Estate Planning Cost Calculator — All
50 States
Estate planning attorney fees typically run $1,500–$5,000 for a basic will package and $3,000–$10,000+ for a full revocable trust package — but rates vary by state, estate complexity, and whether you have minor children or business interests. This calculator combines state-level attorney rate data with your specific situation to estimate what you'll pay before you ever pick up the phone.
Important: This tool provides educational estimates only — not legal advice. Made For Law is not a law firm and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any federal, state, county, or local government agency or court system. Calculator results are based on statutory formulas and publicly available fee schedules — not AI. Supporting content is AI-assisted and editorially reviewed. Results may not reflect recent legislative changes or your specific circumstances. Do not rely solely on these estimates — always verify with official sources and consult a licensed attorney before making legal or financial decisions. Full disclaimer
What a full estate planning package usually includes
A lawyer-priced estate plan is rarely just one document. A basic package usually includes a last will and testament, durable financial power of attorney, healthcare directive, HIPAA authorization, beneficiary review, and signing instructions. A trust-based package adds a revocable living trust, pour-over will, trust certificate, transfer instructions, and asset funding support.
Package scope is the main reason estate planning cost estimates vary so widely. A single adult with one home and simple beneficiaries may only need a will plan. A married couple with real estate, minor children, business interests, a blended family, or out-of-state property usually needs deeper attorney review and more documents.
Simple will plan
A will plan names beneficiaries, nominates an executor, appoints guardians for minor children, and adds incapacity documents. It can be cost-effective when probate is expected to be small, privacy is not a major concern, and most assets already pass by beneficiary designation or joint ownership.
Trust-based plan
A trust plan costs more because the attorney must draft the trust, coordinate a pour-over will, prepare funding steps, and review how real estate, bank accounts, brokerage accounts, life insurance, and retirement accounts should transfer at death.
Attorney fees, funding work, and template risk
Estate planning attorneys commonly quote flat fees for standard packages and hourly fees for tax planning, special-needs trusts, business succession, disputed family situations, or custom deed work. Ask whether the quote includes a document checklist, signing ceremony, trust funding memo, deed preparation, and beneficiary-designation review.
Trust funding is where many low-cost plans fail. Real estate may need a new deed, bank and brokerage accounts may need retitling, and payable-on-death or transfer-on-death designations should be checked against the will and trust. A trust can reduce probate friction only for assets that are actually titled to the trust or otherwise pass outside probate.
Online templates are riskiest when the plan involves minor children, a second marriage, unequal gifts, a disabled beneficiary, Medicaid planning, business interests, real estate in more than one state, or state-specific homestead rules. In those cases, the cheaper form can miss the exact issue that makes attorney review valuable.
Estate Planning Cost Calculator
Free. No signup. Your inputs stay in your browser.
Most searched states
Estate Planning Cost Calculator by state
Select Your State
Related estate planning cost calculator tools
More free legal tools
Related articles
Frequently asked questions
Edited and reviewed by our editorial team. Answers are general information — not legal advice.
How much does a will cost?
A simple will runs $300–$1,200 when prepared by an attorney. A full will package — will, durable power of attorney, and healthcare directive — typically costs $1,500–$3,500 in most states. Flat-fee packages are common in estate planning, so ask about bundled pricing before assuming hourly billing. Online will services (LegalZoom, Trust & Will) start around $89–$199 but lack attorney review, which matters when you have minor children, a blended family, or business interests.
What is included in a basic estate plan?
A standard basic estate plan includes four documents: (1) a last will and testament, (2) a durable power of attorney for finances, (3) a healthcare directive (living will), and (4) a HIPAA release authorizing designated people to access your medical records. If a revocable trust is created, attorneys typically add a pour-over will — a safety net that routes any assets not already in the trust through probate and into it at death.
Do I need a living trust or is a will enough?
A will alone is sufficient for most estates under $200,000 in most states. Trusts become valuable when: (1) your estate is large enough to make probate costs significant — probate typically costs 3–8% of estate value, (2) you own real estate in multiple states (each state requires separate probate), (3) privacy matters (wills become public record through probate; trusts do not), or (4) you want faster asset transfer to heirs without court involvement. The breakeven point varies by state.
How much does a revocable living trust cost?
A standalone revocable trust document costs $1,500–$5,000 from an estate planning attorney. A full trust package — trust document, pour-over will, powers of attorney, and funding documents — runs $3,000–$10,000 for a married couple with a moderately complex estate. Trust funding (retitling assets like real estate, bank accounts, and brokerage accounts into the trust's name) often adds $500–$2,000 more in attorney time. Annual maintenance is not required but occasional updates are advisable.
When should I update my estate plan?
Review your estate plan every 3–5 years and immediately after: marriage, divorce, birth or adoption of a child, a significant inheritance, moving to a new state, purchase or sale of real estate, and major tax law changes. The 2026 estate tax exemption sunset is a specific trigger — the current $13.99 million federal exemption is scheduled to drop to approximately $7 million per person when the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act's temporary provisions expire. Estates near that threshold should review their plan before year-end 2025.
Run your estate planning cost calculator in under a minute.
Free. No signup. Sourced to state statutes and public fee schedules.
Select your stateLegal professional? Embed this tool on your website →
Related Probate & Estate Calculators
Before filing, check court filing fees by state →