.delaware.gov: 12 Del. C. § 2306Verified Sep 8, 2026View source after death. That route is a form rather than a court case, and most families handle it without an attorney. Above the line, formal probate generally benefits from counsel for the procedural work, even when nothing is contested. The Delaware probate calculator estimates the cost by estate value.
In Delaware, the situations where counsel is typically worth the cost are: a blended family with children from a prior relationship; a business, rental property or significant investment assets; a dependent with special needs, who needs a special-needs trust to keep benefits; substantial property in more than one state. Where none of these apply, an online or self-help document is often enough.
Free Delaware forms for planning an estate or settling one: a will, trust, powers of attorney, TOD deed, and the probate forms an executor files.
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
In Delaware, a will is signed before 212 Del. C. § 202Verified Sep 15, 2026View source witnesses, and a self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimony12 Del. C. § 202Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
Free calculators and checklists for planning or settling an estate in Delaware: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay, and inheritance taxes.
Probate on a $500,000 estate in Delaware costs an estimated $35,22912 Del. C. § 2305 (fees "as provided by rule of the Court of Chancery"; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Attorney fees run 2.7%12 Del. C. § 2305 (fees "as provided by rule of the Court of Chancery"; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 4.3%12 Del. C. § 2305 (fees "as provided by rule of the Court of Chancery"; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate under a reasonable-compensation standard.
Settling an estate in Delaware: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 90 daysDel. Code tit. 12, §§ 1904, 1905, 1908, 1910Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 8 months12 Del. C. §§ 2101, 2102, 2103, 2104, 2105, 2109Verified Sep 15, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 9 months to 12 months.
Delaware pays executors reasonable compensation12 Del. C. § 2305 (commissions "as provided by rule of the Court of Chancery"; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, typically 2.2%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.8%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate.
In Delaware, estates with personal property of $50,000delcode.delaware.gov: 12 Del. C. § 2306Verified Sep 8, 2026View source or less skip probate with the Distribution Without Lettersdelcode.delaware.gov: 12 Del. C. § 2306Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, 30 daysdelcode.delaware.gov: 12 Del. C. § 2306Verified Sep 8, 2026View source after death.
In Delaware, creditors have 8 months12 Del. C. § 2102 (8 months from death for pre-death claims; 6 months for post-death claims)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source from the date of death to present claims; late claims are barred.
Delaware has no statewide fill-in probate petition, so the opening petition is drafted as a legal pleading, and informal probate is available12 Del. C. §§ 1302, 1303, 1502, 1505 (Register of Wills proves the will and grants letters; proof taken without notice unless an interested person petitions the Court of Chancery)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
76 probate firms in Delaware, by county and firm type.
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to discuss your situation and verify their current practice areas and availability.
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76 firms
FirmSeaford, DE
Bilingual (English/Spanish) Sussex County firm with offices in Seaford and Camden serving Sussex and Kent counties. Estate planning, estate administration, real estate, and business transactions. Steve Nowak heads the Estate Planning Department.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateHealthcare DirectivesPowers Of Attorneyand 2 more
Solo PracticeMilton, DE
Family-owned Sussex County law firm in Milton handling estate planning, wills, trusts, estate administration, probate, and estate litigation. Also serves real estate and business law clients.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateTrust LitigationTrustsWills
Solo PracticeGeorgetown, DE
Georgetown solo practitioner with over 35 years of experience handling estate planning, wills, trusts, living wills, powers of attorney, living trusts, probate, and asset protection. Also handles family law matters.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateAsset ProtectionPowers Of Attorneyand 2 more
FirmWilmington, DE
Full-service Delaware law firm with offices in Wilmington, Dover, Lewes, and Georgetown. The Estates & Trusts group handles estate and trust planning, administration, business succession planning, fiduciary advice and litigation, and elder law. Authored Delaware's Probate Administration guide for Practical Law.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 5 more
FirmDover, DE
Full-service Dover law firm established in 1981 with over 100 years of combined attorney experience. Provides estate planning services including wills, trusts, power of attorney, probate, and adult guardianships. Additional offices in Seaford and Lewes.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateGuardianshipPowers Of Attorneyand 2 more
