⚠️ This guide was researched and updated in May 2026. Laws and regulations change frequently. For specific legal advice regarding your jurisdiction, please consult with local legal counsel.
The cost of a will in the US runs from nothing for a form you complete yourself to several thousand dollars for an attorney handling a complex estate. This guide sets out the typical range for each route and what tends to push the price up.
There is no single price. What you pay depends mostly on the route you choose and how involved your estate is, and attorney fees also vary between states and between cities and rural areas.
Price does not decide validity. A will is generally valid in the US if it meets the signing and witnessing rules of the state where you live, whichever route produced it. See do I need an attorney to write a will for what those rules involve.
Cost tends to follow complexity and the amount of tailored advice, not the length of the document.
A single-state estate left to a spouse or adult children sits at the lower end; trusts, business interests or several properties push the price up.
Real property is generally governed by the law of the state where it sits, so drafting for more than one state usually takes more time.
A guided form is cheapest; an attorney advising on your own family and tax position is where most of the extra cost, and value, lies.
Simple wills are often offered for a flat fee, while complex estate plans are more commonly billed by the hour.
The table below sets out typical US market ranges for each route, what each usually includes and where the figures come from. They are a national overview for information only; always check a provider’s current price before deciding.
Typical United States market ranges for informational purposes only. Wills are governed state by state, so these are a national overview rather than the rule in any one state. Prices vary by firm, state and estate complexity, and may change over time. Always check the source and consult a professional before deciding.
US$0 to US$50
A blank template or downloadable form you complete yourself. No review of your circumstances, so a signing or witnessing step that your state requires is easy to miss.
Source: legalzoom.com (opens in a new tab) · as of 8 Sept 2026
US$50 to US$200
A guided questionnaire that produces a will, typically with state-specific signing instructions and optional storage or updates depending on the provider.
Source: legalzoom.com (opens in a new tab) · as of 8 Sept 2026
US$300 to US$1,000
A licensed attorney drafts the will and advises on your own situation, usually for a flat fee. Rates run higher in large metropolitan areas than in rural ones.
Source: nolo.com (opens in a new tab) · as of 8 Sept 2026
US$1,000 to US$3,000+
Tailored drafting where the estate is larger or more involved (trusts, business interests, a blended family or property in more than one state), often billed hourly.
Source: nolo.com (opens in a new tab) · as of 8 Sept 2026
It depends on the route. A DIY form costs little or nothing, an online will service usually sits in the low hundreds of dollars, and an attorney typically charges more, rising with the complexity of the estate. The dated ranges and their sources are in the table above; always check a provider’s current price.
Yes, if it meets your state’s requirements on writing, signing and witnessing. The trade-off with cheaper routes is usually less guidance, so a mistake that makes a will invalid is easier to miss.
There can be. Some providers charge for storage or for updates, and you may pay again to revise a will after a marriage, divorce, a new child or a move to another state.
Usually, because a trust involves more drafting and retitling assets into it. Whether one suits your circumstances is a question for a qualified professional in your state.
Whichever route suits you, a valid, up-to-date will is what decides who inherits. Start yours with structured prompts, or find a legal professional for advice on your own position.
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