How Much Does It Cost to Get a Power of Attorney? (Price Guide)

A power of attorney is a signed document that lets someone you trust act for you on money, property, or medical matters. The paper itself is short. What changes the price is who prepares it, whether a notary is needed, and whether it must be recorded with a county.

There are three ways to get one: an online legal service, a lawyer, or a form you complete yourself. The sections below cover the price of each, plus the smaller fees that come after. Figures carry a check date of Oct 11, 2026.

Online services are the cheapest route, and lawyers cost more because they tailor the document and answer questions. One Texas guide splits attorney pricing by firm type.

The online plans produce a document from your answers to a questionnaire. A higher plan may add attorney consultations. A lawyer will draft the document to fit your situation and can explain what each power covers.

• Online service. Lowest price and fast. You fill in the form, so mistakes in the questions are yours.
• Lawyer. Higher price. You get a custom document, and a licensed professional answers questions about your state's rules.
• State form. Some states publish a statutory form. It may cost little or nothing, but it is generic.

State law decides what a valid power of attorney must contain, so the document must match your state. Which type you need depends on your situation, and a licensed attorney in your state can advise you.

If a lawyer bills by the hour instead of a flat fee, or your situation is unusual, the hourly rate applies.

Most routine documents are priced as a flat fee. Hourly billing is more likely when the document comes with other work, such as an estate plan or a dispute.

Most states require a power of attorney to be signed before a notary, and some also require witnesses. A power of attorney used for a real estate transaction usually needs to be recorded with the county, which adds a fee.

Recording fees differ by county, and the Texas examples apply only to the counties named. Call your county recorder or clerk for the current fee. Many banks notarize for account holders at no charge.

The document is only useful if the people who rely on it accept it. Banks and title companies sometimes have their own review process, and they may ask to see the original or a certified copy. Certified copies can carry a small fee at the clerk's office or the recording office. Keep the original in a safe place and tell the person you named where it is.

• Who drafts it. Online, a solo lawyer, and an estate planning firm price differently.
• Complexity. A single-purpose document for one transaction is simpler than a broad one that covers finances and property.
• Bundling. A power of attorney is often priced lower when part of a full estate plan.
• Location. Attorney fees and county recording fees differ by market.
• Notary and witnesses. Costs for these are small, but they add up if several documents are signed.
• Recording. Only needed when the document will be used for real estate.

Each source defines the job differently. One reports a national attorney flat fee, another splits the Texas market by type of firm, and a third lists plan prices from a single online provider. Some include notary and recording costs, while others do not. A few figures describe one state only, so they may not match what you would pay elsewhere.

Prices in this guide describe a standard power of attorney. A document with unusual limits, or one tied to a specific transaction, may cost more if a lawyer has to draft it from scratch. Ask for the price of your exact document and for what it covers, and check what your state requires for it to be valid. A licensed attorney in your state can say which version fits your situation.

• Ask whether your lawyer will bundle a power of attorney with other documents.
• Use a bank or other free notary service rather than a mobile notary.
• Record only if the document will be used for real estate.
• Check your state for an official form before you buy one.