Small Estate Affidavit Organizer: Asset Inventory Workbook, Eligibility and Documents Checklist by State, Asset Holder Letter Log and Distribution Record

Who it is for

Heirs and family members collecting a modest estate without full probate who need to know the state's limit, waiting period and notary rule, and to keep track of every bank, motor vehicle office and employer they deal with.

Not the right fit if

Not an affidavit form and not legal advice; use your state's or court's official form, and a lawyer can confirm whether the estate qualifies. Estates over the limit need probate.

Why it is different

• Covers all 50 states and DC from each state's statute site, court self-help pages or court forms, checked November 2026.
• Uses the limit for the date of death where a state sets it that way, and leaves a state blank rather than guess.
• The inventory's countable totals, limit lookup and result recalculate with zero formula errors.

What is inside

• Asset inventory (Excel). State and date-of-death picker, one row per asset with how it was held, countable totals (gross and less liens) against the state's stated limit, flags for excluded categories, and the earliest date.
• Start here. What the kit is and isn't, your first steps, how states differ on filing, notarization, real estate and vehicles, and the states with no confirmed rule.
• Eligibility and documents checklist by state. Whether it's a small estate, what to gather, and every state's limit, real estate and vehicle rule, wait, notary rule, where the affidavit goes, official form and sources.
• Asset holder letter log. A cover letter outline and a contact log for each bank, motor vehicle office, employer or other holder; each may require its own form.
• Distribution record. Money and property collected, bills paid, and what each heir received, with a signed receipt line and a balance check.