Probate Intestate Administration & Process & Costs

• Probate of Wills for flat fee of $2500
• Intestate (No Will) administration $2500
• The foregoing does not include court fees which are usually a few hundred dollars
• Dependent court administrations are hourly and require a bond
• Small Estate Affidavit $1000
• Affidavit of heirship $1000
• Deeds $350
• Litigation is hourly

• An administration of an estate can typically take 60-90 days in an independent administration.  The steps are as follows:
• File petition
• Go through the posting and citation process
• Set a hearing
• Be appointed by the court as executor or administrator
• Have court issue letters testamentary or administration
• Notice to creditors
• Estate inventory 
• Notice to heris

Probate administration is the process of getting authority over a decedent's estate to gather the assets of the estate and deal with creditors and liabilities before distributing to the heirs.  The court will issue letters of testamentary or administration after you accept your fiduciary position.

When someone passes away without a Will, the process to probate the estate is through a determination of heirship and seeking letters of administration from the court.

When someone dies, the process of validating a Will through the courts is probating the Will.  Once you are appointed as an executor, you will be issued Letter Testamentary from the court.