How Much Does Probate Cost in Los Angeles County, California?
Understanding what probate costs before you start helps you plan and avoid surprises. Here's what families in Los Angeles County can expect.
What probate costs in Los Angeles County, California comes down to a handful of line items — the court filing fee, attorney and executor compensation, publication, and sometimes a bond — scaled by the estate's size and whether the will is contested. The case itself runs through the Superior Court - Probate Division at 111 North Hill Street, Los Angeles.
Probate matters are handled through Probate Departments 2D, 67, 79, 99, Certification Section, and Governor George Deukmejian Courthouse (Long Beach). Filing and payment go through these offices, not the main clerk window.
Local procedures at this court: Probate departments located on 6th Floor of Stanley Mosk Courthouse; Hill Street entrance most congested at 8:00 AM; consider alternative entrances. These are county-specific and not posted on the statewide court site.
California charges $435Cal. Gov. Code §§ 70650(a), 70602.5, 70602.6Verified May 31, 2026 to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
E-filing is mandatory for attorneys filing at the Superior Court - Probate Division (https://www.odysseyefileca.com/service-providers.htm). Self-represented filers can request a paper-filing exemption.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
California sets attorney fees by statute — a percentage of the estate's gross value. Every attorney charges the same schedule, so the decision to hire one comes down to complexity, not price.
Executor compensation is also statutory in California. Family executors who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
California requires publishing creditor notice in a local newspaper, typically $200–$500. Professional appraisals for real estate or business interests add $300–$600 per asset.
A surety bond may be required unless the will waives it or all beneficiaries consent. Premiums run roughly 0.5%Cal. Prob. Code §§ 8480 (bond required before letters issued), 8481 (waiver: will provision or all-beneficiary written waiver; court may still require bond for good cause)Verified May 31, 2026 of estate value annually.
Probate in California typically runs 12 monthsCal. Prob. Code §§ 10800Verified May 31, 2026 to 18 monthsCal. Prob. Code §§ 10800Verified May 31, 2026, and costs accrue throughout. The 4 monthsCal. Prob. Code § 9100 — later of 4 months from letters or 60 days from mailed/personal notice of administrationVerified May 31, 2026 creditor claim window is the single biggest driver of that timeline — a mandatory wait regardless of estate complexity.
Legal Sources
- Cal. Gov. Code §§ 70650(a), 70602.5, 70602.6
- Cal. Prob. Code § 9100 — later of 4 months from letters or 60 days from mailed/personal notice of administration
- Cal. Prob. Code §§ 10800
- Cal. Prob. Code §§ 8480 (bond required before letters issued), 8481 (waiver: will provision or all-beneficiary written waiver; court may still require bond for good cause)
Data sourced from California statutes and official state code. How we research.
Frequently Asked Questions
Total probate costs usually run 3–8% of the estate value. For Los Angeles County, that means filing fees ($435 to open), attorney fees, executor compensation, publication costs, and possibly a bond. The calculator on this page runs the math for your estate size.
The petition to open probate costs $435 in Los Angeles County. Additional filings during administration (inventory, accounting, final petition) can add to the total. The calculator above shows the full picture.
Yes. California sets probate attorney fees by statute, so Los Angeles County attorneys charge the same schedule as the rest of the state. Predictable, but often higher than hourly billing would produce for simple estates.
California caps executor compensation by statute — the same schedule used for attorney fees in many states. Executors can waive this fee, which often makes sense for family members who are also beneficiaries.
Yes. California estates under $208,850 can use a Small Estate Affidavit and avoid most probate costs. Check the California self-filing assessment to see if this applies.
A revocable living trust skips probate entirely — no filing fee, no attorney schedule, no executor commission. The cost of setting up the trust is typically recovered many times over compared to what probate would cost the estate. Create a revocable trust online and keep the estate out of Los Angeles County probate.
Superior Court - Probate Division
Los Angeles County
111 North Hill Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone:
213-830-0850Hours:
Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Paper Filing Available
E-Filing Optional
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