Estate planning attorney cost
The short answer
Estate planning attorneys charge either a flat fee or by the hour. A 2026 state bar survey put the median rate at $325 an hour. Two firms that publish prices charge about $995 to $1,750 for a will-based plan and $3,195 to $4,250 for a trust-based plan for one person, before extras.
Estate planning attorney cost is one of the hardest prices to find online. Most firms quote only after a first conversation. That leaves you guessing before you pick up the phone.
This page gathers the published figures we could find in October 2026 and explains how lawyers price a full plan. It is part of our guide to estate planning documents, which explains what each document in a plan does.
Flat fee or hourly: the two ways lawyers charge
Most estate planning lawyers use one of two methods. Some use both, depending on the job.
| How they charge | How it works | What to watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Flat fee | One price for a defined package of documents and meetings | What is left out: deeds, recording fees, witnesses, extra meetings |
| Hourly | You pay for the time spent, often in small increments | An estimate in writing, and how you'll be told if it grows |
A flat fee is easier to plan around. If a lawyer bills hourly, ask for an estimate for the whole plan before work begins.
What do estate planning lawyers charge by the hour?
The most useful public figures we found come from the State Bar of Michigan. Its 2026 survey asked lawyers for their 2025 billing rates, by field of practice (State Bar of Michigan).
| Field of practice (Michigan, 2025 rates) | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Probate estate planning, wills, and trusts | $280 | $325 | $390 |
| Probate, trust administration | $300 | $350 | $400 |
| Elder law | $300 | $350 | $360 |
These are one state's figures, and rates differ by city and by the lawyer's experience. We did not find a fee survey published by the Washington State Bar Association. We also found no reliable public figure for how many hours a full plan takes.
What does a full plan cost on a flat fee?
A "full plan" usually means a will or trust, plus the documents that work while you are alive. Here are two firms that publish their prices.
| Plan | Seattle firm (one person / couple) | California firm (one person / couple) |
|---|---|---|
| Will-based plan | $995 / $1,695 | $1,750 / $2,950 |
| Trust-based plan | $3,195 / $5,195 | $4,250 / $6,500 |
Sources: Law Offices of Kate Jones fee schedule and West Coast Health Law fee schedule, both checked October 2026. These are two examples, not averages.
The Seattle will-based package includes a will and a durable power of attorney for finances and health care. It adds a health care directive and a disposition of remains form. Its trust package adds a living trust and a pour-over will.
The California trust plan includes the trust, a pour-over will, powers of attorney, a health care directive and help recording one deed. It also includes funding instructions and a six-month follow-up.
The extras that change the bill
Flat fees are rarely the whole story. These are extras listed on the published schedules above.
- First consultation. The Seattle firm charges $400 and applies it to the package if you go ahead. Some firms offer a free first meeting.
- Deeds. Moving a house into a trust takes a new deed. The Seattle firm lists $600 for a quitclaim deed, plus $350 in filing fees and costs, outside its trust package.
- Witnesses. Washington wills need two competent witnesses (RCW 11.12.020). The Seattle firm charges $60 for each witness it supplies.
- Signings away from the office. Home, hospital and rushed signings can carry travel or emergency charges.
- Recording charges. The California firm bills county recording charges and other third-party costs separately.
- Later work. Changes after signing are often billed hourly. The Seattle firm lists $400 an hour for other services.
Why a trust plan costs more
A trust plan costs more partly because there is more paper. But the bigger reason is funding: retitling your home and accounts into the trust. A trust controls only what is actually moved into it.
Some firms do the funding for you. Others hand you instructions. Ask which, because it can change the real cost a great deal. Our post on what a living trust costs covers this in detail.
Lawyer, online service or something else?
A lawyer is not the only route. Online services produce state-specific documents for a fraction of the price; our post on online wills explains what they cover and what they leave out. For a side-by-side look at Trust & Will, LegalZoom and Kinly, see our honest comparison of online estate plans.
| If this sounds like you | Consider |
|---|---|
| Simple affairs, comfortable doing it yourself | An online service |
| A home in more than one state, a blended family or a business | A lawyer |
| Planning that touches Medicaid or long-term care | An elder law attorney |
| You want advice but a fixed budget | A lawyer who offers flat fees |
Whatever you choose, every plan names people to act. Your trustee, your executor and your agents need to be willing and able. A lawyer writes the documents; a lawyer usually does not serve in those roles.
Our guide to the four roles explains each job. If you're weighing who should fill them, choosing professional help compares family, lawyers and trust companies.
A Kinly membership includes four documents written for your state: a will, a revocable trust and medical and financial powers of attorney. It is $999 a year for one person or $1,499 for a couple (pricing). It also names a trust company that can serve in the roles.
Questions to ask before you hire a lawyer
- Do you charge a flat fee or by the hour for a full plan?
- Exactly which documents and meetings does the fee include?
- Is there a charge for the first consultation?
- Who prepares and records the deed, and what does that cost?
- Do you fund the trust, or give me instructions?
- What do changes cost after I sign?
- Can I have the quote in writing?
Common questions
How much does an estate planning attorney charge per hour?
In the State Bar of Michigan's 2026 survey of 2025 rates, the median for estate planning, wills and trusts was $325 an hour. The middle half charged $280 to $390. Rates vary by state, city and experience, and we found no comparable Washington survey.
How much does a full estate plan cost from a lawyer?
Two firms that publish prices charge $995 and $1,750 for a will-based plan for one person. Their trust-based plans are $3,195 and $4,250. Extras such as deeds, recording fees and witnesses can add to that.
Is a flat fee better than hourly?
A flat fee makes the cost predictable, as long as you know what it includes. Hourly billing can cost less for a small job, or more if questions multiply. Either way, ask for the total in writing before work starts.
Will my estate planning lawyer serve as my executor or trustee?
Usually not; most write the documents and you name the people who act. Some lawyers will serve, often for a separate fee. If you want a professional in those roles, ask directly, or look at a trust company.
Sources
- State Bar of Michigan: 2026 Economics of Law Practice Survey results (checked October 2026)
- Law Offices of Kate Jones, PLLC: Estate planning fee schedule, Seattle (checked October 2026)
- West Coast Health Law: Estate planning fee schedule, California (checked October 2026)
- RCW 11.12.020: Requisites of wills (Washington State Legislature)
This page is general information, not legal or financial advice. Laws vary by state.