What Is the Estate's Personal Property Worth for Probate in Mississippi?
Estimate the fair market value of household items for the Mississippi estate inventory — what furniture, electronics, and appliances would sell for today, not what was paid.
Frequently Asked Questions
Personal property in Mississippi is valued at fair market value — what the item would sell for on the open market, not the original purchase price.Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322 (small estate affidavit, $75K per S.B. 2850 eff. 7/1/2020), § 91-5-35 (muniment of title), § 91-7-145 (notice to creditors; 3-week publication), § 91-7-151 (creditor claims, 90 days), § 81-5-63 (bank deposit affidavit, $12,500), § 91-7-299 (executor compensation; such sum as the court deems proper), § 91-7-281 (attorney fees allowable), § 91-7-41 (oath and bond of executor), § 91-7-45 (when bond not required), § 91-7-67 (oath and bond of administrator; chancellor may waive or reduce), § 91-7-93 (inventory within 90 days of letters; PR states market value), § 91-7-109 (PR MAY employ an appraiser), § 9-5-141 (chancery clerk may admit wills in common form and grant letters), § 25-7-9(2) (chancery clerk filing fees)Verified Jul 15, 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.
No. Executors in Mississippi can typically group low-value household goods into a single line on the inventory — for example, "household furnishings and personal effects" — while valuable items such as jewelry, art, and collectibles are listed individually. Each value reflects fair market value as of the date of death.
In Mississippi, the executor must file the estate inventory within 3 months of appointment. If assets are discovered later, Mississippi requires a supplemental inventory.Miss. Code §§ 91-7-93, 91-7-95, 91-7-109Verified Jul 14, 2026
Estates with personal property under $75,000 in Mississippi may qualify for Small Estate Affidavit, which avoids full probate.Miss. Code Ann. § 91-7-322 (small estate affidavit, $75K per S.B. 2850 eff. 7/1/2020), § 91-5-35 (muniment of title), § 91-7-145 (notice to creditors; 3-week publication), § 91-7-151 (creditor claims, 90 days), § 81-5-63 (bank deposit affidavit, $12,500), § 91-7-299 (executor compensation; such sum as the court deems proper), § 91-7-281 (attorney fees allowable), § 91-7-41 (oath and bond of executor), § 91-7-45 (when bond not required), § 91-7-67 (oath and bond of administrator; chancellor may waive or reduce), § 91-7-93 (inventory within 90 days of letters; PR states market value), § 91-7-109 (PR MAY employ an appraiser), § 9-5-141 (chancery clerk may admit wills in common form and grant letters), § 25-7-9(2) (chancery clerk filing fees)Verified Jul 15, 2026 Accurate valuation at fair market value can determine whether the estate falls below this threshold. Check eligibility with the Mississippi probate need checker.
High-value items such as art, antiques, jewelry, and collectibles typically require professional appraisals, while typical household items — furniture, electronics, appliances, clothing — can be valued using comparable sales data. Mississippi lets the executor value most property without a formal appraisal, though valuable items still warrant a qualified appraiser.Miss. Code §§ 91-7-93, 91-7-95, 91-7-109Verified Jul 14, 2026
Once the inventory is filed, tangible personal property in Mississippi passes under any specific gifts in the will, then under the will's residuary clause. Without a will, it passes under Mississippi intestate succession. See who receives it with the Mississippi inheritance calculator.
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 Mississippi. The Mississippi probate need checker determines which assets require probate.
Mississippi Estate Planning Resources
In-depth guides covering Mississippi probate laws, trust requirements, and estate planning strategies.

