What Does Estate Planning Cost?
Compare costs across providers. See how life events like marriage, divorce, and having children affect your total cost.
Estate planning costs vary by provider, state, and complexity. Traditional attorneys charge state-specific hourly rates (per the Clio Compare Lawyer Rates survey) with additional fees for amendments as life changes. Online services use flat upfront pricing. Subscription services spread costs over time while including routine updates. The real cost of an estate plan is the lifetime cost, not the upfront fee alone, because it depends on how many amendments you need over decades as life changes.
Major events that typically require updates include: getting married (add spouse as beneficiary/co-trustee), having a baby (add beneficiary, designate guardian), getting divorced (remove ex-spouse, restructure trust), remarrying (add new spouse), moving to a new state (review state-specific requirements), buying property (add to trust), and receiving an inheritance (update beneficiary allocations).
SimplyTrust uses a Nevada revocable trust that is recognized across states, so one document serves every state. There is no document fee: the annual plan is charged when the trust is signed and notarized, covers every amendment and life-event change, and renews at the holder's option. The trust takes about 15 minutes to build online.
Estate planning attorney fees vary by state and service. The state-specific hourly rates come from the Clio Compare Lawyer Rates survey. Typical engagements include initial trust creation (several hours of attorney time) plus amendment fees when life events occur. Simple amendments (like adding a beneficiary) cost less; major changes like restructuring for divorce often require a full trust restatement at a higher fee. Each state's page carries the estimate for a lifetime of attorney-led planning there.
Uncheck every life event to compare base costs: the document purchase plus the subscription over the horizon for each provider. SimplyTrust's base cost is the annual plan alone, since it has no document fee.
Is this your situation?
Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.
New Baby or Adoption
Your family is growing. Your protection should too. Guardian nominations, trusts for minors, beneficiary updates, and the documents new parents need in place.
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Marriage
What married couples need in place: one joint trust or two, wills, beneficiary updates, and the spousal rights your state grants you automatically.
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New Home
How to put your house in a revocable trust: the deed you record, what it does to your mortgage and property taxes, and when a TOD deed is simpler.
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Retirement
Retirement changes your financial picture. Healthcare directives, beneficiary reviews, long-term care planning, and protecting what you've built.
Learn moreForms for Planning Your Estate
Free forms for planning your estate: a will, living trust, pour-over will, both powers of attorney, living will, and TOD deed.
Last Will and Testament
Name your heirs, guardians, and final wishes. Free for every state.
Codicil to a Will
Add, revoke or replace provisions of your will and republish the rest, signed as your state requires for a will.
HIPAA Release
Name who may receive your medical records, in the authorization federal law requires, with your state's rules for sensitive records. Free for every state.
Transfer on Death Deed
Transfer real property to a beneficiary upon your death without probate. Available in 34 states and the District of Columbia.
Tools for Planning Your Estate
Free tools for planning your estate: what a will or trust costs, whether you need a trust or TOD deed, and how documents are signed.
How Much Is the Federal Gift Tax?
Whether a gift owes federal gift tax, how much of the annual exclusion and lifetime exemption it uses, and whether Form 709 is due.
How Much Life Insurance Do I Need?
Calculate your life insurance needs based on income, debts, and family situation.
Are My Beneficiary Designations Protected?
Check how divorce, creditors, and state laws affect your beneficiary designations.
How Much Does Probate Cost?
Estimate attorney fees, executor fees, court costs, and timeline for probating an estate.
Who Inherits Without a Will?
Find out who inherits your estate and how much they get if you die without a will.
How Much Does a Revocable Living Trust Cost?
Compare revocable living trust costs across providers including online services and attorneys.
