What Does Estate Planning Cost in Virginia?

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 Virginia typically cost $1,508 to $3,016 for major changes.

Online services have lower upfront costs ($30-$600) compared to attorneys in Virginia (around $377/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 Virginia, an attorney-prepared trust typically costs $3,770 to $5,655, while a will costs $1,311 to $2,622. Wills require probate, which adds about $31,936 in costs for heirs on a $500,000 estate. See a detailed breakdown with the Virginia trust cost calculator.

Probate on a $500,000 estate in Virginia costs about $31,936 — roughly 6% of estate value — including attorney fees, executor fees, court costs, and publication costs.Va. Code § 64.2-601 (small estate $75K threshold and 60-day waiting period), § 64.2-600 (small asset definition, personal property only, real property excluded), § 64.2-1208 (fiduciary compensation; reasonable, no statutory percentage), § 64.2-504 (bond requirement), § 64.2-505 (bond waiver by will), § 64.2-508 (notice to heirs/beneficiaries within 30 days; no newspaper publication), § 64.2-529 (PR liability protection after 12 months from qualification), § 64.2-550 (creditor proof-of-debts hearing before commissioner of accounts; newspaper publication required), § 64.2-1200 (Commissioner of Accounts), § 64.2-1300 (inventory due within 4 months of qualification), § 64.2-1304 (PR accountings to commissioner of accounts; first account due within 16 months of qualification), § 58.1-1712 (state probate tax $0.10/$100; $15K exemption), § 58.1-1718 (optional local probate tax = 1/3 of state tax), § 17.1-275(A)(3) (circuit court qualification fees: $20/$25/$30 by estate value tier; $5K or less no fee); law.lis.virginia.gov; vacourts.govVerified Jul 14, 2026 Estates with a trust can bypass probate entirely, potentially saving heirs thousands of dollars. Estimate probate fees with the Virginia probate calculator.