How Much Does an Estate Planning Lawyer Cost? (Wills, Trusts & Packages)

A simple attorney-drafted will typically costs $300 to $1,000, a living trust runs around $2,000, and a complete estate plan generally falls between $2,000 and $5,000. Most estate planning attorneys charge a flat fee per document or package rather than billing hourly, so you should know your price before any work begins.

Key takeaways

• Flat fees are standard — estate planning work is predictable, so hourly billing is the exception.
• Packages beat à la carte. Bundled will packages save roughly $225 versus buying documents separately; trust packages save closer to $1,000.
• A trust costs more than a will because it must also be funded — assets retitled into it — which is where DIY plans usually fail.
• Hourly rates, where used, run about $200–$500/hour.
• The real comparison is not will vs. trust cost — it is planning cost vs. probate cost for your heirs.

Typical cost by document

Document	Typical attorney cost	What it does
Simple will	$300–$1,000	Directs who inherits; names guardians for minor children.
Living trust	~$2,000 (more if complex)	Passes assets outside probate; stays private.
Power of attorney	$100–$400	Lets someone manage finances if you cannot.
Healthcare directive	$100–$400	States your medical wishes and names a decision-maker.
Basic package	$1,000–$2,500	Will + POA + healthcare directive together.
Complete plan	$2,000–$5,000	Trust-based plan with funding and supporting documents.

What makes an estate plan cost more

• A business, rental property, or out-of-state real estate — each may need its own handling.
• Blended families, where you want to provide for a spouse and children from a prior relationship.
• A beneficiary with special needs, which usually calls for a special needs trust to protect benefits eligibility.
• Potential estate tax exposure on larger estates.

Is a lawyer worth it, or is a DIY will enough?

For a young renter with no children and modest savings, a well-made DIY will may be reasonable. The calculus changes fast once you own a home, have children, own a business, or want to avoid probate. Estate documents fail at exactly the moment they cannot be corrected — after death or incapacity — and probate costs, delays, and family disputes routinely exceed what the plan would have cost.

Check whether your estate would even face probate with our free Do I Need Probate? Checker, or find estate planning attorneys near you.