An attorney-drafted revocable living trust typically costs $1,500–$4,000 as a flat fee, and more than $5,000 for complex estates. Online trust packages run about $399–$649 in company list prices, and do-it-yourself software or books cost roughly $30–$250. Plan for small extra costs to fund the trust, such as deed recording (LegalZoom, Nolo, Trust & Will and Clio data, as of October 2026).
Updated October 10, 2026. Source: LegalZoom + 16 more. National US figures; your state and case will differ.
What you pay depends mostly on who drafts it (a lawyer, an online service or you), how complicated your family and assets are, and how much help you need funding the trust. If you are still weighing documents, see our living trust vs. will cost comparison; for a full plan with powers of attorney, see estate planning attorney cost.
Living trust cost at a glance
Attorney figures come from consumer legal publishers and Clio's 2025 rate data; online prices are company list prices checked October 10, 2026.
| Fee arrangement or scenario | Typical cost | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Attorney, flat fee (basic revocable trust) | $1,500–$4,000 | Most common. Usually includes a pour-over will; complex estates can exceed $5,000 (LegalZoom). Nolo says prices under $1,200–$1,500 are rare. |
| Attorney, hourly | $397/hour average for trust work | Clio's 2025 U.S. average for trusts; $371/hour for wills and estates. Used for custom or complex plans. |
| Lower-cost attorney (small towns, simple plans) | $800–$3,000 | Range cited by Nolo's WillMaker for lawyer-drafted trusts, depending on location and complexity. |
| Online trust package | $399–$649 | LegalZoom and Trust & Will list prices for individuals and couples; attorney help often costs extra. |
| DIY software or book | $30–$250 | Nolo: about $30 for a book, $100–$250 for a DIY service; you handle funding yourself. |
| Free nonprofit tool | $0 | FreeWill lists trusts as free, but its trust sign-up showed a California-only notice when checked. |
Online living trust prices compared (company list prices, October 2026)
JuristScale is not affiliated with LegalZoom, Trust & Will, FreeWill, Nolo or any other company named here; online prices are each company's published list prices, checked October 10, 2026. Prices change often; confirm on each company's site before buying.
| Service | Individual | Couple | Attorney help | Ongoing fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LegalZoom Basic Trust | $399 | $499 | +$150 for 1 year (add-on) | None listed |
| LegalZoom Premium Trust | $549 | $649 | Unlimited consultations for 1 year | $199/year after year one |
| Trust & Will Trust Plan | $499 | $599 (per FreeWill's price table) | +$299 per year | $49/year membership after year one |
| Nolo Quicken WillMaker & Trust | From about $109 (NCOA review) | — | Not included | — |
| FreeWill | $0 | $0 | Not included | $0 |
Attorney trust estimates using Clio hourly rates (10–15 hours of work)
SimplyTrust multiplies Clio's 2025 trust-work rates by 10–15 attorney hours. These are estimates for a fully custom trust, not quotes; many lawyers charge a lower flat fee.
| State | Clio trust rate | Estimate at 10–15 hours |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $368/hour | $3,680–$5,520 |
| Texas | $413/hour | $4,130–$6,195 |
| New York | $425/hour | $4,250–$6,375 |
| U.S. average | $397/hour | About $3,970–$5,955 (same method) |
Cost breakdown: a basic attorney-drafted revocable living trust, including funding
Line-item estimate. National figures as of October 10, 2026; your state and court can differ.
| Cost item | Typical range | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Attorney flat fee (trust and pour-over will) | $1,500–$4,000 | LegalZoom's typical attorney range for a revocable trust |
| Deed to move your home into the trust (recording) | $25–$110 | County recording fee; about $25 for the first page in Harris County, Texas, and $107 per deed in Cook County, Illinois |
| Notarization | $5–$30 | $5–$15 per signature (LegalZoom); trust and deed signatures |
| Retitling bank and brokerage accounts | $0–$0 | Banks normally retitle accounts at no charge; you or your lawyer submit the forms |
| Estimated total | $1,550–$4,150 | Before any fee waiver or award of fees |
The trust document is most of the bill. Deed preparation by the lawyer may be billed separately; LegalZoom notes that the cost of transferring ownership is typically not included in a trust's price.
What changes the price
- Who drafts it. A lawyer typically charges $1,500–$4,000, while online packages cost $399–$649 and DIY tools $30–$250. You pay the lawyer for advice on your situation, not just the paperwork.
- Complexity of your estate. Blended families, children with special needs, business interests, rental property or property in several states push trusts above $5,000 (LegalZoom).
- Where you live. Clio's 2025 data puts trust-work rates at $432/hour in California, $425 in New York, $413 in Texas and $368 in Illinois, versus $397 nationally.
- Single vs. joint trust. Couples pay more: online services add about $100 for a joint trust (LegalZoom, Trust & Will), and lawyers often price joint trusts higher.
- Funding help. A trust only avoids probate for assets you retitle into it. Lawyers who prepare deeds and coordinate account transfers may include this in the flat fee or bill extra, plus county recording fees.
- Ongoing support. Online plans may renew at $49–$199 per year for edits and attorney access; lawyers bill amendments separately (SimplyTrust estimates $368–$736 for a simple Illinois amendment).
How to save without sacrificing quality
- Get flat-fee quotes from two or three estate planning lawyers and ask exactly which documents and funding steps are included.
