What Does Estate Planning Cost in Rhode Island?

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 Rhode Island typically cost $1,540 to $3,080 for major changes.

Online services have lower upfront costs ($30-$600) compared to attorneys in Rhode Island (around $385/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 Rhode Island, an attorney-prepared trust typically costs $3,850 to $5,775, while a will costs $1,146 to $2,292. Wills require probate, which adds about $31,627 in costs for heirs on a $500,000 estate. See a detailed breakdown with the Rhode Island trust cost calculator.

Probate on a $500,000 estate in Rhode Island costs about $31,627 — roughly 6% of estate value — including attorney fees, executor fees, court costs, and publication costs.R.I. Gen. Laws § 33-22-21, § 33-24-1 (small estate), § 33-9-1, § 33-17-1/§ 33-17-4 (bond), § 33-14-8, § 33-11-5 (creditor claims), § 33-22-11 (publication) — verified via webserver.rilegislature.gov 2026-07-14Verified Jul 14, 2026 Estates with a trust can bypass probate entirely, potentially saving heirs thousands of dollars. Estimate probate fees with the Rhode Island probate calculator.