How Much Does Estate Planning Cost?
Updated for 2026 — national average costs with state-by-state breakdowns
Low End
$500
Average
$2,000
High End
$5,000
per estate plan
Ad
What Does Estate Planning Include?
Estate planning creates legal documents to protect your assets and wishes. A basic plan includes a will, power of attorney, and healthcare directive. Complex estates may need trusts and tax planning.
The national average cost for estate planning is $2,000 per estate plan. Most homeowners pay between $500 and $5,000, though costs can vary significantly based on your location, the scope of work, and other factors outlined below.
What Affects the Price?
Package
Basic (will + POA + directive): $500-$1,500. With living trust: $1,500-$3,500. Complex estate: $3,000-$7,000+
DIY
Online services: $200-$600. Attorney-reviewed online: $400-$1,000
Ad
Key Cost Factors
- ✓Estate complexity
- ✓Number of documents
- ✓Trust creation
- ✓Tax planning needs
- ✓Attorney experience
- ✓State requirements
💡 Tips to Save Money
- 1.Basic will + POA + healthcare directive is sufficient for most people
- 2.Online services (LegalZoom, Trust & Will) cost $200-$600 for simple estates
- 3.Many attorneys offer estate planning packages at a flat rate
- 4.Review and update every 3-5 years rather than creating from scratch
Ad
📈 Estate Planning Cost Trends (2020–2024)
Prices have increased +17.7% over the last 5 years
$1,699
2020
$1,770
2021
$1,885
2022
$1,938
2023
$2,000
2024
| Year | National Avg | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $1,699 | — |
| 2021 | $1,770 | +4.2% |
| 2022 | $1,885 | +6.5% |
| 2023 | $1,938 | +2.8% |
| 2024 | $2,000 | +3.2% |
Based on national averages adjusted for annual inflation. Actual costs vary by location and project scope.
Estate Planning Cost by State
Costs vary significantly by state due to labor rates, cost of living, and local market conditions. Click any state for a detailed breakdown.
| State | Low | Average | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $410 | $1,640 | $4,100 |
| Alaska | $640 | $2,560 | $6,400 |
| Arizona | $475 | $1,900 | $4,750 |
| Arkansas | $400 | $1,600 | $4,000 |
| California | $675 | $2,700 | $6,750 |
| Colorado | $540 | $2,160 | $5,400 |
| Connecticut | $610 | $2,440 | $6,100 |
| Delaware | $525 | $2,100 | $5,250 |
| Florida | $490 | $1,960 | $4,900 |
| Georgia | $450 | $1,800 | $4,500 |
| Hawaii | $710 | $2,840 | $7,100 |
| Idaho | $460 | $1,840 | $4,600 |
| Illinois | $525 | $2,100 | $5,250 |
| Indiana | $440 | $1,760 | $4,400 |
| Iowa | $430 | $1,720 | $4,300 |
| Kansas | $425 | $1,700 | $4,250 |
| Kentucky | $420 | $1,680 | $4,200 |
| Louisiana | $435 | $1,740 | $4,350 |
| Maine | $510 | $2,040 | $5,100 |
| Maryland | $575 | $2,300 | $5,750 |
| Massachusetts | $650 | $2,600 | $6,500 |
| Michigan | $460 | $1,840 | $4,600 |
| Minnesota | $510 | $2,040 | $5,100 |
| Mississippi | $390 | $1,560 | $3,900 |
| Missouri | $435 | $1,740 | $4,350 |
| Montana | $475 | $1,900 | $4,750 |
| Nebraska | $440 | $1,760 | $4,400 |
| Nevada | $510 | $2,040 | $5,100 |
| New Hampshire | $560 | $2,240 | $5,600 |
| New Jersey | $625 | $2,500 | $6,250 |
| New Mexico | $450 | $1,800 | $4,500 |
| New York | $660 | $2,640 | $6,600 |
| North Carolina | $450 | $1,800 | $4,500 |
| North Dakota | $450 | $1,800 | $4,500 |
| Ohio | $450 | $1,800 | $4,500 |
| Oklahoma | $415 | $1,660 | $4,150 |
| Oregon | $550 | $2,200 | $5,500 |
| Pennsylvania | $510 | $2,040 | $5,100 |
| Rhode Island | $575 | $2,300 | $5,750 |
| South Carolina | $435 | $1,740 | $4,350 |
| South Dakota | $425 | $1,700 | $4,250 |
| Tennessee | $430 | $1,720 | $4,300 |
| Texas | $465 | $1,860 | $4,650 |
| Utah | $475 | $1,900 | $4,750 |
| Vermont | $540 | $2,160 | $5,400 |
| Virginia | $525 | $2,100 | $5,250 |
| Washington | $575 | $2,300 | $5,750 |
| West Virginia | $400 | $1,600 | $4,000 |
| Wisconsin | $470 | $1,880 | $4,700 |
| Wyoming | $460 | $1,840 | $4,600 |
Ad
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a trust?