FirmWilmington, DE
A Wilmington firm at Courthouse Square (600 N. King St.), steps from the New Castle County Register of Wills and Court of Chancery. Its Wills, Trusts & Estates team handles estate administration, inventories and accounts, settlement agreements, and inheritance, estate, and income tax returns, plus special needs, asset protection, and life insurance trusts.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateAsset Protectionand 3 more
Solo PracticeWilmington, DE
Wilmington solo practice focusing exclusively on probate, guardianship, wills, trusts, and estate planning. 20+ years of experience having served 300+ families in probate and estate matters statewide.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateGuardianshipTrustsWills
FirmWilmington, DE
National multi-office law firm celebrating its centennial in 2026, with a Wilmington Delaware office. The Tax, Trusts and Estates practice covers succession planning, asset protection, income tax planning, wealth retention, charitable giving, estates and trusts administration, guardianships, prenuptial agreements, and probate litigation.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateTax Planningand 3 more
Solo PracticeNewark, DE
Newark, DE solo practice opened in 2015 focusing on estate planning including wills and trusts, probate, estate administration, and real estate transactions.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateTrustsWills
FirmNewark, DE
One of the first Hispanic and woman-owned law firms in Delaware, founded in 2006. Handles wills, probate, estate planning alongside personal injury, family law, and real estate. Bilingual services available (English/Spanish). Listed on New Castle County Register of Wills probate attorney directory.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateWills
Solo PracticeWilmington, DE
Long-established Wilmington solo practitioner with nearly 50 years of Delaware practice. Handles estate planning, wills, trusts, probate, real estate, and family law. Listed on the New Castle County Register of Wills official probate attorney directory.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateTrustsWills
FirmWilmington, DE
Comprehensive Delaware estate planning, trust administration, and fiduciary litigation services leveraging Delaware's favorable legal and tax environment. Serves clients locally, nationally, and internationally.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 2 more
Solo PracticeHockessin, DE
Hockessin solo practice handling estate planning, wills, trusts, guardianships, and probate before the Register of Wills. Also handles business litigation in the Court of Chancery and Superior Court. Former law clerk to a New Castle County Superior Court Judge.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateGuardianshipTrustsWills
FirmHockessin, DE
Hockessin estate planning and probate firm serving Delaware and Pennsylvania. Drafts all kinds of trusts including revocable, irrevocable, special needs, and charitable trusts. Assists executors with probate administration.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawCharitable Trustsand 3 more
FirmMillsboro, DE
Boutique Sussex County firm dedicated exclusively to estate planning, estate administration, and elder law. Offices in Millsboro and Millville serving southern Delaware and the Maryland corridor. Focuses on elder law issues including Medicaid and VA planning.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawAsset Protectionand 5 more
FirmWilmington, DE
Full-service Delaware law firm serving the state since 1978 with 20+ lawyers and 9 offices across all three counties. Estate lawyers help evaluate assets and ensure final plans serve client needs. Also handles personal injury, workers' compensation, and bankruptcy.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateHealthcare DirectivesPowers Of Attorneyand 2 more
Solo PracticeLewes, DE
Lewes estate planning firm founded in 2024 by Rebecca Doyle, named Delaware Today Top Attorney five consecutive years (2019-2023). Handles estate and trust planning and administration, guardianships, and business law. Member of Southern Delaware Estate Planning Council.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateGuardianshipand 5 more
Solo PracticeWilmington, DE
Wilmington elder law practice focusing on long-term care planning, estate planning, estate administration, Medicaid planning, and asset protection. Founder holds a Graduate Certification in Estate Planning from Temple University.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawAsset ProtectionMedicaid Planning
FirmWilmington, DE
International law firm founded 1904 with Wilmington office established 1985. Attorneys specialize in Delaware Advantage trusts, wealth transfer strategies, estate administration, and fiduciary litigation.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 3 more
Solo PracticeWilmington, DE
Wilmington solo practitioner with 50 years of Delaware practice handling estate planning, probate, real estate, family law, business law, and personal injury. Listed on the official New Castle County Register of Wills probate attorney directory.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateReal EstateWills