Free probate advance calculator
Probate Advance Calculator
Estimate how much cash you can receive now against your expected inheritance. Enter your estate value, debts, ownership share, and probate timeline — and see a realistic advance range in seconds. No credit pull. No personal information required.
Researching the cost of probate itself first? Try the probate cost calculator.
Estimate your possible advance
Use this calculator for a directional estimate. Final numbers depend on the probate file, documentation, and review outcome. Percentages match the examples on our pricing page for each timeline band.
Estimated results
Results are estimates for planning purposes. Your final offer depends on the estate, the state, document quality, and verified beneficiary share. 48 Hour Probate makes every offer in writing before you sign.
What to put in each field
The calculator is only as good as the numbers you feed it. Four inputs do most of the work — here's how to think about each one.
Gross estate value
Include all probate assets: real estate at current fair market value, bank and brokerage accounts titled in the decedent's name, vehicles, personal property of meaningful value, and closely held business interests. Exclude non-probate assets (joint tenancy, beneficiary-designated retirement accounts, life insurance with a named beneficiary) — those bypass probate and do not enter the calculation.
Estate debts and expenses
Outstanding mortgages on probate real estate, secured loans, credit cards, medical and funeral bills, income and estate taxes, attorney fees, executor commissions, appraisal and bond premiums, and court costs. Percentage-based executor and attorney fees (common in states like California, Florida, and New York) can reach 4–5% of the estate — a material drag on your distribution.
Your ownership percentage
Your exact share as defined in the will or by state intestacy law. For example: a spouse and two children under a will may split the residuary 50 / 25 / 25. If you are one of four equal siblings with no spouse, your share is 25%. Specific bequests ("I leave my coin collection to my nephew") are pulled off the top before the residuary is divided.
Expected time to probate close
Simple uncontested estates with no real property typically close in 6–12 months. Real-estate-heavy estates, out-of-state assets, and missing heirs stretch to 12–24 months. Will contests, trust-vs-estate disputes, and tax audits can push past 24–36 months. Your state's rules, the county's court backlog, and the executor's pace all matter.
Example scenarios
Four representative estate profiles showing how the inputs translate into an approximate advance range. Your actual numbers depend on state-specific factors, document quality, and verified beneficiary share.
| Scenario | Estate | Debts / expenses | Your share | Timeline | Expected inheritance | Sample advance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small estate, fast close | $150,000 | $20,000 | 100% | 6–9 months | $130,000 | $30,000 – $50,000 |
| Mid-size, typical timeline | $500,000 | $90,000 | 50% | 9–14 months | $205,000 | $60,000 – $120,000 |
| Large estate with real estate | $1,200,000 | $250,000 | 33% | 14–24 months | ~$314,000 | $90,000 – $200,000 |
| Contested / slow estate | $400,000 | $70,000 | 25% | 18–36 months | ~$82,500 | $15,000 – $35,000 |
Frequently asked questions
How accurate is the probate advance calculator?
The calculator gives a directional estimate based on typical industry discount ranges and the information you enter. Your actual approved amount depends on the estate's assets and liabilities, the state's probate timeline, the strength of the documents, and your verified beneficiary share. Final offers are always provided in writing before you sign anything.
What inputs does the calculator need?
Gross estate value, estimated estate debts and expenses (mortgages, funeral, medical, taxes, attorney fees), your ownership percentage as a beneficiary, and expected time to probate close. These four inputs drive the core math: net estate, your expected distribution, and a discount range for the advance.
Why does expected time to close matter?
A probate advance company waits for the estate to distribute. The longer that takes, the more time-value and risk the funder absorbs, which affects the discount. A 6-month close is priced very differently than a 24-month close with real-estate sales and potential will contests.
Is there a minimum or maximum advance amount?
Most heir-side probate advances in the US range from a few thousand dollars to several hundred thousand, and in some cases over a million. At 48 Hour Probate, we regularly fund between $5,000 and $250,000 per heir, scaling up for larger expected distributions.
Will using the calculator affect my credit?
No. The calculator runs entirely in your browser. We do not pull credit, store personally identifying information, or report any activity to credit bureaus. You can run as many scenarios as you like without any credit impact.
What if the estate pays less than I estimated?
That's our risk, not yours. A probate advance is non-recourse: we collect only from your actual share at distribution. If the estate underperforms and your share is smaller than the calculator suggested, we absorb the shortfall. You never owe us out of pocket.
Can I use the calculator for a probate I'm not officially opened yet?
Yes, to estimate. Funding an advance does require probate to be opened in the relevant county and a personal representative appointed, but you can use the calculator at any point — including before filing — to get a sense of what the advance could look like once probate starts.
What if there are multiple heirs?
Enter only your ownership percentage (the share you personally receive). The calculator estimates your individual advance, not the estate as a whole. Other heirs can run their own numbers separately — our funding decisions are made heir-by-heir, not for the estate collectively.
Numbers look promising? Let's make it real.
Use the calculator as a starting point, then submit a free, no-obligation review. We'll confirm your eligibility and make a written offer you can take your time with.
Sources and references
- American Bar Association (2024). Guide to Wills and Estates — Probate Timelines
- Cornell Legal Information Institute (Current). Probate (Wex Legal Dictionary)
- Internal Revenue Service (2024). Form 706 — United States Estate (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Return
- Nolo (2024). Executor Fees by State.