Skip to main content
SimplyTrust
SimplyTrust
Create a TrustNewForms & ToolsFreeResourcesStates
LoginGet started
FormsFormsToolsTools
FormsTools
Company
AboutCareersContactFormsCreate a TrustNew
Privacy PolicyTerms of ServiceSecurityAI Access

© 2026 SimplyTrust Software Inc.

SimplyTrust Logo

Every family deserves a plan. We'll help.

Get startedApp StoreGoogle Play

Forms

  • Revocable Trust
  • Last Will
  • Pour-Over Will
  • Healthcare Proxy
  • Financial POA
  • Transfer on Death Deed

Tools

  • Trust vs Will
  • Probate Calculator
  • Who Inherits
  • Estate Settlement
  • Death Tax Calculator
  • Life Insurance

Learn

  • Revocable Living Trusts
  • Last Will and Testaments
  • Articles
  • State Guides
  • Estate Law
  • Life Events

Directories

  • Law Firms
  • Financial Assets
  • Digital Assets
  • Government Agencies

Company

  • About
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Create a Trust

SimplyTrust is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, legal counsel, or attorney review. Information on this platform is for general informational purposes only. Use of SimplyTrust does not create an attorney-client relationship. You are solely responsible for all documents you create. For advice tailored to your circumstances, consult a licensed attorney in your state.

© 2026 SimplyTrust Software Inc. All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy·Terms of Service·Security··AI Access

All content, data, and calculations are proprietary. Automated scraping, systematic downloading, or data extraction is prohibited under our Terms of Service. Product visuals are simulated for illustrative purposes and may differ from actual experience. Logos provided by Logo.dev.

A will is a wish. A trust is a plan.

Create and manage your trust online.

How it works

No probate. No public record. No court.

Estate Ledger

Every decision signed, timestamped, and hashed

Pricing

Simple, transparent pricing

Download

Get the app on iOS and Android

Home→Tools→Self-File Probate Assessment

Do I Need a Lawyer for Probate?

Find out if you can handle probate yourself, see estimated cost savings vs. hiring an attorney, and get a step-by-step filing checklist for your state.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, in most states you can file probate without a lawyer. The process is most manageable for simple estates with a clear will, few beneficiaries, and no disputes. Many courts offer self-help centers and standardized forms to assist self-filers.

Savings vary widely by state and estate size. In states with statutory attorney fees (like California), self-filing a $500,000 estate could save $10,000-$15,000 in attorney fees. In reasonable-fee states, savings depend on hourly rates and estate complexity. Use our Probate Cost Calculator to estimate total costs and our Executor Fee Calculator to see executor compensation.

Self-filing is not a fit when the will is contested, creditor disputes exist, the estate includes business assets or out-of-state property, special needs beneficiaries are involved, or significant family conflict is present. These situations benefit from professional legal guidance.

Informal probate involves minimal court supervision and is processed by a court clerk without a hearing. Formal probate requires court hearings and judge approval at key steps. Informal probate is much easier to handle without an attorney.

No. Many attorneys offer unbundled or limited-scope services where they help with specific tasks like preparing the petition, handling real estate transfers, or filing tax returns, while you manage the rest yourself.

Self-filed probate typically takes the same amount of time as attorney-filed probate (6-18 months depending on the state and complexity). The process may take slightly longer if you need extra time to learn procedures, but the legal timeline is the same.

Yes. A revocable living trust passes assets directly to beneficiaries without probate — no court filing, no attorney fees, no statutory waiting period. A trust isn't retroactive, so this applies to your own future planning rather than an estate already in probate. A revocable trust built with SimplyTrust takes about 15 minutes.

Can You File Probate Yourself?

Many estates can be probated without an attorney, especially in states with simplified procedures or strong court self-help resources. Self-filing can save thousands of dollars in attorney fees.

The key factors are estate complexity, your state's probate system, and whether any complicating issues exist like contested wills, creditor disputes, or out-of-state property.

States that have adopted the Uniform Probate Code (UPC) generally have simpler, more self-filer-friendly processes. States with informal probate or independent administration also reduce the need for attorney involvement.

Even when full self-filing doesn't fit the situation, many attorneys offer unbundled services that handle specific complex tasks while the executor manages the rest.

Your kids shouldn't have to do this.

Court filings, creditor windows, frozen accounts — a revocable living trust skips them all.

Get startedApp StoreGoogle Play
$

Total probate assets (exclude beneficiary-designated accounts)

Can you self-file probate?

Enter your state and estate value to get a personalized recommendation with estimated cost savings.

Score-based assessment with reasoning

Cost comparison vs. hiring an attorney

This tool provides general information about self-filing probate and is not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.

SimplyTrust

We're here when you're ready

Is this your situation?

Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.

Named as Executor

Named as Executor

Being named executor means navigating probate, managing assets, and distributing the estate. What's expected, what you can charge, and how to start.

Learn more