This is reference, not legal advice.

A reference for state probate

SmallEstateMap documents the small-estate-affidavit threshold, the form, the waiting period, and the court for each of the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. We cite the controlling statute and link the official source on every state page.

Not legal advice for your case

This site is not legal advice for your specific situation. It is not a substitute for a licensed probate attorney. Reading the site does not create an attorney-client relationship with anyone, and using the site does not establish one either.

State law changes

We re-verify each state quarterly against the controlling statute and the court’s published forms. Even so, a statute can change, a form can be replaced, or a court can update its procedure between our last verification and your read. The Last verified date on each state page tells you when that page was last checked. For your case, confirm the current statute before you file.

Consult a licensed attorney

For your specific case, consult a probate attorney admitted in your state. Small-estate procedures are deliberately accessible to non-lawyers, but a brief paid consultation can save costly missteps — especially when there is real property, contested heirs, debt that may exceed assets, or out-of-state property.

Affiliate disclosure

Some pages link to Trust & Will, an attorney-supported online probate-filing service. If you click through and become a customer, we may earn a referral fee. Affiliate fees do not change the price you pay, and they do not change which states or statutes we document. The disclosure appears in the footer of every page and on our privacy page in full.

Pending editorial review by a licensed probate attorney.

The site has no editorial reviewer of record at the time of publication. Once a licensed probate attorney is engaged for the editorial review, their name and bar number will appear in the footer and on the about page. Until then, this site is reference-only — please verify state-specific procedure with a licensed attorney before you act.

Most visitors find this site shortly after a death in the family. We have tried to write it accurately and respectfully. If you find an error, please write to [email protected].