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Home→Tools→Personal Property Value Estimator→California

What Are My Personal Items Worth for Probate in California?

Estimate the fair market value of household items for probate in California. See how reporting accurate values instead of purchase prices affects your probate fees.

Frequently Asked Questions

Personal property in California is valued at fair market value — what the item would sell for on the open market, not the original purchase price.Cal. Prob. Code §§ 10800, 10810 (statutory fee schedule: 4%/3%/2%/1%/0.5%/reasonable on gross estate value), 13100 (personal property affidavit), 13200 (real property affidavit), 13150-13157 (primary residence succession; amended by AB 2016, Stats. 2024, ch. 331, eff. Jan 1, 2025), 890 (CPI adjustment mechanism: April 1 every 3 years). Small estate thresholds verified against courts.ca.gov self-help page (deaths on/after April 1, 2025: § 13100 = $208,850, § 13200 = $69,625, §§ 13150-13157 primary residence = $750,000; next adjustment April 1, 2028). § 8480 (bond required before letters), § 8481 (will waiver or all-beneficiary written waiver; court retains good-cause authority), §§ 8901-8902 (probate referee appraises all non-cash assets), § 8961 (0.1% commission), § 8963 ($75 min, $10K max), § 8120 (publication of notice of petition), §§ 10400-10592 (IAEA independent administration), § 9100 (creditor claims: later of 4 months from letters or 60 days from notice). Verified 2026-05-31.Verified May 31, 2026 Most household items (furniture, electronics, clothing) lose 50-90% of their value. Professional appraisals are used for art, collectibles, jewelry, and other high-value items.

Yes. California has statutory probate fees calculated as a percentage of the gross estate value, which includes personal property.Cal. Prob. Code §§ 10800, 10810 (statutory fee schedule: 4%/3%/2%/1%/0.5%/reasonable on gross estate value), 13100 (personal property affidavit), 13200 (real property affidavit), 13150-13157 (primary residence succession; amended by AB 2016, Stats. 2024, ch. 331, eff. Jan 1, 2025), 890 (CPI adjustment mechanism: April 1 every 3 years). Small estate thresholds verified against courts.ca.gov self-help page (deaths on/after April 1, 2025: § 13100 = $208,850, § 13200 = $69,625, §§ 13150-13157 primary residence = $750,000; next adjustment April 1, 2028). § 8480 (bond required before letters), § 8481 (will waiver or all-beneficiary written waiver; court retains good-cause authority), §§ 8901-8902 (probate referee appraises all non-cash assets), § 8961 (0.1% commission), § 8963 ($75 min, $10K max), § 8120 (publication of notice of petition), §§ 10400-10592 (IAEA independent administration), § 9100 (creditor claims: later of 4 months from letters or 60 days from notice). Verified 2026-05-31.Verified May 31, 2026 Reporting accurate fair market values instead of purchase prices directly reduces attorney and executor fees. Use the California probate calculator to see the fee impact.

Estates with personal property under $208,850 in California may qualify for Small Estate Affidavit, which avoids full probate.Cal. Prob. Code §§ 10800, 10810 (statutory fee schedule: 4%/3%/2%/1%/0.5%/reasonable on gross estate value), 13100 (personal property affidavit), 13200 (real property affidavit), 13150-13157 (primary residence succession; amended by AB 2016, Stats. 2024, ch. 331, eff. Jan 1, 2025), 890 (CPI adjustment mechanism: April 1 every 3 years). Small estate thresholds verified against courts.ca.gov self-help page (deaths on/after April 1, 2025: § 13100 = $208,850, § 13200 = $69,625, §§ 13150-13157 primary residence = $750,000; next adjustment April 1, 2028). § 8480 (bond required before letters), § 8481 (will waiver or all-beneficiary written waiver; court retains good-cause authority), §§ 8901-8902 (probate referee appraises all non-cash assets), § 8961 (0.1% commission), § 8963 ($75 min, $10K max), § 8120 (publication of notice of petition), §§ 10400-10592 (IAEA independent administration), § 9100 (creditor claims: later of 4 months from letters or 60 days from notice). Verified 2026-05-31.Verified May 31, 2026 Accurate valuation at fair market value can determine whether the estate falls below this threshold. Check eligibility with the California probate need checker.

High-value items such as art, antiques, jewelry, and collectibles typically require professional appraisals. For typical household items — furniture, electronics, appliances, clothing — fair market value can be estimated using comparable sales data. California probate courts require the executor to file an inventory with values for all personal property.Cal. Prob. Code §§ 10800, 10810 (statutory fee schedule: 4%/3%/2%/1%/0.5%/reasonable on gross estate value), 13100 (personal property affidavit), 13200 (real property affidavit), 13150-13157 (primary residence succession; amended by AB 2016, Stats. 2024, ch. 331, eff. Jan 1, 2025), 890 (CPI adjustment mechanism: April 1 every 3 years). Small estate thresholds verified against courts.ca.gov self-help page (deaths on/after April 1, 2025: § 13100 = $208,850, § 13200 = $69,625, §§ 13150-13157 primary residence = $750,000; next adjustment April 1, 2028). § 8480 (bond required before letters), § 8481 (will waiver or all-beneficiary written waiver; court retains good-cause authority), §§ 8901-8902 (probate referee appraises all non-cash assets), § 8961 (0.1% commission), § 8963 ($75 min, $10K max), § 8120 (publication of notice of petition), §§ 10400-10592 (IAEA independent administration), § 9100 (creditor claims: later of 4 months from letters or 60 days from notice). Verified 2026-05-31.Verified May 31, 2026

Total probate costs in California include attorney fees, executor fees, court filing fees, and publication costs. Personal property value is one component of the gross estate that determines fee calculations. The California probate calculator provides a complete cost breakdown.

Not necessarily. Items with named beneficiaries (life insurance, retirement accounts), jointly held property, and assets in a trust bypass probate. Only personal property owned solely by the deceased passes through probate in California. The California probate need checker determines which assets require probate.

Personal Property Valuation in California

Because California uses statutory (set by law)Cal. Prob. Code § 10810Verified May 31, 2026 probate fees, every dollar of reported personal property value increases attorney and executor costs. Accurate fair market valuations — typically 50-90% below purchase price for household items — can produce meaningful savings.

Estates with personal property under $208,850Cal. Prob. Code § 890Verified May 31, 2026 in California may qualify for simplified procedures that avoid formal probate. Accurate valuation can determine whether the estate falls below this threshold. Check eligibility with the probate need checker.

Beyond the $435Cal. Gov. Code §§ 70650(a), 70602.5, 70602.6Verified May 31, 2026 court filing fee, California probate costs include attorney fees, executor compensation, and publication expenses — all influenced by estate value. See a full estimate with the probate calculator.

SimplyTrustSimplyTrust Editorial·Updated May 31, 2026

Legal Sources

  • Cal. Gov. Code §§ 70650(a), 70602.5, 70602.6
  • Cal. Prob. Code § 10810
  • Cal. Prob. Code § 890

Data sourced from California statutes and official state code. How we research.

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California Estate Planning Resources

In-depth guides covering California probate laws, trust requirements, and estate planning strategies.

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These estimates are based on general resale market data and insurance industry depreciation guides. They are approximations, not professional appraisals. Fair market value is what a willing buyer would pay on the open market. For high-value items or contested estates, consult a certified appraiser.

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