Quick answer: Indiana is one of the cheaper states for probate. The court fee is a flat $177, there's no state estate or inheritance tax, and fees are "reasonable" with no statutory percentage. A $500,000 unsupervised estate often totals $12,000–$20,000. Get your own figure with the Indiana probate cost calculator.
The costs, line by line
1. Personal representative fee — reasonable, no %
Under IC 29-1-10-13, the court allows "just and reasonable" compensation — no fixed percentage. A fee set in the will controls unless renounced in writing. In practice the PR and attorney together often run about 2%–4% of the estate.
2. Attorney fees — also reasonable
Same statute, same standard, court-reviewed. Routine attorney fees run about 1.8%–2.8% of the estate, and a basic uncontested estate is often a $1,500–$5,000 flat fee. See Indiana probate attorney fees.
3. Court filing — a flat $177
This is Indiana's standout feature. The court fee is a flat $177 statewide — a $120 probate costs fee (IC 33-37-4-7) plus $57 of add-ons — not a percentage of the estate. Add publication and certified Letters. Details in our Indiana filing fees guide.
Worked examples by estate size
Assumes a 2% PR fee, a routine attorney fee, unsupervised administration, and the flat $177 court fee:
| Estate value | PR fee (2%) | Attorney (routine) | Filing + notice | Approx. total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $100,000 | $2,000 | $2,500 | $287 | ≈ $4,937 |
| $500,000 | $10,000 | $12,500 | $287 | ≈ $22,937 |
| $1,000,000 | $20,000 | $20,000 | $287 | ≈ $40,437 |
If a family member serves and waives the fee, subtract the PR column. Filing + notice = $177 + $110. Run your own numbers in the calculator.
How to reduce Indiana probate costs
- Use the small estate affidavit for personal property up to $100,000 (IC 29-1-8-1) — it's presented to the bank, not the court, so it costs nothing.
- Use unsupervised administration — Indiana's default low-cost track.
- PR waives the fee if a family member and heir.
- A living trust or TOD avoids probate entirely.