A simple Oregon probate might run around $2,000 in attorney fees; more typical cases often land between $3,000 and $5,000 or more, on top of court filing fees and any appraisal or professional costs. The personal representative is also entitled to statutory compensation, generally on a sliding scale of about two to seven percent of the estate's value. Nearly all of these costs are paid from estate assets before anything is distributed to heirs, not out of an heir's own pocket.
What's included in probate costs
- Court filing fees — set by the court, relatively modest compared to attorney fees.
- Attorney fees — often billed hourly; simple, uncontested estates cost less, while complex or contested ones cost considerably more.
- Personal representative compensation — set by Oregon statute on a sliding percentage scale based on the estate's value.
- Other professional costs — appraisals, surveys, or a personal representative's bond, if the will doesn't waive the bond requirement.
Who actually pays
Estate assets pay these costs first, before heirs receive any distribution. If the estate is cash-poor but has a valuable house as its main asset, this is often part of why families want the house sold sooner rather than later — carrying costs like property taxes, insurance, and basic upkeep keep adding up while the estate stays illiquid and probate continues.
How a faster sale affects the math
A quicker cash sale can shrink the number of months the estate spends paying taxes, insurance, and maintenance on a vacant house while probate works through its process — a real cost that's easy to overlook when focused only on attorney and court fees.
This is general information, not legal or financial advice. A probate attorney can give you an actual cost estimate based on this estate's size and complexity.