California Small-Estate Limits Checker

Check the limit

How to read the result

1. The limit follows the date of death, not the filing date. A death on March 31, 2025 uses the middle band; a death on April 1, 2025 uses the current band. The next adjustment is April 1, 2028.
2. The three guided procedures are different instruments. The personal-property affidavit is given to the holder after 40 days. The real-property affidavit is filed with the court after 6 months. The primary-residence petition needs a hearing and a court order. Do not swap their waits or their forms.
3. The other three rows state limits only. The set-aside, the section 13050(c) exclusion, and the unpaid-compensation affidavit have no guide on this site; their limits come from the same DE-300 table. See form DE-300 for the governing table.
4. A stale figure circulates for the personal-property affidavit. Some California Courts pages still show $184,500. Form DE-300 governs: $208,850 for deaths on or after April 1, 2025.
5. Open the guide for the full procedure. The personal-property affidavit, the real-property affidavit, and the primary-residence petition give the steps, attachments, and notice duties behind the numbers above.

Source

Dollar limits from Judicial Council Form DE-300, revised April 28, 2025, opened in full, and the California Courts simple-transfer limits table. Facts verified 2026-10-29.

This page explains how the process works and what the official rules say. It is general information, not legal advice. For advice about a specific estate, talk to a California probate attorney or the court self-help center.