When should i get an attorney for probate?

In all seriousness, you should meet with an attorney well before filing a petition to open a probate estate. The probate estate may not even be necessary in the first place. Attorneys will charge an hourly rate, typically, because it is impossible to know what issues or challenges may be encountered and how difficult those issues and challenges will be to address. The cost will also depend on how much of the footwork the executor or administrator is able and willing to handle and other factors. Regardless of the size of the estate, there are certain things that must be done for every estate, and so there is a certain minimum of work that must be done for every estate. In my experience, you should expect to pay $2500 (+/-) at a minimum.