How Much Does a Will Cost? Calculator — All
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A simple will prepared by an attorney costs $300–$1,200 depending on your state and the attorney's hourly rate. Most estate planning attorneys charge flat fees for wills — not hourly — so the range is fairly predictable. A full package (will + durable power of attorney + healthcare directive) typically runs $1,500–$3,500. Online DIY services start around $89 but offer no attorney review, no state-specific legal guidance, and no help if your situation is non-standard.

A will specifies who inherits your assets, names a guardian for minor children, and designates an executor to manage your estate. What a will does NOT do: it doesn't avoid probate (your estate still goes through the court process), it doesn't control assets with named beneficiaries (retirement accounts, life insurance, and jointly-held property pass outside the will), and it doesn't take effect until death (unlike a power of attorney, which operates during your lifetime). For probate avoidance, a revocable living trust is the standard alternative.

Online wills (LegalZoom, Trust & Will, Fabric) are legally valid in most states if executed correctly — typically requiring two witnesses and sometimes a notary. The risk is execution errors and state-specific requirements. California, for example, has specific witness exclusion rules (beneficiaries generally can't witness). Handwritten (holographic) wills are valid in about half of states but are more prone to challenge. For estates with minor children, blended families, business interests, or property in multiple states, attorney review pays for itself in avoided disputes.

Most estate planning attorneys offer flat fees for standard documents — you just have to ask. Call or email 3–5 local estate planning attorneys and ask for their flat-fee schedule for a will package. State bar referral services (most states have one) can connect you with vetted attorneys. For simple estates, many attorneys charge $500–$1,500 for a complete basic estate plan. Avoid hourly billing unless your situation is genuinely complex — hourly estate planning runs $150–$450/hour in most markets.

In most states, a will requires two adult witnesses — not a notary — to be valid. The witnesses confirm you signed voluntarily and appeared to be of sound mind. However, a 'self-proving' will (which most attorneys prepare) adds a notarized affidavit from the witnesses, allowing the will to be admitted to probate without requiring the witnesses to appear in court later. Louisiana requires notarization. Some states allow notarization as an alternative to witnesses. Check your state's specific requirements — the rules vary enough that DIY errors are common.