About
Each US state's small estate procedure: the dollar limit, which deaths it applies to, the waiting period, real estate rules and official forms, with the statute and the date checked.
Site information
| Site | Small Estate Limits |
|---|---|
| URL | https://smallestatelimits.com |
| Published by | The Small Estate Limits editorial team |
| Started | 2026 |
| Contact | Contact page |
Why this site exists
Small estate limits differ by state, some are adjusted every few years, and the date of death decides which limit applies. Pages that list them are often out of date, and many do not give the statute or the effective date.
We keep a dated record for each state, built from the statute and the court's own materials.
How we check things
- We read the official source - the statute, the agency's publication, the company's own page - and record what is printed there.
- Every figure carries the date we checked it. Figures change, and a date lets you judge whether a page is still current.
- When we cannot confirm something, the page says it is unconfirmed. We do not estimate a figure or a date to fill a gap.
- When a figure changes, we update the page and keep the earlier figure with its dates where that helps.
How pages are written
We draft pages with the help of AI tools. Before a page is published, every figure, date and quotation on it is checked against the source the page cites, and those sources are listed at the end of the page. Where a check is not possible, the page says so.
What we do not do
We are not a law firm, and nothing here is legal advice. Whether an estate qualifies depends on facts we do not know, such as how each asset was owned and who the heirs are. The court's self-help center or a probate attorney in the state can help with a specific estate.
We do not accept payment to include a company or a product, to leave one out, or to describe it in a particular way.
How the site makes money
Some links to companies may be affiliate links. If you buy or sign up through one, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. What we cover and what we say about it is decided before any link is added, and a company with no affiliate program is covered the same way as one that pays. This is disclosed at the top of every page and next to the links themselves. See the privacy policy for the full detail.
Corrections
If a limit, a date, a statute citation or a form on this site is wrong, tell us and we will fix it and note the change on the page. Corrections go to our contact page.