Alabama Probate and Intestate Succession: What Happens Without a Will (2026)
What happens without a will in Alabama? Learn how Alabama probate works, intestate succession shares, the small estate threshold, and estate tax rules.
10 min read
Probate Laws
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Alabama Small Estate Affidavit: Limits, Rules and How to Use It
Alabama settles small estates by court petition, not a bank affidavit. See the $47,000 limit, the 30-day notice waits and what the Act can't reach.
11 min read
Alaska Probate and Intestate Succession: What Happens Without a Will (2026)
What happens without a will in Alaska? Learn how Alaska probate works, intestate succession shares, the small estate affidavit, and estate tax rules.
9 min read
Alaska Small Estate Affidavit: $50,000 and $100,000 Vehicle Limits
Alaska allows a small estate affidavit 30 days after death if vehicles total $100,000 or less and other property $50,000 or less (AS 13.16.680).
9 min read
Arizona Probate and Intestate Succession: What Happens Without a Will (2026)
What happens without a will in Arizona? Learn how Arizona probate works, community property intestate shares, the small estate affidavit, and tax rules.
10 min read
Arizona Small Estate Affidavit: $200,000 Limit, Wait and Forms
Arizona's small estate affidavit covers up to $200,000 in personal property after 30 days, and $300,000 in real property after six months. Rules and forms.
10 min read
Arkansas Probate and Intestate Succession: What Happens Without a Will (2026)
Arkansas probate explained: the Circuit Court process, dower and curtesy rights, the $100,000 small estate affidavit, and who inherits without a will.
7 min read
Arkansas Small Estate Affidavit: $100,000 Limit, Wait Time and Form
Arkansas heirs can collect an estate worth up to $100,000 by filing an affidavit with the probate clerk 45 days after death. Rules, Form 23, cars and land.
9 min read
California Expands the Probate Child Support Notice to Cover Heirs
California SB 1264, Chapter 427, rewrites Probate Code section 9202(e): actual knowledge triggers the notice, heirs and beneficiaries are covered, and no one must investigate.
10 min read
California Probate and Intestate Succession: What Happens Without a Will (2026)
California probate explained: the Superior Court process, community property intestate rules, small estate thresholds, and who inherits without a will.
7 min read
California Small Estate Affidavit: $208,850 Limit, Rules and Forms
California small estate affidavit: $208,850 limit for deaths on or after April 1, 2025, 40-day wait, what counts, house and spouse options, and liability.
15 min read
Colorado Probate and Intestate Succession: What Happens Without a Will (2026)
Colorado probate explained: the District Court and Denver Probate Court process, small estate thresholds, and who inherits without a will.
7 min read
Colorado Small Estate Affidavit: $88,000 Limit for 2026 Deaths
Colorado's small estate affidavit limit is $88,000 for 2026 deaths, $86,000 for 2025. Learn the 10-day wait, the JDF 999 form and the DMV's DR 2712 rule.
11 min read
Connecticut Probate and Intestate Succession: What Happens Without a Will (2026)
Connecticut probate explained: the 54 Probate Districts, intestate succession under §45a-437, the $40,000 small estate affidavit, and the 2026 estate tax.
9 min read
Connecticut Small Estate Affidavit: $40,000 Limit, Wait and Form
Connecticut's small estate affidavit (C.G.S. 45a-273) is filed with the Probate Court for estates up to $40,000. See who can file, the 30-day wait and the form.
13 min read
DC Small Estate Affidavit: $40,000 Limit and the $80,000 Court Route
DC's small estate affidavit covers probate estates of $40,000 or less with no real estate, 60 days after death. Estates up to $80,000 can go to court.
12 min read
Delaware Probate and Intestate Succession: What Happens Without a Will (2026)
Delaware probate explained: the Register of Wills, intestate succession under 12 Del. C. §502, the $50,000 small estate threshold, and the estate tax repeal.
8 min read
Delaware Small Estate Affidavit: $50,000 Limit and 30-Day Wait
Delaware's small estate affidavit covers personal estates up to $50,000, 30 days after death, when there is no Delaware real estate. Here is how to get one.
11 min read
District of Columbia Probate and Intestate Succession: What Happens Without a Will (2026)
DC probate explained: the Superior Court Probate Division, intestate succession under §19-302, the $80,000 small estate threshold, and DC's estate tax.
9 min read
Executor and Probate Attorney Fees by State: How They Are Calculated
Executor and probate attorney fees by state: statutory schedules in CA, FL, NY and more, reasonable-fee states, the value used, who pays and how to challenge.
