Find out what estate planning actually costs — wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and full packages — by state and complexity.
Estate planning is one of the most consistently underestimated legal expenses in America. Surveys show that fewer than 34% of US adults have an up-to-date will, and most who lack one cite cost or complexity as the primary barrier — despite the fact that a basic will and power of attorney package is now more affordable than ever. The reality is that the cost of not having an estate plan is often far higher than the cost of having one. Probate — the court process that distributes assets when you die without a properly structured plan — typically consumes 3–7% of the estate's gross value in attorney and court fees, and can drag on for 1–2 years.
The range in estate planning costs is wide because what you need varies dramatically. A 28-year-old with a checking account and a few possessions needs very different documents than a 60-year-old with a home, retirement accounts, a small business, and minor grandchildren to protect. At a minimum, every adult should have a will (to name beneficiaries and — critically — a guardian for minor children), a financial power of attorney (so someone can manage your finances if you're incapacitated), and a healthcare directive (so your end-of-life care wishes are documented and legally binding). Together, these three documents typically cost $500–$2,000 with an attorney and $100–$500 with an online service.
Use the calculator below to estimate costs based on your state and what you need. Scroll down after getting your estimate for a state-by-state cost breakdown and answers to the most common estate planning questions.
Estimates based on 2026 attorney market rates by state and estate complexity. All calculations stay in your browser. · Updated August 2026
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Choose the closest situation to see which planning conversation may deserve attention first.
A will, financial power of attorney, and healthcare directive are common starting points. Confirm state execution rules and beneficiary designations.
Ask what would actually pass through probate, the work required to fund and maintain a trust, total setup cost, and whether simpler transfer tools meet the goal.
Blended families, minor children, businesses, special-needs beneficiaries, tax exposure, or property in multiple states can create conflicts that generic documents may not address.
| Question | Will | Revocable living trust |
|---|---|---|
| Operates during life | Generally no | Yes, for properly transferred assets |
| Names guardians | Can nominate guardians for minor children | Does not replace this function of a will |
| Probate | Will-controlled assets generally pass through probate | Properly funded trust assets generally avoid probate |
| Ongoing work | Usually simpler | Assets must be correctly titled or transferred to the trust |
Estate planning costs typically range from $375–$800 for a simple attorney-drafted will to $2,500–$12,000+ for a full plan (will, revocable living trust, power of attorney, and healthcare directive) for a married couple in 2026, according to data from 909 estate-planning firms. Online services cost significantly less — $89–$249 for a basic will — but without the legal review and state-specific expertise an attorney provides. Skipping an estate plan can leave your family facing $15,000–$75,000 in probate costs.
For simple estates — a single person or married couple with standard assets and no business interests — online platforms like LegalZoom, Trust & Will, and Nolo now offer AI-assisted estate planning documents for $100–$500. These are legally valid in most states when properly signed and witnessed. However, for estates involving minor children, blended families, business ownership, real property in multiple states, or the desire to avoid probate entirely, an experienced estate planning attorney is worth the investment. The 2026 federal estate tax exemption is $13.99 million per person — well above most estates — but state estate taxes can apply at much lower thresholds, and mistakes in trust documents or beneficiary designations can be extremely costly to correct, and impossible to fix after death.
Dying without a will is called dying intestate. State law determines who receives probate assets, while beneficiary designations, joint ownership, and trusts may control other property. An unrecognized unmarried partner may receive nothing through intestacy, and a court may appoint an administrator and select a guardian for minor children without the deceased parent's written nominations. Probate costs and whether probate is required depend on the state, asset title, estate size, and available simplified procedures; a percentage estimate cannot determine the cost of a particular estate.
Typical attorney fee ranges for common estate planning documents. Package pricing (3+ documents) typically saves 25–35% vs. per-document rates shown below.
| State | Simple Will | Living Trust | Full Package (Will + Trust + POAs) | Probate Avoidance Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $600–$1,500 | $3,000–$7,000 | $4,500–$10,000 | High — statutory probate fees are expensive |
| New York | $700–$1,800 | $3,200–$7,500 | $5,000–$12,000 | High — NY probate is time-consuming |
| Texas | $400–$1,200 | $2,000–$5,000 | $3,000–$7,500 | Moderate — TX has simplified probate |
| Florida | $450–$1,300 | $2,200–$5,500 | $3,200–$8,000 | High — FL probate is lengthy |
| Illinois | $450–$1,300 | $2,200–$5,500 | $3,200–$8,000 | Moderate |
| Washington | $500–$1,400 | $2,400–$6,000 | $3,500–$9,000 | Moderate |
| Colorado | $450–$1,300 | $2,200–$5,500 | $3,200–$8,000 | Moderate |
| Ohio / Georgia / NC | $350–$900 | $1,600–$4,000 | $2,400–$6,000 | Moderate |
| Wyoming / Rural States | $300–$700 | $1,400–$3,500 | $2,000–$5,000 | Low — WY has no state income or estate tax |
| Online DIY (any state) | $100–$200 | $200–$500 | $300–$700 | Adequate for simple estates only |
Sources: State bar association fee surveys, attorney market data, and ACTEC member surveys. Ranges reflect typical fees for moderate-complexity situations; actual quotes vary by attorney experience and local market.
Whether you're starting from scratch or updating an existing plan, here's a practical sequence:
An estate planning attorney is advisable for any of the following situations: you have minor children and need to name a guardian; your estate is worth more than $200,000 (to evaluate probate avoidance strategies); you own a business or have complex assets like rental properties; you have a blended family with children from prior relationships; you want to minimize estate taxes; you have a family member with special needs who might be disqualified from government benefits by an inheritance; or you simply want the confidence that your documents are legally valid and properly executed. For simple situations — a single adult with modest assets and no dependents — a quality online service can often handle the basics adequately at a fraction of the cost.
Written by the FreeLegalIQ Editorial Team · Last updated: August 2026
Estate planning cost benchmarks sourced from American Bar Association attorney fee surveys and state bar association publications. Probate cost data from state court fee schedules.