Depending on the type of California probate you file, there could be other third-party costs associated with filing your probate proceeding. Remember, these costs are in addition to document preparation service fees or attorney fees should you hire a professional to help you.
When filing full probate, you can typically expect an additional $1,000 to $2,000 in court costs and other required fees. Common third-party costs in a typical full California probate include:
Court filing fee to file initial Petition: This fee is currently $435.00 for most courts. Some courts also charge an extra $30 court reporter fee. Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Francisco counties have slightly higher filing fees.
The fee to lodge original Will – Most courts charge$50 to deposit the original Will.
Newspaper publication – Full probates require advertisement in a newspaper to notice the filing of the Petition. This fee varies, depending on which paper is proper for publication.  To avoid problems with this critical process, A People’s Choice requires all publications to be facilitated by Pfanstiel Newspaper Service Bureau, a company that facilitates publication services in all California Counties. Pfanstiel will typeset the notice and coordinate the publication with the proper paper. The average fee for publication is $250, however, with smaller newspapers, the cost can run as high as $600-$700.
Certified copy of Letters – In full probate, the Court Clerk will issue a certified copy of Letters. The fee is approximately $25 per certified copy. It is recommended to get 2-3 certified copies of the issued Letters. The court does not grant Letters in small estate proceedings.
Probate Referee – The probate referee is assigned by the court to value the assets of the estate. The probate referee is allowed to charge statutory fees of 1/10th of 1% (.001) of the gross value of all assets they appraise. In addition, they can charge nominal fees for mileage and copies. A probate referee is required for full probate as well as all small estate proceedings, but not for a spousal property petition.
The filing fee for Petition for Final Distribution – In full probate, this fee is the same as for the initial Probate Petition, currently $435.00 for most courts. As with the original Petition, most courts also charge an additional $30.00 court reporter fee. The counties of Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Francisco charge slightly higher fees.
Certified copy of Order – Approximately $25
Recording Fee – Approximately $30-$50.