DG
daughter_grieving_lOPApr 30, 2026dad passed in march. his estate is small — bank account ~$28k, an old car worth maybe $4k, no real estate. lawyers i've talked to want $4-6k for full probate. seems like a lot for $32k.
dad passed in march. his estate is small — bank account ~$28k, an old car worth maybe $4k, no real estate. lawyers i've talked to want $4-6k for full probate. seems like a lot for $32k.
most states have a "small estate affidavit" procedure for estates under a threshold ($50k-$184k depending on state). you fill out a form, present at the bank/DMV, transfer assets without probate. costs nothing. 30-day waiting period in most states.
+1. small estate affidavit is the right path for $32k. find your state's specific form on the AOC or court website. complicated cases (disputes among heirs, debts) need a probate attorney but yours sounds straightforward.
also note: pay-on-death bank accounts and vehicle titles with TOD beneficiaries skip probate ENTIRELY. check whether dad's accounts had beneficiaries listed. that may simplify things further.