19 min read
Florida Probate and Intestate Succession: What Happens Without a Will (2026)
Florida probate explained: how the process works, who inherits without a will, the new $150,000 small estate threshold, and Florida's estate tax status.
8 min read
Florida Small Estate Affidavit: Limits, Options and 2026 Changes
Florida's only court-free small estate affidavit covers up to $2,000 in bank accounts after 6 months. See the court options up to $150,000 and the July 2026 changes.
12 min read
Georgia Probate and Intestate Succession: What Happens Without a Will (2026)
Georgia probate explained: how the Probate Court process works, who inherits without a will, small estate options, and Georgia's estate tax status.
7 min read
Georgia Small Estate Affidavit: What Georgia Uses Instead
Georgia has no general small estate affidavit. See the alternatives: a bank deposit affidavit, a no-administration order, year's support and car transfers.
7 min read
Hawaii Probate and Intestate Succession: What Happens Without a Will (2026)
Hawaii probate explained: informal vs. formal probate, who inherits without a will under Hawaii's dollar-bracket formula, and Hawaii's estate tax.
8 min read
Hawaii Small Estate Affidavit: $100,000 Limit, Vehicles and Form
Hawaii heirs can collect personal property by affidavit when the gross estate in Hawaii is $100,000 or less (HRS 560:3-1201). Vehicles are exempt.
9 min read
Idaho Probate and Intestate Succession: What Happens Without a Will (2026)
Idaho probate explained: the Magistrate Division process, $100,000 small estate affidavit, and who inherits under Idaho's community property intestate rules.
8 min read
Idaho Small Estate Affidavit: $100,000 Limit, Wait Time and Form
Idaho's small estate affidavit works when the probate estate is $100,000 or less after liens, 30 days after death. Who can sign, the forms and what it covers.
11 min read
Illinois Probate and Intestate Succession: What Happens Without a Will (2026)
Illinois probate explained: the Circuit Court Probate Division process, $150,000 small estate affidavit, $4 million estate tax, and intestate succession rules.
8 min read
Illinois Small Estate Affidavit: $150,000 Limit, Rules and Form
Illinois small estate affidavit: up to $150,000 in personal property for deaths on or after Aug. 15, 2025 ($100,000 before). Rules, form and risks.
10 min read
Indiana Probate and Intestate Succession: What Happens Without a Will (2026)
Indiana probate explained: Circuit and Superior Court process, $100,000 small estate affidavit, and who inherits under Indiana's intestate succession law.
8 min read
Indiana Small Estate Affidavit: $100,000 Limit and How to Use It
Indiana's small estate affidavit: the $100,000 limit after liens and funeral costs, the 45-day wait, what the affidavit must say, and car and house rules.
8 min read
Iowa Probate and Intestate Succession: What Happens Without a Will (2026)
Iowa probate explained: District Court process, small estate options up to $200,000, and who inherits under Iowa Code Ch. 633 if you die without a will.
9 min read
Iowa Small Estate Affidavit: $100,000 Limit and 40-Day Wait
Iowa Code 633.356 lets heirs collect up to $100,000 in personal property by affidavit after 40 days, with no real estate. 2026 HF 2660 raised it from $50,000.
11 min read
Kansas Probate and Intestate Succession: What Happens Without a Will (2026)
Kansas probate explained: District Court process, the $75,000 small estate affidavit, and who inherits under K.S.A. Chapter 59 if you die without a will.
8 min read
Kansas Small Estate Affidavit: $75,000 Limit, Form and Rules
Kansas small estates affidavit (K.S.A. 59-1507b): collect personal property up to $75,000 without probate. Who can sign, the form, and what it covers.
10 min read
Kentucky Probate and Intestate Succession: What Happens Without a Will (2026)
Kentucky probate explained: District Court process, dower and curtesy intestate shares, the $30,000 small estate option, and current inheritance tax rates.
9 min read
Kentucky Small Estate Affidavit: The $30,000 Court Order Route
Kentucky has no bank-ready small estate affidavit. A spouse or children petition the court (AOC-830) to dispense with administration under the $30,000 rule.
11 min read
Louisiana Probate and Intestate Succession: What Happens Without a Will (2026)
Louisiana probate (called succession) explained: forced heirship, spousal usufruct, small succession affidavits, and intestate succession under Louisiana law.
8 min read
Louisiana Small Estate Affidavit (Small Succession): $200,000 Limit
Louisiana's affidavit of small succession covers successions worth $200,000 or less (gross) since Aug. 1, 2026. Who signs, notice rules, recording and limits.
