Effective January 1, 2020, personal and real property valued under $166,250 may not need to go through the probate process. Previously, personal and real property had to be valued under $150,000 to be exempt from the lengthy probate process. If the decedent’s personal and/or real property is believed to be under $166,250, the petitioner (i.e. a spouse or child) can request a court order which determines the petitioner has succeeded to the personal and/or real property of the decedent. Additionally, starting on January 1, 2020, any heir or beneficiary of the decedent can file to transfer title of the decedent’s real property so long as the real property is valued under $55,425. Previously, this was only an option if the decedent’s real property was valued under $50,000.
These adjustments will be readjusted on April 1, 2022 and then again in 2025. While there are adjustments to the value cap of the personal and real property of the decedent, there are still other restrictions that must be met to avoid the probate process.