Will Cost: Average Fees Explained

A will tells a probate court who should receive your property, who should care for minor children, and who should carry out your wishes as executor. The price of getting one depends mostly on who prepares it: you, an online service, or a lawyer.

Complexity matters too. A single adult with a home and a few accounts needs far less drafting than a blended family with a business, out-of-state property, or a child with special needs. This page lists published prices; for advice about your own situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.

Online services walk you through a questionnaire and produce a document you sign and have witnessed. Pricing is usually a flat fee, and some tiers add extras such as attorney review or document storage.

LegalZoom's three tiers run from $129 to $299, and Trust & Will lists its individual will plan at $199. SmartAsset puts a typical paid online tool at $100. Free templates also exist, but they vary in quality and may not match the signing rules in your state.

Attorneys price wills two ways. Some quote a flat fee for a simple will, and others bill by the hour.

A flat-fee simple will can start around $150, per SmartAsset. Hourly billing is harder to predict because the total depends on how many revisions you need and how involved your family situation is. Ask for a written fee quote before work begins.

Neither route is better for everyone. Here is how they compare.

Online or DIY will

• Lower cost and quick to finish, often in one sitting
• Works best for straightforward situations: few assets, clear beneficiaries, no disputes expected
• Little or no tailored advice, so mistakes in wording or witnessing can go unnoticed
• Some services include attorney review as an upgrade

Attorney-drafted will

• Higher cost, but the document is written around your facts and state law
• Better suited to blended families, business ownership, property in several states, or a taxable estate
• A lawyer can flag problems with beneficiary designations and joint ownership that a template will not
• Many firms offer a bundle that adds a power of attorney and health care directive

• Who prepares it. A questionnaire costs less than a custom draft.
• Family and asset complexity. More beneficiaries, trusts for children, or business interests add drafting time.
• Your location. Attorney rates differ by city and state.
• Add-on documents. Powers of attorney and living wills are often priced separately.
• Signing requirements. Witnesses and notarization rules differ by state, and some services charge for notary help.

Many people sign a will alongside other planning documents. Prices for those pieces are published separately.

A power of attorney lets someone manage your finances if you cannot, and a living will states your wishes for medical care. Neither replaces a will, which only takes effect after death.

Published figures differ because they describe different products. A low online price covers a document, while a higher attorney figure covers advice and drafting. Some sources also fold in related documents or a trust.

LegalZoom gives $300 – $1,000 for a will, while SmartAsset reports $940 – $1,500 in a will versus living trust comparison. Both are useful as ranges, not quotes. Your final price depends on your state and your family.

A will is not a one-time purchase. Marriage, divorce, a new child, or a move to another state can all change what your document should say. Some online services let you revise a will for free or a small fee for a set period, while attorneys may charge for each update. Ask about update pricing up front, because a will that no longer matches your life can cause the very disputes it was meant to prevent.

Store the signed original somewhere your executor can find it, and tell them where it is. Some people pay a storage fee, while others keep it in a fireproof home safe.

• Is the fee flat or hourly, and what does it include?
• Are the power of attorney and health care directive included?
• Does the price cover signing and witnessing, or only the document?
• Can I update the will later, and what does that cost?
• Will someone review the document for my state's rules?