When you hire an estate planning attorney, you will likely encounter package pricing rather than hourly billing. Estate planning attorney packages bundle the essential documents most people need into a single flat fee. This approach makes costs predictable and ensures you get a complete plan rather than just one document.
Understanding what these packages include helps you compare options and choose the right level of service for your situation.
The Basic Will Package
The simplest estate planning attorney packages focus on a last will and testament. A basic will package typically costs between $300 and $1,000 and includes document preparation, a consultation to discuss your wishes, and instructions for proper execution.
Your will names an executor to manage your estate after death, designates beneficiaries to receive your property, and can name guardians for minor children. However, a will alone does not avoid probate. Your estate will still go through court supervision before your beneficiaries receive their inheritance.
Basic packages work well for younger people with modest assets, renters without real estate, and those with straightforward family situations. If you own a home, have significant assets, or want to avoid probate, you will need a more comprehensive package.
Standard Estate Planning Packages
Most estate planning attorney packages include four core documents that work together to protect you during life and ensure your wishes are followed after death. According to the American Bar Association, a complete estate plan addresses both property transfer and personal decision-making.
The last will and testament remains the foundation. It directs how your probate assets should be distributed and names the person responsible for carrying out those instructions.
A financial power of attorney (sometimes called a durable power of attorney) names someone to manage your money and property if you become incapacitated. This document lets your agent pay bills, manage investments, file taxes, and handle business transactions on your behalf. Without this document, your family might need court-appointed conservatorship to access your accounts.
A healthcare power of attorney (also called a healthcare proxy) names someone to make medical decisions for you if you cannot communicate your wishes. This is separate from the financial power of attorney and typically names a different agent focused specifically on medical matters.
A living will (also called an advance healthcare directive) documents your preferences for medical treatment and end-of-life care. Unlike a regular will, which takes effect after death, a living will guides doctors and family members while you are still alive but unable to communicate.
Standard packages from estate planning attorneys typically range from $1,000 to $2,500, depending on your location and the attorney’s experience.
Trust-Based Estate Planning Packages
The most comprehensive estate planning attorney packages include a revocable living trust along with the standard documents. Trust packages typically cost between $1,500 and $5,000.
A revocable living trust holds your property during your lifetime and transfers it to beneficiaries after death without going through probate. You serve as trustee while alive, maintaining complete control over the assets. A successor trustee takes over if you become incapacitated or when you die.
Trust packages usually include a pour-over will that catches any assets not transferred to the trust during your lifetime and directs them into the trust at death. The pour-over will also names guardians for minor children.
Many attorneys include a certificate of trust (sometimes called an abstract of trust), which summarizes the trust’s key provisions without revealing personal details. You can show this document to banks and title companies instead of the full trust agreement.
Trust-based packages often include trust funding assistance, which means helping you retitle assets into the trust. This might involve preparing new deeds for real estate, providing instructions for changing beneficiary designations, and preparing assignment documents for personal property. Some attorneys charge separately for trust funding, so ask what is included.
Additional Documents Often Included
Beyond the core documents, estate planning attorney packages may include several other useful items.
A HIPAA authorization allows designated individuals to access your protected health information. Without this document, healthcare providers cannot share your medical records with family members.
Beneficiary designation reviews ensure your retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and other assets with named beneficiaries are coordinated with your overall estate plan. These assets pass outside your will, so inconsistent designations can undermine your planning.
Some packages include a letter of instruction or personal property memorandum where you can list specific items and who should receive them. These documents are not legally binding but guide your executor in distributing personal belongings.
What Affects Package Pricing
Several factors influence what estate planning attorney packages cost. Location matters significantly, with attorneys in major metropolitan areas charging higher fees than those in smaller markets.
The complexity of your situation affects pricing. Multiple properties in different states, business ownership, blended families, beneficiaries with special needs, and significant wealth requiring tax planning all increase the work involved.
The attorney’s experience and reputation also affect fees. Attorneys who specialize exclusively in estate planning may charge more than general practitioners who handle estates as part of a broader practice.
Some firms include ongoing support or document storage in their packages. Others offer annual review services or unlimited amendments for a specified period after the initial planning.
Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Package
Before selecting an estate planning attorney package, ask specific questions about what is included.
Does the package include in-person meetings or only virtual consultations? Some flat-fee packages are offered at reduced rates because they do not include face-to-face meetings.
What happens if your situation is more complex than expected? Some attorneys charge additional fees for extra properties, business interests, or complicated family dynamics. Ask about these potential add-ons upfront.
Is trust funding included, or is it a separate service? Transferring assets into a trust involves additional work that some attorneys charge for separately.
How many revisions are included? Estate plans need updating after major life events. Some packages include amendments for a year or longer; others charge for any changes.
What are the costs beyond attorney fees? Document execution often requires notarization, and real estate transfers require recording fees. Ask whether these costs are included or additional.
Choosing the Right Package
The right package depends on your goals, assets, and family situation.
If you rent your home, have modest savings, and just need to name guardians for young children, a basic will package may be sufficient.
If you own real estate, want to avoid probate, or have concerns about incapacity planning, a standard package with powers of attorney and healthcare directives is the minimum you should consider.
If you have significant assets, own property in multiple states, want privacy in your estate administration, or need to plan for beneficiaries who cannot manage money responsibly, a trust-based package provides the most comprehensive protection.
Meeting with an attorney for an initial consultation, often offered free or at low cost, helps you understand which package fits your needs. The attorney can explain the differences and recommend the appropriate level of planning based on your specific circumstances.