- Fund the trust yourself: retitle bank and brokerage accounts with each institution's forms, which usually cost nothing.
- Use an online package with an attorney add-on (about $150–$299) if your estate is simple and you want a professional review.
- Bundle the trust with your will, powers of attorney and health care directive; packages usually cost less than separate documents.
- Check for free or low-cost help: legal aid programs, AARP-affiliated or senior legal services, and employer legal plans sometimes cover estate planning.
- Keep the plan updated with small amendments instead of a full restatement when life changes are minor.
Related questions people ask
How much does it cost to set up a living trust?
Setting one up costs about $1,500–$4,000 with a lawyer, $399–$649 with LegalZoom or Trust & Will, and $30–$250 with DIY tools. Add county recording fees for any real estate deed, typically under $110 per deed in the counties we checked.
How much does a revocable living trust cost?
Nearly every "living trust" sold to consumers is a revocable trust, so the figures above apply: $1,500–$4,000 from an attorney for a basic plan. Irrevocable trusts used for tax or Medicaid planning are separate, more complex products priced higher.
What does the cost of a living trust include?
Attorney packages usually include the trust, a pour-over will and signing. LegalZoom's living trust package also includes a health care directive, financial power of attorney and HIPAA authorization. Recording fees and professional trustee fees are extra.
What to get in writing: the fee agreement
Before you sign, get a written engagement letter or plan summary that spells out:
- Whether the price is a flat fee or hourly, and the estimated total if hourly.
- Exactly which documents are included: trust, pour-over will, powers of attorney, health care directive, certification of trust.
- Whether deed preparation, recording fees and help retitling accounts are included or billed separately.
- Whether a joint trust for a married couple costs more than an individual trust.
- How amendments, restatements and later questions are billed, and any annual or renewal fee.
- For online services: what attorney help is included, for how long, and the renewal price.
FAQ
Is a living trust worth the cost?
It depends on your state's probate costs and your assets. In California, statutory probate fees on a $500,000 estate are $13,000 for the attorney alone (Probate Code §10810), so a $1,500–$4,000 trust can save money. In states with simpler probate, a will may be enough; our probate lawyer cost guide has the numbers.
Are there yearly costs to keep a living trust?
A revocable trust you manage yourself has minimal ongoing cost, according to LegalZoom. Online services charge $49–$199 per year if you keep their membership, and a bank or corporate trustee charges if you name one.
Do I still need a will if I have a living trust?
Yes. Most plans include a short pour-over will that sends assets left outside the trust into it. See our will cost guide for standalone will prices.
How much does it cost to administer a trust after death?
A LegalZoom estate planning attorney estimates $3,000–$10,000 for attorney help with an uncontested trust administration in California, plus accountant fees for trust tax returns. Family trustees can often handle simple trusts with less help.
Related fee guides
Sources
- LegalZoom — How Much Does a Living Trust Cost? (2026 Price Guide) (updated Mar 20, 2026). Checked October 10, 2026.
- LegalZoom — Trust & Will vs. LegalZoom: How They Compare in 2026 (company price tables) (2026 edition, checked Oct 10, 2026). Checked October 10, 2026.
- Trust & Will — Pricing (checked Oct 10, 2026). Checked October 10, 2026.
- FreeWill — Trust & Will review (FreeWill and Trust & Will price table) (updated Aug 6, 2026). Checked October 10, 2026.
- National Council on Aging (NCOA) — The Best Online Will Makers of 2026 (Oct 2, 2026). Checked October 10, 2026.
- Nolo — How Much It Costs to Make a Will and Estate Planning Documents (updated Jun 15, 2022). Checked October 10, 2026.
- Nolo — How to Make a Living Trust Yourself (and Avoid Probate) (undated, checked Oct 10, 2026). Checked October 10, 2026.
- Nolo WillMaker — Do You Need an Attorney to Set Up a Living Trust? (updated Mar 28, 2025). Checked October 10, 2026.
- Clio — Legal Trends: Compare lawyer rates (U.S. averages by practice area) (2025 data, updated Mar 2026). Checked October 10, 2026.
- Clio — Legal Trends: Lawyer rates in California (2025 data, updated Mar 2026). Checked October 10, 2026.
- SimplyTrust (citing Clio Legal Trends Report 2025) — How Much Does a Living Trust Cost in Illinois? (updated Sep 8, 2026). Checked October 10, 2026.
- SimplyTrust (citing Clio Legal Trends Report 2025) — Hiring an Estate Planning Attorney in Texas (updated Sep 8, 2026). Checked October 10, 2026.
- SimplyTrust (citing Clio Legal Trends Report 2025) — Hiring an Estate Planning Attorney in New York (updated Sep 8, 2026). Checked October 10, 2026.
- Harris County Clerk — Real Property recording fees (checked Oct 10, 2026). Checked October 10, 2026.
- Cook County Clerk — Recording fee schedule (effective Apr 1, 2024). Checked October 10, 2026.
- LegalZoom — How Much Does a Will Cost? (updated Oct 28, 2024). Checked October 10, 2026.
- California Probate Code § 10810 (Justia, 2025 California Code) — Attorney compensation for ordinary services (in force since Jan 1, 2002). Checked October 10, 2026.
Fee figures are estimates and vary by state, lawyer and case. See our methodology and editorial policy. Browse all wills, trusts & probate fee guides.