The most comprehensive independent reference on US probate courts. Full-length wiki articles covering 30 major counties across 8 states — verified data, real costs, attorney intelligence, statutory citations, and everything families need to understand the probate process.
Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles County is the largest probate jurisdiction in the United States. With a population of 9.8M and approximately 19,046 probate cases filed annually, the system processes r...
San Diego, CA
San Diego County is a major probate jurisdiction serving a population of 3.3M with approximately 3,704 probate cases filed annually. The system processes roughly ~925 cases per jud...
Santa Ana, CA
Orange County is a high-value probate jurisdiction serving a population of 3.2M with approximately 3,500 probate cases filed annually. The system processes roughly ~875 cases per j...
Riverside, CA
Riverside County is a rapidly growing probate jurisdiction in California's Inland Empire, serving a population of 2.5M with approximately 2,800 probate cases filed annually. The sy...
San Bernardino, CA
San Bernardino County is the largest county by area in the contiguous United States, serving a population of 2.2M with approximately 2,400 probate cases filed annually. The system ...
San Jose, CA
Santa Clara County — the heart of Silicon Valley — is a uniquely complex probate jurisdiction serving a population of 1.9M with approximately 3,000 probate cases filed annually. Th...
Oakland, CA
Alameda County is a significant probate jurisdiction serving a population of 1.7M with approximately 2,800 probate cases filed annually. The system processes roughly ~950 cases per...
Sacramento, CA
Sacramento County is California's state capital probate jurisdiction, serving a population of 1.6M with approximately 2,200 probate cases filed annually. The system processes rough...
Martinez, CA
Contra Costa County is an East Bay probate jurisdiction serving a population of 1.2M with approximately 1,600 probate cases filed annually. The system processes roughly ~800 cases ...
Fresno, CA
Fresno County is California's agricultural heartland probate jurisdiction, serving a population of 1.0M with approximately 1,400 probate cases filed annually. The system processes ...
Miami, FL
Miami-Dade County is Florida's largest and most internationally complex probate jurisdiction, serving a population of 2.7M with approximately 10,000 probate cases filed annually. T...
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Broward County (Fort Lauderdale) is a major Florida probate jurisdiction serving a population of 1.9M with approximately 7,500 probate cases filed annually. The system processes ro...
West Palm Beach, FL
Palm Beach County is Florida's highest-net-worth probate jurisdiction, serving a population of 1.5M with approximately 6,000 probate cases filed annually. The system processes roug...
Tampa, FL
Hillsborough County (Tampa) is a rapidly growing Florida probate jurisdiction serving a population of 1.5M with approximately 5,500 probate cases filed annually. The system process...
Chicago, IL
Cook County (Chicago) is the largest probate jurisdiction in the Midwest, serving a population of 5.1M with approximately 12,000–15,000 probate cases filed annually across approxim...
Wheaton, IL
Du Page County is an affluent Chicago suburb probate jurisdiction serving a population of 932K with approximately 2,800–3,500 probate cases filed annually. The system processes rou...
Manhattan, NY
New York County (Manhattan) Surrogate's Court is the highest-value probate jurisdiction in the United States, serving a population of 1.6M with approximately 8,000–10,000 probate c...
Brooklyn, NY
Kings County (Brooklyn) Surrogate's Court is New York's most populous borough probate jurisdiction, serving a population of 2.6M with approximately 6,000–8,000 probate cases filed ...
Queens, NY
Queens County Surrogate's Court serves the most ethnically diverse county in the United States, with a population of 2.3M and approximately 5,000–7,000 probate cases filed annually...
Riverhead, NY
Suffolk County Surrogate's Court serves Long Island's eastern communities, with a population of 1.5M and approximately 4,000–5,500 probate cases filed annually. The system processe...
Mineola, NY
Nassau County Surrogate's Court serves affluent Long Island's western communities, with a population of 1.4M and approximately 3,500–5,000 probate cases filed annually. The system ...
Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia County Orphans' Court is Pennsylvania's largest probate jurisdiction, serving a population of 1.6M with approximately 6,000–8,000 probate cases filed annually. The sys...
Pittsburgh, PA
Allegheny County (Pittsburgh) Orphans' Court is Pennsylvania's second-largest probate jurisdiction, serving a population of 1.2M with approximately 4,000–5,500 probate cases filed ...
Houston, TX
Harris County (Houston) is the largest probate jurisdiction in Texas, serving a population of 4.8M with approximately 16,000–20,000 probate cases filed annually across 4 dedicated ...
Dallas, TX
Dallas County is a major probate jurisdiction serving a population of 2.7M with approximately 9,000–12,000 probate cases filed annually across 2 dedicated statutory probate courts....
Fort Worth, TX
Tarrant County (Fort Worth) is a rapidly growing probate jurisdiction serving a population of 2.1M with approximately 7,000–9,000 probate cases filed annually across 2 dedicated st...
San Antonio, TX
Bexar County (San Antonio) is a major probate jurisdiction serving a population of 2.1M with approximately 7,000–9,000 probate cases filed annually across 2 dedicated statutory pro...
Austin, TX
Travis County (Austin) is a rapidly growing probate jurisdiction serving a population of 1.3M with approximately 5,000–7,000 probate cases filed annually across 2 dedicated statuto...
Key estate tax and probate threshold data across all 8 covered states.
| State | Estate / Inheritance Tax | State Threshold | Small Estate | Fee Structure | Counties Covered |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | No Estate Tax | None | $208,850 | Statutory (§10810) | 10 |
| Texas | No Estate Tax | None | $75,000 | Reasonable / 5% max | 5 |
| Florida | No Estate Tax | None | $75,000 | Statutory (§733.617) | 4 |
| New York | Estate Tax | ~$7.16M (2025) | $50,000 | Hourly / SCPA §2307 | 5 |
| Illinois | Estate Tax | $4M | $100,000 | Reasonable / hourly | 2 |
| Pennsylvania | Inheritance Tax | No threshold — all estates | $50,000 | Reasonable / hourly | 2 |
| Ohio | No Estate Tax | None (repealed 2013) | $35,000 | Statutory (§2113.03) | 1 |
| Michigan | No Estate Tax | None | $15,000 | Reasonable (EPIC) | 1 |
Sources: State court statistical reports, official court websites, state statutes. Federal estate tax exemption: $13.99M (2025). TheProbateCourt.com is an independent research publication — not affiliated with any court or government body.