What Does Estate Planning Cost in Maryland?

Major life events like marriage, divorce, or having a child often require updating your estate plan. Some providers require purchasing an entirely new plan, while others offer amendments. Attorney amendments in Maryland typically cost $1,700 to $3,400 for major changes.

Online services have lower upfront costs ($30-$600) compared to attorneys in Maryland (around $425/hour for trusts). However, total lifetime cost depends on subscription fees, amendment charges, and how often life events require updates. This calculator compares the full cost across providers.

Many online estate planning services charge annual subscription fees ranging from $0 to $240/year. These subscriptions may include document access, minor amendments, or attorney consultations depending on the provider and tier.

Trusts cost more upfront than wills but can save money long-term by avoiding probate. In Maryland, an attorney-prepared trust typically costs $4,250 to $6,375, while a will costs $1,110 to $2,220. Wills require probate, which adds about $34,931 in costs for heirs on a $500,000 estate. See a detailed breakdown with the Maryland trust cost calculator.

Probate on a $500,000 estate in Maryland costs about $34,931 — roughly 7% of estate value — including attorney fees, executor fees, court costs, and publication costs.Md. Est. & Trusts § 5-601 (small estate threshold), § 5-602 (small estate procedure), § 5-603 (small estate creditor bar: earlier of 6 months from death or 30 days from notice), § 6-102 (bond), § 7-601 (PR commission ceiling: 9% on first $20K + 3.6% on excess), § 7-602 (attorney reasonable comp), § 7-103 (publication), § 8-103 (regular estate creditor bar); § 2-206 (Register of Wills probate fee schedule); registers.maryland.govVerified Jul 14, 2026 Estates with a trust can bypass probate entirely, potentially saving heirs thousands of dollars. Estimate probate fees with the Maryland probate calculator.