Probate courts charge fees for filing, cost of bond (if required), and publication. It’s not uncommon for third-party fees, such as CPA’s and property appraisers, to exceed $5,000. When you factor in attorney’s fees, that cost may be significantly higher. To make it worse, if a corporate executor was appointed in your Will,, your estate may be charged a 5% commission to compensate that executor. Not all property is subject to probate, however, and it’s important that you speak with an experienced probate attorney. For property that would be subject to probate, there are ways to avoid it altogether. One solution is to place your property into a well drafted living trust before your death, thus bypassing probate’s unnecessary fees and headaches entirely. Probate can be a complicated and expensive process, and it’s easy to make mistakes. Dawson Law LLP® assist clients throughout the state of Texas, including the Austin, Houston, and Round Rock, TX areas.