14 min read
Maine Probate and Intestate Succession: What Happens Without a Will (2026)
Maine probate explained: the Probate Court process, intestate succession under 18-C, small estate affidavits, and Maine's state estate tax exemption.
7 min read
Maine Small Estate Affidavit: $52,500 Limit, 30-Day Wait and Form
Maine's small estate affidavit (18-C M.R.S. 3-1201): $52,500 limit for 2026 deaths, a 30-day wait, form AF-102, no court filing, and what it cannot transfer.
9 min read
Maryland Probate and Intestate Succession: What Happens Without a Will (2026)
Maryland probate explained: the Orphans' Court process, intestate succession, small estate thresholds, and Maryland's dual estate and inheritance tax.
7 min read
Maryland Small Estate Affidavit? How the $50,000 Small Estate Works
Maryland has no small estate affidavit. Estates of $50,000 or less ($100,000 to a sole spouse) open with the Register of Wills, with no fee. Here is how.
11 min read
Massachusetts Probate and Intestate Succession: What Happens Without a Will (2026)
Massachusetts probate explained: Probate and Family Court process, intestate succession under MGL c.190B, small estate rules, and the $2M state estate tax.
8 min read
Massachusetts Small Estate Affidavit: $25,000 Voluntary Administration
Massachusetts uses voluntary administration for estates of $25,000 or less in personal property plus a car: file form MPC 170 after 30 days. Rules and fees.
10 min read
Michigan Probate and Intestate Succession: What Happens Without a Will (2026)
Michigan probate explained: EPIC’s informal, formal, and supervised tracks, intestate succession under MCL 700.2102, and the $53,000 small estate limit.
8 min read
Michigan Small Estate Affidavit: Limits, Rules and How to Use It
Michigan's small estate affidavit (PC 598) works 28 days after death if there is no real property and the estate fits the limit ($53,000 for 2026 deaths).
10 min read
Minnesota Probate and Intestate Succession: What Happens Without a Will (2026)
Minnesota probate explained: District Court process, intestate succession under Minn. Stat. 524.2-102, small estate affidavit rules, and the $3M estate tax.
7 min read
Minnesota Small Estate Affidavit: $75,000 Limit, Wait Time and Form
Minnesota successors can collect up to $75,000 in personal property by affidavit 30 days after a death. See who signs, the PRO202 form and when probate applies.
9 min read
Mississippi Probate and Intestate Succession: What Happens Without a Will (2026)
Learn how Mississippi probate works, who inherits without a will, and the state's 2020 small estate and muniment of title thresholds.
8 min read
Mississippi Small Estate Affidavit: $75,000 Limit, Wait Time and Rules
Mississippi's small estate affidavit covers estates up to $75,000 after a 30-day wait (Miss. Code 91-7-322). Who can sign, what it covers, cars and land.
10 min read
Missouri Probate and Intestate Succession: What Happens Without a Will (2026)
Learn how Missouri probate works, who inherits under the state's intestate succession law, and the small estate affidavit threshold.
7 min read
Missouri Small Estate Affidavit: $40,000 Limit, Bond and Forms
Missouri's small estate affidavit (RSMo 473.097) covers estates up to $40,000 net, 30 days after death. It is filed in probate court with a bond.
12 min read
Montana Court: Public Record Alone Doesn't Start the Fraud Clock
Montana's Supreme Court reversed summary judgment in a Big Sky estate and LLC dispute, holding a public filing alone does not fix when a fraud claim accrued.
15 min read
Montana Probate and Intestate Succession: What Happens Without a Will (2026)
Learn how Montana probate works under the Uniform Probate Code, who inherits without a will, and the small estate thresholds.
7 min read
Montana Small Estate Affidavit: $100,000 Limit, Wait Time and Form
Montana's small estate affidavit works when the probate estate is $100,000 or less after liens, 30 days after death. The court form, vehicle rules and limits.
10 min read
Nebraska Probate and Intestate Succession: What Happens Without a Will (2026)
Nebraska probate goes through County Court. Learn the intestate succession shares, the $100,000 small estate affidavit, and Nebraska's inheritance tax rules.
8 min read
Nebraska Small Estate Affidavit: $100,000 Limit, Wait Time and Form
Nebraska's small estate affidavit covers up to $100,000 of personal property after a 30-day wait, with a separate $100,000 affidavit for real estate.
11 min read
Nevada Probate and Intestate Succession: What Happens Without a Will (2026)
Nevada probate goes through District Court. Learn how community property, the 2025 SB 404 threshold increases, and intestate succession work in Nevada.
7 min read