A reference for U.S. probate small estates
Find your state’s small-estate threshold and the procedure to skip probate.
Most U.S. states allow heirs to settle a modest estate with a sworn affidavit instead of full probate. We document the threshold, the form, and the court for each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Browse by state
Color is by threshold tightness — not by “good” or “bad.” Low thresholds simply require a different procedure.
50 states & DC · last verified 2026-05-04
Under $25k$25k–$100k$100k+Structural test — see page
AlabamaAL
$37,075
AlaskaAK
$50,000
ArizonaAZ
$200,000
ArkansasAR
$100,000
CaliforniaCA
$208,850
ColoradoCO
$86,000
ConnecticutCT
$40,000
DelawareDE
$30,000
District of ColumbiaDC
$80,000
FloridaFL
$75,000
GeorgiaGA
see page
HawaiiHI
$100,000
IdahoID
$100,000
IllinoisIL
$150,000
IndianaIN
$100,000
IowaIA
$50,000
KansasKS
$75,000
KentuckyKY
$30,000
LouisianaLA
$125,000
MaineME
$51,100
MarylandMD
$50,000
MassachusettsMA
$25,000
MichiganMI
$51,000
MinnesotaMN
$75,000
MississippiMS
$75,000
MissouriMO
$40,000
MontanaMT
$100,000
NebraskaNE
$100,000
NevadaNV
$25,000
New HampshireNH
see page
New JerseyNJ
$20,000
New MexicoNM
$50,000
New YorkNY
$50,000
North CarolinaNC
$20,000
North DakotaND
$100,000
OhioOH
$35,000
OklahomaOK
$50,000
OregonOR
$75,000
PennsylvaniaPA
$50,000
Rhode IslandRI
$15,000
South CarolinaSC
$25,000
South DakotaSD
$100,000
TennesseeTN
$50,000
TexasTX
$75,000
UtahUT
$100,000
VermontVT
$45,000
VirginiaVA
$75,000
WashingtonWA
$100,000
West VirginiaWV
$50,000
WisconsinWI
$50,000
WyomingWY
$400,000
Before you file
01Jointly held vs solely ownedProperty held with rights of survivorship usually passes outside probate.02Beneficiary-designated assetsTOD/POD accounts, retirement, and life insurance bypass probate entirely.03Intestate successionWho inherits if there is no will — your state's default ordering.04When full probate is unavoidableThe honest page about what this site can't resolve for you.