Estate Planning Cost: Average Fees Explained

An estate plan is a set of documents that spells out what happens to your property and who makes decisions if you cannot. It often includes a will, a power of attorney, a health care directive, and sometimes a trust. The total depends on how many of these you need and who prepares them.

Some people buy documents one at a time, while others hire an attorney for a package. This page lists published prices for each route; consult a licensed estate planning attorney in your state for advice on your own situation.

Prices below are for the individual pieces most plans include.

A last will and testament costs $300 – $1,000, and a living will costs $300 – $1,000. A power of attorney, which lets someone handle your finances if you cannot, costs $100 – $400. LegalZoom puts a living trust at $2,000, and trust pricing varies a lot by route, so see the separate living trust guide for detail.

Online services bundle documents into a plan at a flat price. LegalZoom's estate plans start at $149.

Starting prices rise as you add documents or attorney review, so compare what each tier includes. Online plans suit straightforward estates. People with a business, property in several states, or a large estate often choose an attorney.

Estate attorneys bill either a flat fee per package or by the hour.

The hourly rate for an estate planning attorney is $150 – $450/hr, according to SmartAsset. A flat-fee package gives you a known price, while hourly billing depends on how many meetings and revisions you need. Ask for the scope of work in writing.

Prices differ by location, and California is one of the more detailed published examples.

Basic services in California cost $1,000 – $3,000, and complex estates cost $5,000 – $10,000. Other states may be higher or lower, so use local quotes when you can.

• Number of documents. A will alone costs less than a full plan.
• Trusts. A trust adds drafting and funding work.
• Estate size. Larger estates may need tax planning.
• Family situation. Blended families, minor children, or a beneficiary with special needs require more care.
• Property in more than one state. This can add legal work.
• Attorney rates. These differ across cities and firms.

Online plan

• Lower cost and fast to finish
• Works for simple estates with clear wishes
• Limited tailoring to your state's rules
• Some tiers add attorney review for a fee

Attorney-prepared plan

• Higher cost with advice built in
• Better when the estate or family is complicated
• Documents can be coordinated with beneficiary designations and property titles
• Easier to update when life changes

Published ranges differ because sources count different documents. One may include only a will and power of attorney, and another may include a trust and health care directive.

Experian and LegalZoom both give $2,000 – $5,000 for a full plan with an attorney. Treat that as a ballpark. Your own quote depends on your documents, your assets, and your state.

A typical attorney package pays for more than paper. The lawyer interviews you about your family and assets, drafts the documents to match, explains how each one works, and supervises the signing so that witnesses and notary requirements are met. Online services replace the interview with a questionnaire, which is why they cost less and why they suit people who already know what they want.

Think about what is missing from the price, too. Some packages leave out the work of retitling a house or bank account into a trust, and some charge extra for updates. If you plan to keep your attorney on call for future changes, ask whether an annual review is offered and what it costs. Comparing two quotes only works when both cover the same list of documents and services.

An estate plan is not permanent. A marriage, divorce, birth, death, or move can all make documents out of date. Beneficiary forms on retirement accounts and life insurance also override a will in many cases, so review them when you update. Ask your attorney whether reviews are included in the fee or billed later.