A trust avoids probate and provides privacy. It's recommended if you own property, have assets over $100K, have minor children, or want to control how assets are distributed after death.
🏙️ Estate Planning Cost by City
Compare estate planning costs in the most popular US cities:
New York City
NY
$2,900
Los Angeles
CA
$2,760
Chicago
IL
$2,300
Houston
TX
$1,900
Phoenix
AZ
$1,960
Philadelphia
PA
$2,240
San Antonio
TX
$1,760
San Diego
CA
$2,640
Dallas
TX
$2,040
San Jose
CA
$3,040
Austin
TX
$2,100
Jacksonville
FL
$1,840
Fort Worth
TX
$1,900
Columbus
OH
$1,800
Charlotte
NC
$1,900
Indianapolis
IN
$1,760
View all 219 cities →
San Francisco, CA
$3,100
Seattle, WA
$2,600
Denver, CO
$2,300
Washington D.C., DC
$2,700
Nashville, TN
$2,000
Oklahoma City, OK
$1,640
El Paso, TX
$1,640
Boston, MA
$2,800
Portland, OR
$2,360
Las Vegas, NV
$2,040
Memphis, TN
$1,640
Louisville, KY
$1,700
Baltimore, MD
$2,200
Milwaukee, WI
$1,840
Albuquerque, NM
$1,760
Tucson, AZ
$1,760
Fresno, CA
$2,100
Sacramento, CA
$2,360
Mesa, AZ
$1,900
Kansas City, MO
$1,800
Atlanta, GA
$2,100
Omaha, NE
$1,760
Colorado Springs, CO
$2,040
Raleigh, NC
$1,960
Long Beach, CA
$2,700
Virginia Beach, VA
$2,100
Miami, FL
$2,400
Oakland, CA
$2,900
Minneapolis, MN
$2,160
Tampa, FL
$2,040
Tulsa, OK
$1,640
Arlington, TX
$1,900
New Orleans, LA
$1,900
Pittsburgh, PA
$1,900
St. Louis, MO
$1,760
Bakersfield, CA
$2,040
Anaheim, CA
$2,700
Honolulu, HI
$3,000
Santa Ana, CA
$2,640
Riverside, CA
$2,300
Corpus Christi, TX
$1,700
Lexington, KY
$1,760
Stockton, CA
$2,200
Henderson, NV
$2,040
St. Paul, MN
$2,100
Cincinnati, OH
$1,760
Anchorage, AK
$2,560
Greensboro, NC
$1,760
Plano, TX
$2,100
Newark, NJ
$2,500
Lincoln, NE
$1,700
Orlando, FL
$2,040
Irvine, CA
$2,800
Durham, NC
$1,900
Chula Vista, CA
$2,560
Toledo, OH
$1,640
Fort Wayne, IN
$1,640
Jersey City, NJ
$2,700
St. Petersburg, FL
$2,040
Laredo, TX
$1,600
Madison, WI
$1,960
Chandler, AZ
$1,960
Buffalo, NY
$1,840
Lubbock, TX
$1,640
Scottsdale, AZ
$2,240
Reno, NV
$2,100
Glendale, AZ
$1,900
Gilbert, AZ
$2,040
Winston-Salem, NC
$1,700
North Las Vegas, NV
$1,960
Norfolk, VA
$1,960
Chesapeake, VA
$2,040
Irving, TX
$2,000
Fremont, CA
$2,900
Richmond, VA
$1,960
Boise, ID
$1,960
San Bernardino, CA
$2,160
Spokane, WA
$1,900
Des Moines, IA
$1,700
Tacoma, WA
$2,300
Modesto, CA
$2,100
Fontana, CA
$2,200
Moreno Valley, CA
$2,160
Fayetteville, NC
$1,700
Birmingham, AL
$1,640
Rochester, NY
$1,840
Salt Lake City, UT
$2,100
Oxnard, CA
$2,440
Knoxville, TN
$1,700
Worcester, MA
$2,300
Brownsville, TX
$1,560
Grand Rapids, MI
$1,800
Newport News, VA
$1,900
Huntsville, AL
$1,700
Amarillo, TX
$1,640
Little Rock, AR
$1,640
Montgomery, AL
$1,600
Akron, OH
$1,640
Augusta, GA
$1,640
Baton Rouge, LA
$1,700
Mobile, AL
$1,600
Shreveport, LA
$1,600
Tallahassee, FL
$1,800
Hartford, CT
$2,300
Providence, RI
$2,240
Charleston, SC
$1,960
Savannah, GA
