Estate Planning

What Estate Planning Costs — Low, High and Typical

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Budget somewhere inside the $100–$900 per month window for estate plan. The midpoint, about $500, is what most buyers end up paying.

Typical estate plan cost

$100 – $900

per month · typical $500

Low
$100
High
$900
Typical
$500
Unit
per month

A planning estimate, not a quote.

State and provincial ranges for 64 markets.

Estate plan cost breakdown

Typical estate plan prices. Overall range $100 – $900 per month.
ScopeLowHighTypicalUnit
Standard matter$100$900$500per month
Uncontested or flat-fee matter$30.00$475$250per month
Hourly-rate engagement$90.00$975$525per month
Court, filing and service fees$5.00$150$80.00per month
Contested or trial-bound matter$150$2,000$1,100per month

Estate plan cost guide

What estate planning covers

Most estate plan bills come down to the lawyer's time, court or filing charges and disbursements. Two providers can describe the same estate plan differently, so compare the pieces rather than the headline total.

Because two providers can describe the same estate plan in different ways, ask each one to break the total into the same line items before you compare them.

Choosing a lawyer for estate planning

Check any required licence with the regulator, ask to see current insurance, and get the full scope in writing before you commit.

Ask for two recent local jobs you can call, and read the written scope for what it leaves out as carefully as what it includes.

The things that move a estate planning price

Whether the matter is disputed, the lawyer's hourly rate, court and filing charges, and how long the case runs.

Geography plays a part as well. Remote markets tend to add travel time, while crowded cities add access, parking and permit costs.

Ways to keep estate planning costs down

Gather two or three written quotes, compare the individual lines rather than the total, and ask whether paying in full lowers the price.

When the work can be scheduled, moving it out of the busiest season usually lowers the bill. Ask whether a bundle or off-peak rate exists.

Costs by state

Related cost guides

Frequently asked questions

What should I budget for estate planning?
Plan around $500 for a typical estate plan, with most cases landing between $100 and $900 (per month). Those are planning figures rather than a quotation.
Which parts of a estate planning bill move the most?
Whether the matter is disputed, the lawyer's hourly rate, court and filing charges, and how long the case runs. That is why the same job can produce two very different totals.
What is the smartest way to lower estate planning costs?
Line up two or three written quotes, compare the line items rather than the totals, ask about a paid-in-full discount, and schedule outside the busiest period when you can.
What should I verify before hiring a lawyer?
Confirm any required licence or registration with the regulator, ask for current insurance, and speak to two recent local customers. Then read the quote for the exclusions.