Pricing
One flat fee per path. No hourly billing, no add-ons.
Attorneys bill by the hour and other services add charges for every heir, co-petitioner and property. We charge a single flat fee for each path — every document prepared and reviewed by a licensed California Legal Document Assistant. Prices below are live; nothing is hidden.
See If You Qualify →Out-of-court transfers
No court hearing — a notarized affidavit or filing does the work.
Small Estate Affidavit · §13100
Bank, brokerage, retirement under $208,850
- Court hearingNo
- RecordingNo
- Typical timelineDay 41 onward
Affidavit of Death of Joint Tenant
A home held in joint tenancy
- Court hearingNo
- RecordingReal Estate Only
- Typical timeline1 – 2 weeks
Affidavit – Death of Spouse
A home passing to a surviving spouse
- Court hearingNo
- RecordingReal Estate Only
- Typical timeline1 – 2 weeks
Affidavit of Death of Transferor
A home with a transfer-on-death deed
- Court hearingNo
- RecordingReal Estate Only
- Typical timeline1 – 2 weeks
DE-305 AffidavitNew 2026
A modest property under $69,625
- Court hearingNo
- RecordingReal Estate Only
- Typical timeline6 mo. wait + 2 weeks
DMV REG 5 · HCD RT 475.2
Vehicles, Boats and Mobile Homes
- Court hearingNo
- RecordingNo
- Typical timelineDay 41 onward
Court petitions
A streamlined court process — far faster and cheaper than full probate.
Petition for Succession · AB 2016New 2025 Law
A primary residence under $750,000
- Court hearingYes
- RecordingReal Estate Only
- Typical timeline4 – 6 months
Spousal Property Petition · DE-221
Anything passing to a surviving spouse
- Court hearingYes
- RecordingReal Estate Only
- Typical timeline6 – 10 weeks
Trust
Settle a living trust without opening probate.
Trust Submission · §16061.7
Settle a straightforward trust
- Court hearingNo
- RecordingReal Estate Only
- Typical timeline2 – 8 weeks
Full Trust Administration
A complex trust to administer in full
- Court hearingNo
- RecordingReal Estate Only
- Typical timelineVaries
Heggstad Petition · §850
An asset that should be in a trust — but isn't
- Court hearingYes
- RecordingReal Estate Only
- Typical timelineVaries
Full probate
When no simpler path fits — court-supervised, handled in phases.
Open the estate · Petition for Probate (DE-111)
Full Probate — Phase 1
- Court hearingYes
- RecordingNo
- Typical timelineVaries
Administer · Inventory & creditor claims
Full Probate — Phase 2
- Court hearingYes
- RecordingNo
- Typical timelineVaries
Close · Final accounting & distribution
Full Probate — Phase 3
- Court hearingYes
- RecordingReal Estate Only
- Typical timelineVaries
Bundle the whole process at signup
Full Probate — Complete (all phases)
- Court hearingYes
- RecordingReal Estate Only
- Typical timelineVaries
Common questions
Is the fee really flat?Yes — one fee per path, every required form included, with no add-ons for extra heirs, co-petitioners or properties. Pass-through costs are separate and never retained by us: court filing fees (about $435 per court path), county recording fees ($15–$25 per page), and the probate-referee fee where a court requires an appraisal are itemized at checkout and paid directly to the court or county.
When do I pay?Nothing to start. You only pay once the screener confirms a path fits and you choose to proceed.
Not sure which path you need?The 2-minute screener checks every California path that applies to your situation — often more than one — and shows the price for each. Start the screener →
ProbateClear is a document preparation software platform, not a law firm. Our flat fee covers document preparation and independent review by a California-registered Legal Document Assistant; it is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Court filing fees, county recording fees and any probate-referee fee are pass-through costs paid directly to the court or county — itemized at checkout, never retained by ProbateClear.