Will Cost Calculator

It depends on the route. Online will services typically cost $50–$200 (NCOA via US Legal Forms, April 2026). An attorney-drafted simple will typically costs $300–$800 flat (Truestead Law, Florida 2026; Greiner Law Corp; MetLife/Nolo via US Legal Forms). A complete will-based estate plan runs $1,000–$3,000 and a trust-based plan $4,000–$7,000 (Jack Robinson, Texas estate-planning guide, October 2026). Use the calculator above for a personalized range before you call anyone.

Most online will platforms charge $50–$200 for a will. Published examples from TopConsumerReviews (October 2026): Wills.com $99 one-time with lifetime updates; Quicken WillMaker $99–$209 per year; LegalNature $99 one-time or $39/month; U.S. Legal Wills and Parting Wishes $49.95–$189.65 for individual wills. Subscriptions renew, so a $99/year plan costs $495 over five years — check whether you need ongoing access.

Most estate-planning attorneys quote a flat fee of $300–$800 for a simple will (Truestead Law, Florida 2026; Greiner Law Corp). Some charge hourly at $150–$400 per hour (Greiner Law Corp; FreeWill cost guide), with the ALM survey average at $391/hour (via MetLife, cited by US Legal Forms July 2026). A simple will usually takes 2–5 billable hours, so hourly billing lands around $300–$2,000 for straightforward cases.

A complete will-based plan — will plus durable power of attorney, healthcare directives, and guardianship designations — typically costs $1,000–$3,000 with an attorney (Jack Robinson, Texas guide, October 2026; Florida attorneys quote $900–$1,800 for comparable packages). A trust-based plan, which adds a revocable living trust and trust funding, typically costs $4,000–$7,000 in Texas and $2,500–$5,000 for an individual in Minnesota (Leverson Budke, 2026).

Up front, no: a trust-based plan ($4,000–$7,000) costs several times more than a will-based plan ($1,000–$3,000). The savings show up later. Probate with a valid will typically costs an estate $3,000–$8,000, while dying without a will (intestate) typically costs $5,000–$15,000+ — and a funded living trust can avoid probate entirely (wvfuneralboard cost guide). Minnesota attorneys note probate there runs $8,000–$20,000 and takes 6–12 months (Leverson Budke, 2026). Try the will-vs-trust check above to see which route fits your situation.

Six common fee-raisers: minor children (guardianship and trust provisions), a blended family (stepchildren and prior marriages), real estate ownership, a business, property in more than one state, and special-needs beneficiaries (FreeWill cost guide). Each typically adds $150–$400 to a flat-fee will or $300–$800 to a trust plan in our model — and attorneys confirm these are exactly the factors that push clients from a $300 will into a $2,000–$3,000+ package. Tick them in the calculator to see the effect.

Almost every state requires two disinterested witnesses who watch you sign and then sign themselves (for example, Florida Statutes §732.502). Louisiana is the exception: it uses a notarized (notarial) form, so witnesses alone are usually not enough. A notary is not required for the will itself in most states, but a self-proving affidavit — signed before a notary, typically $5–$25 — lets your executor skip tracking down witnesses during probate. Holographic (handwritten, unwitnessed) wills are recognized in many states but not all; confirm locally before relying on one.

It can be, if it is executed correctly under your state's rules — signed with two witnesses present (or notarized in Louisiana). The most common reason wills fail in court is improper signing of DIY documents, not the document source. Online services work best for simple situations; guides from estate attorneys and consumer reviewers agree they may not account for complex family or legal needs such as blended families, businesses, or special-needs beneficiaries.

With a valid will, probate typically costs $3,000–$8,000. Without one (intestate), it typically costs $5,000–$15,000+, plus $500–$5,000 for an executor bond if you never named an executor (wvfuneralboard cost guide). In states with statutory fee schedules like California and Florida, attorney fees scale with estate value — about 4% of the first $100,000 and declining percentages above that. On a $500,000 California estate that formula yields roughly $13,000 in statutory attorney fees alone.

Simple amendments (a codicil) are usually cheaper than starting over. Minnesota attorneys quote plan updates at $450–$2,000 depending on how much changes (Leverson Budke, 2026) — significantly less than creating a plan from scratch. Online services with lifetime updates (for example, Wills.com at $99 one-time) let you revise at no extra charge, while yearly subscriptions charge every renewal. Review your plan every 3–5 years or after major life events: marriage, divorce, children, moves, or big asset changes.

No. This calculator gives educational cost estimates built from published 2026 price ranges — it is not legal advice, not a quote, and not a recommendation to choose any provider. Actual fees vary by state, attorney, and your situation. For advice about your specific circumstances, consult a licensed estate-planning attorney in your state.

Every number in the engine comes from a published 2026 source, listed with its vintage in the methodology section below — for example, online wills $50–$200 (NCOA, April 2026) and attorney will-based plans $1,000–$3,000 (Jack Robinson, Texas, October 2026). Ranges are wide because markets differ: a simple will that costs $300 in one city can cost $800 in another. Treat the output as a negotiation baseline and a sanity check on quotes, not as a binding price.