$1,760
Columbia, SC
$1,700
Chattanooga, TN
$1,700
Fort Lauderdale, FL
$2,360
Dayton, OH
$1,640
Sioux Falls, SD
$1,700
Springfield, MO
$1,600
Jackson, MS
$1,560
Palm Bay, FL
$1,900
Lakeland, FL
$1,840
Cape Coral, FL
$1,960
Pensacola, FL
$1,760
Port St. Lucie, FL
$1,960
Naperville, IL
$2,300
Tempe, AZ
$2,000
Overland Park, KS
$1,900
McKinney, TX
$2,040
Frisco, TX
$2,100
Cary, NC
$2,040
Clarksville, TN
$1,700
Cedar Rapids, IA
$1,640
Peoria, AZ
$1,960
Surprise, AZ
$1,900
Denton, TX
$1,960
Roseville, CA
$2,300
Gainesville, FL
$1,760
Bellevue, WA
$2,800
Murfreesboro, TN
$1,840
Round Rock, TX
$2,040
Columbia, MD
$2,300
Boulder, CO
$2,500
Ann Arbor, MI
$2,200
Santa Fe, NM
$2,100
Wilmington, NC
$1,840
Greenville, SC
$1,760
Fargo, ND
$1,700
Provo, UT
$1,960
Duluth, MN
$1,760
Billings, MT
$1,840
Missoula, MT
$1,960
Cheyenne, WY
$1,760
Burlington, VT
$2,160
Portland, ME
$2,160
Concord, NH
$2,100
Bismarck, ND
$1,700
Rapid City, SD
$1,700
Casper, WY
$1,760
Bangor, ME
$1,900
Charleston, WV
$1,600
Dover, DE
$1,960
Manchester, NH
$2,160
Bridgeport, CT
$2,400
Stamford, CT
$2,700
Wichita, KS
$1,640
Topeka, KS
$1,600
Springfield, IL
$1,700
Rockford, IL
$1,700
Erie, PA
$1,640
Scranton, PA
$1,700
Flint, MI
$1,560
Lansing, MI
$1,700
Syracuse, NY
$1,760
Albany, NY
$1,900
Eugene, OR
$2,100
Salem, OR
$2,040
Fort Collins, CO
$2,200
Pueblo, CO
$1,700
Aurora, CO
$2,160
Santa Barbara, CA
$2,800
Santa Rosa, CA
$2,560
Pasadena, CA
$2,760
Visalia, CA
$2,000
Pomona, CA
$2,360
Myrtle Beach, SC
$1,760
Daytona Beach, FL
$1,840
Sarasota, FL
$2,100
Naples, FL
$2,360
Ocala, FL
$1,700
Athens, GA
$1,700
Macon, GA
$1,600
Lexington, SC
$1,700
Asheville, NC
$2,040
Flagstaff, AZ
$2,160
Rochester, NY
$1,840
New Haven, CT
$2,160
Manchester, NH
$2,100
Augusta, GA
$1,640
Fort Myers, FL
$1,960
Wilmington, NC
$1,900
Arlington, VA
$2,600
Green Bay, WI
$1,700
South Bend, IN
$1,640
Bend, OR
$2,240
Bellingham, WA
$2,200
Midland, TX
$1,900
Waco, TX
$1,640
Newark, NJ
$2,400
Related Cost Guides
💬 What Did You Pay?
Real costs reported by homeowners for Estate Planning
$2,088
Avg Reported
$1,462
Lowest Reported
$3,028
Highest Reported
Recent Reports
$1,527
Dallas, TX · Jan 2024
★★★☆☆
$2,448
Chicago, IL · Feb 2024
★★★★★
$1,728
Phoenix, AZ · Mar 2024
★★★☆☆
$2,197
Denver, CO · Apr 2024
★★★★★
$2,115
Atlanta, GA · May 2024
★★★★★
$2,659
Seattle, WA · Jun 2024
★★★★☆
📐 Estate Planning Cost Calculator
Get a personalized estimate based on your project details
Get a Free Consultation
Speak with experienced attorneys in your area. No obligation.
🔍 Find a Top-Rated Lawyer
Get matched with experienced attorneys in your area. Free initial consultations available.
* CostWhale may earn a commission. This doesn't affect our pricing data or recommendations.
💰 Get Weekly Cost-Saving Tips
Join 10,000+ smart homeowners. Unsubscribe anytime.
🔒 No spam, ever. We respect your privacy.
Ad