TheProbateCourt.com — The Ultimate Probate Research Hub
HomeUS MapLos Angeles
City #1 of 20 — Probate Court Profile

Los Angeles

Los Angeles County, California
complex Cost
Annual Filings
~25,000–30,000
Daily Filing Rate
100–120 filings
Active Docket
~40,000–60,000 active matters
Small Estate Threshold
$184,500

Court Overview

Court Name
Los Angeles Superior Court — Probate Division
Population Served
~10,000,000 (LA County, 2024 est.)
Fee Structure
Statutory
Per-Judge Caseload
~2,000–3,500 new filings per judge per year
Legal Authority
California Probate Code §§ 10800–10814 (statutory fee schedule); CPC § 13100 (small estate affidavit — $184,500 threshold)
Estate/Inheritance Tax
None
Unique Feature / Key Distinction

Largest probate court in the US by volume. Mandatory e-filing via eCourt. International estate complexity common. Statutory fee schedule applies.

Case Timelines

Case TypeDurationNotes
Simple affidavit (under $184,500)30–90 daysNo court filing required
Formal testate administration12–18 monthsCreditor notice; inventory; accounting
Complex administration18–36 monthsMultiple assets; real estate; creditor disputes
Contested estate / will contest24–60+ monthsFull civil discovery; possible jury
Guardianship/conservatorship (establishment)3–6 monthsInvestigator report; hearing; annual reports

Cost Benchmarks

Estate ValueAttorney FeesExecutor FeesTotal Est. Cost% of Estate
$500,000$13,000 (statutory)$13,000 (statutory)$30,000–$50,000+6.0%–10.0%
$2,000,000$33,000 (statutory)$33,000 (statutory)$70,000–$120,000+3.5%–6.0%
$5,000,000$73,000 (statutory)$73,000 (statutory)$150,000–$280,000+3.0%–5.6%

* Estimates based on Probate Insider Reference Series 2026. Actual costs vary. Not legal advice.

Key Facts

  • 1Largest probate court in the US by annual filing volume
  • 2California statutory fee: 4% of first $100K, 3% of next $100K, 2% of next $800K, 1% of next $9M
  • 3No California state estate tax
  • 4Small estate affidavit threshold: $184,500
  • 5Mandatory e-filing (eCourt) for all attorneys
  • 6International estate complexity is common due to LA's global population

At a Glance

Cost CategoryComplex
Fee StructureStatutory
Annual Filings~25,000–30,000
Active Docket~40,000–60,000 active matters
Small Estate$184,500
StateCalifornia
Tax Status
✓ No State Estate Tax
Browse Cities
Disclaimer: All data is sourced from the Probate Insider Reference Series 2026. This information is for research purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Costs and timelines are estimates and vary by case.
Back to US Map