When leaving assets to your survivors, you may think that your estate is too large for your heirs to take advantage of Small Estate laws. In some states, if the value of your assets is larger than the Small Estate dollar limit, your heirs may be able to go other routes to avoid or shorten the probate process.
You have to plan in advance and research your state’s laws because there is a good chance that your estate may qualify for Small Estate status. In some states, assets may be listed as different types of property or, even, omitted in the process. A little due diligence and research may save your survivors money and time during probate.
Every state has a dollar limit on Small Estates. Some are actually fairly high. And, for others, the amount is very low. Below is a list of the states that have the highest and lowest dollar limits on Small Estates:
Highest Small Estate Limits:
1. Oregon – $275,000
2. Wyoming, Oklahoma – $150,000
3. California, Nevada, West Virginia, Washington, Ohio, Iowa, Illinois, Idaho, Hawaii, Arkansas – $100,000
Lowest Small Estate Limits:
1. Georgia, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Vermont – $10,000
2. Alaska, Kentucky, Michigan, Rhode Island – $15,000
3. Maine, New Jersey, North Carolina – $20,000
Small Estate Limits by State
Choose your state from the list below to find out more about Small Estate limits for your state and more information about how to fill out Small Estate Affidavit forms.
- Alabama Small Estate Limit – $25,000
- Alaska Small Estate Limit – $15,000
- Arizona Small Estate Limit – $75,000
- Arkansas Small Estate Limit – $100,000
- California Small Estate Limit – $100,000
- Colorado Small Estate Limit – $50,000
- Connecticut Small Estate Limit – $40,000
- Delaware Small Estate Limit – $30,000
- District of Columbia Small Estate Limit – $40,000
- Florida Small Estate Limit – $75,000
- Georgia Small Estate Limit – $10,000
- Hawaii Small Estate Limit – $100,000
- Idaho Small Estate Limit – $100,000
- Illinois Small Estate Limit – $100,000
- Indiana Small Estate Limit – $50,000
- Iowa Small Estate Limit – $100,000
- Kansas Small Estate Limit – $40,000
- Kentucky Small Estate Limit – $15,000
- Louisiana Small Estate Limit – $75,000
- Maine Small Estate Limit – $20,000
- Maryland Small Estate Limit – $30,000
- Massachusetts Small Estate Limit – $25,000
- Michigan Small Estate Limit – $15,000
- Minnesota Small Estate Limit – $50,000
- Mississippi Small Estate Limit – $50,000
- Missouri Small Estate Limit – $40,000
- Montana Small Estate Limit – $50,000
- Nebraska Small Estate Limit – $30,000
- Nevada Small Estate Limit – $100,000
- New Hampshire Small Estate Limit – $10,000
- New Jersey Small Estate Limit – $20,000
- New Mexico Small Estate Limit – $30,000
- New York Small Estate Limit – $30,000
- North Carolina Small Estate Limit – $20,000
- North Dakota Small Estate Limit – $50,000
- Ohio Small Estate Limit – $100,000
- Oklahoma Small Estate Limit – $150,000
- Oregon Small Estate Limit – $275,000*
- Pennsylvania Small Estate Limit – $25,000
- Rhode Island Small Estate Limit – $15,000
- South Carolina Small Estate Limit – $10,000
- South Dakota Small Estate Limit – $50,000
- Tennessee Small Estate Limit – $25,000
- Texas Small Estate Limit – $50,000
- Utah Small Estate Limit – $25,000
- Vermont Small Estate Limit – $10,000
- Virginia Small Estate Limit – $50,000
- Washington Small Estate Limit – $100,000
- West Virginia Small Estate Limit – $100,000
- Wisconsin Small Estate Limit – $50,000
- Wyoming Small Estate Limit – $150,000