DIY PROBATE ASSESSMENT

Can You Settle This Estate Yourself?
Find Out Before You Pay for an Attorney

Thinking about DIY probate — handling the estate without a lawyer? You're not alone. Our assessment tells you honestly whether self-managing probate is realistic for your estate, based on your state's laws and your actual situation. Get a personalized three-path recommendation: full DIY, DIY with targeted advice, or attorney-managed. In about 3 minutes.

Get Your Free Preliminary Assessment

You've been handed an estate to settle, and your first instinct is to figure out whether you really need to pay an attorney thousands of dollars to do it. That's a smart question to ask.

The honest answer is: it depends on your estate. Some are genuinely manageable without legal representation. Others have complexity that makes self-managing risky. Our assessment tells you which category yours falls into — specifically, not generically.

The Default Path Is Expensive. But Going DIY Blindly Has Risks Too.

  • ⚠ Probate attorneys charge $250–$500/hour — but not every estate actually needs one
  • ⚠ Without knowing your estate's complexity, self-managing could cost you more in mistakes
  • ⚠ Generic DIY guides don't account for your state's specific rules and thresholds
  • ⚠ You don't know which path — full DIY, occasional help, or full attorney — is actually right for your situation
  • ⚠ Executor liability is real: mistakes in timing, creditor notice, or asset distribution can have personal consequences

Your Three-Path Recommendation. Based on Your Actual Estate.

Our assessment evaluates your estate's complexity, your state's requirements, and your specific circumstances — then recommends one of three paths: full self-management, self-management with occasional professional guidance, or full attorney representation. No generic advice. A recommendation built on your estate's reality.

Why Can't I Just Google This?

Generic DIY probate guides tell you what probate is — but they can't tell you whether your estate qualifies for simplified procedures, or whether your state's threshold changed this year, or whether the asset mix creates complications that change everything.

You need a state-specific, estate-specific analysis — not another article that ends with "consult an attorney." That's exactly what this assessment provides.

In about 3 minutes, you'll know whether self-management is realistic, which path we recommend, and what the process would look like — based on your actual estate and your state's actual laws.

What You'll Get

Self-Management Viability Score

We evaluate factors like estate size, asset types, family complexity, and state-specific requirements to tell you honestly whether DIY probate is realistic for your situation.

Three-Path Recommendation

No competitor offers this: we recommend the right level of involvement — full DIY, DIY with targeted advice, or attorney-managed — based on your estate's actual complexity.

State-Specific Requirements

DIY probate procedures vary dramatically by state. Your assessment is built on your state's exact forms, filing deadlines, publication requirements, and small estate thresholds.

Cost Comparison

See what self-management would actually cost versus full attorney representation for your specific estate — so you can make an informed financial decision.

What's in Your Report

Self-Management Viability

Whether your estate qualifies for DIY handling based on complexity and state requirements

Three-Path Recommendation

Full DIY, DIY with targeted advice, or attorney-managed — with reasoning

State-Specific Procedures

The exact process, forms, and deadlines for your state and estate type

Cost Analysis

DIY costs vs. attorney costs for your specific estate

Executor Risk Flags

Specific factors in your estate that require careful attention to avoid liability

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I really handle probate without a lawyer?

For many estates, yes. Simple estates with clear beneficiaries, no disputes, and assets below your state's simplified probate threshold are often manageable without legal representation. Our assessment determines whether your estate fits that profile.

How do I know if my estate is too complicated to self-manage?

That's exactly what our assessment determines. Factors like estate size relative to state thresholds, real property, minor beneficiaries, contested interests, and multi-state assets all affect complexity. We evaluate each factor and give you a clear recommendation.

What is the "three-path recommendation"?

After evaluating your estate, we recommend one of three paths: (1) Full self-management — you can handle this yourself using our state-specific guidance; (2) Self-manage with targeted advice — handle most of it yourself but consult an attorney for specific decisions; or (3) Attorney-managed — your estate's complexity warrants professional representation. We explain exactly why we recommend the path we do.

What if I start self-managing and it gets too complicated?

Our assessment flags complexity in advance so you can plan rather than react. If your estate has factors that often lead to complications — contested beneficiaries, multi-state property, significant creditor claims — we'll tell you upfront and explain what to watch for.

Know Your Probate Path Before You Commit

Find out whether DIY probate is realistic for your estate — and if so, exactly how to do it. Based on your state's laws and your actual situation.

Get Your Free Preliminary Assessment