A revocable living trust typically costs between $1,500 and $3,500 when drafted by an estate planning attorney, while DIY online trust packages run $100 to $500. Complex irrevocable trusts, special needs trusts, or asset-protection trusts can push the price to $5,000–$10,000 or more, depending on your state’s rules and how complicated your finances are.
If you’ve been putting off estate planning because you assumed a trust was a rich-person luxury, the real numbers might surprise you. A basic trust costs roughly what a mid-range appliance does — and it spares your family the months-long, often expensive headache of probate. Here’s a realistic breakdown of what you’ll pay in 2026, what drives the price up or down, and how to avoid overpaying.
The Short Answer on Trust Pricing
Most middle-class families need a revocable living trust, and that’s the price band quoted above: $1,500–$3,500 with a lawyer. That fee usually covers the trust document itself plus the companion paperwork that makes it actually work — a pour-over will, powers of attorney, and advance healthcare directives. Be wary of quotes that cover only the trust document; the supporting documents are where the real value sits.
What Each Type of Trust Costs
Revocable living trust: $1,500–$3,500
This is the workhorse of estate planning. You create it, fund it by retitling assets into it, and you can change or revoke it anytime. Attorneys in most metro areas charge a flat fee in this range for a married couple’s joint trust package. Solo practitioners in smaller markets sometimes land closer to $1,000–$1,800.
Irrevocable trust: $3,000–$10,000+
Because you can’t easily unwind an irrevocable trust, the drafting is more intricate and the tax implications are heavier. These are the vehicles used for Medicaid planning, life insurance trusts (ILITs), and large-estate tax strategies. Expect the attorney to spend significantly more hours on customization — and to bill accordingly.
Special needs trust: $2,000–$5,000
A properly drafted special needs trust preserves a beneficiary’s eligibility for government benefits. The rules are fiddly enough that this is one area where bargain hunting is genuinely risky; a drafting error can cost a disabled family member their benefits.
Testamentary trust: $500–$2,000 added to a will
Created inside your will and funded after death, these are cheaper to draft because they don’t require the “funding” step during your lifetime. They’re a solid budget option if probate avoidance isn’t your main goal.
What Drives the Price Up (or Down)
Your state’s probate system. In states with notoriously slow, expensive probate — California is the classic example — attorneys charge more because trusts save clients more. In states with streamlined probate, fees trend lower.
How many assets and how they’re titled. A trust only works if you actually transfer your house, bank accounts, and investment accounts into it. Some firms include funding assistance in the flat fee; others charge hourly ($200–$400/hr) for the retitling legwork. Ask before you sign.
Blended families and business ownership. Second marriages, minor children, rental properties, or a family business all add drafting complexity — and cost.
Attorney experience. A certified estate planning specialist charges more than a generalist who drafts a trust twice a year. For most straightforward estates, a competent mid-career estate attorney is the sweet spot.
DIY Trusts: When the $200 Option Makes Sense
Online services like LegalZoom and Rocket Lawyer sell revocable trust packages for $100–$500. For a young, healthy person with simple assets and no minor children, these are better than nothing. But two caveats: first, the documents are only as good as your ability to fund the trust correctly — an unfunded trust is an expensive paperweight. Second, they can’t spot the issues you don’t know you have, like a beneficiary with creditor problems or a property in another state. If your net worth is over roughly $500,000, or you have kids under 18, hire the attorney.
Hidden and Ongoing Costs to Budget For
- Deed recording fees: $15–$100 per property to retitle real estate into the trust.
- Reviews every 3–5 years: $300–$800 for an attorney to review and update your documents after moves, births, divorces, or tax-law changes.
- Trustee fees: If you name a bank or professional trustee, expect 0.5–1.5% of trust assets per year.
- Amendments: $250–$750 for a trust restatement or amendment down the road.
Trust vs. Will: Which Do You Actually Need?
A will alone costs $300–$1,000 to draft and still sends your estate through probate, which typically eats 3–7% of the estate’s value and takes 6–18 months. A trust costs more up front but usually pays for itself by avoiding probate entirely. If you own real estate or want privacy (probate is public; trusts aren’t), the trust wins. For renters with modest assets, a solid will plus beneficiary designations may be enough — and our guide on how much a prenup costs covers another common family-law document with a similar price profile.
How to Keep the Bill Reasonable
Get two or three flat-fee quotes and compare exactly what’s included — trust, pour-over will, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and funding assistance. Bring an organized asset list to your first meeting; attorneys bill for the hours they spend chasing down your account statements. And don’t buy a trust from a seminar salesperson or a “trust mill” that also sells annuities — the document is often fine, but the upsell rarely is.
Estate planning touches a lot of legal questions, so it’s worth understanding the broader picture too — see what it costs to sue someone and typical lawyer fees for context on legal pricing in general.
FAQs
How much does a trust cost at a bank?
Banks don’t draft trusts — attorneys do. A bank can serve as your trustee after the trust is created, typically charging 0.5–1.5% of assets annually. The drafting cost ($1,500–$3,500 for a standard revocable trust) is paid to an estate planning attorney.
Is a trust worth it if I only own a house?
Often yes. A house is usually someone’s largest asset, and it’s exactly the kind of property that gets stuck in probate. A revocable trust lets your heirs transfer the home without court involvement, which is why homeowners are the most common trust clients.
Can I write my own trust for free?
You can download templates for free, but a trust is only valid if it meets your state’s execution requirements and is properly funded. Mistakes in either step can invalidate the whole arrangement. At minimum, pay an attorney for a one-hour review ($200–$400) of any DIY document.
Does a trust avoid estate taxes?
A standard revocable living trust does not reduce federal estate taxes — its main benefits are probate avoidance, privacy, and incapacity planning. Tax reduction requires irrevocable trust strategies, which is a separate (and pricier) conversation with your attorney. The IRS estate and gift tax page explains current exemption thresholds.
How often should I update my trust?
Review it every 3–5 years and after any major life event: marriage, divorce, a new child, a move to another state, or a big change in assets. Most attorneys offer review appointments for a few hundred dollars, far cheaper than fixing an outdated trust after the fact.
