Legal Costs by State (2026)
EstateFig is built around estate planning, but families also run into everyday legal costs. This reference section compiles 2026 small-claims limits, LLC formation costs, and notary fees across all 50 states + D.C. — sourced to each state agency.
Small-claims limits
The maximum dollar amount you can sue for in small-claims court, by state — from $2,500 (Kentucky) to $25,000 (Delaware, Tennessee).
Open →LLC formation cost
State filing fee plus recurring annual/report fee to form and maintain an LLC, by state — from $35 (Montana) to $500 (Massachusetts).
Open →Notary fees
The maximum fee a notary may charge per acknowledgement, by state — from no statutory cap (AK, ME, SD…) to $25 (Rhode Island).
Open →These are reference figures for planning only. Small-claims limits, LLC fees, and notary caps can vary by county or court within a state and change by legislation. Always confirm the current number with the specific state agency before acting. For the core of EstateFig — estate and inheritance tax — see estate tax by state and the federal estate tax calculator.
Every number here is the statutory maximum or the state filing fee as published by the responsible agency — a state court administrator for small-claims dollar limits, the secretary of state for LLC formation and annual-report fees, and the state notary commission for per-acknowledgement caps. We compile them into one table so a family can budget an estate-planning or small-business step without opening fifty different .gov pages. Treat the three categories as independent planning inputs: a couple forming an LLC pays the formation fee once and the annual fee every year, while notary and small-claims costs only arise if a specific document must be notarised or a dispute filed. When a figure is a maximum rather than a flat fee, the actual charge is set by the county or the notary within that ceiling.