How much does a living trust cost? Online vs attorney (2026)
A revocable living trust costs about $150 to $650 with an online service and typically $1,500 to $4,000 with an attorney. Here is what you pay for, the costs people forget, and when paying more is worth it.
Key facts
- Paid online services charge $149 to $649 for a living trust package, depending on the service and whether it covers one person or a couple.
- Attorneys typically charge $1,500 to $4,000, and more than $5,000 for complex estates.
- Some online services add attorney review for a fee, a middle path between the two.
- Budget for deed recording fees and yearly update fees, which are easy to overlook.
- A trust costs more up front than a will, but can spare your family probate costs often estimated at 3% to 7% of the estate.
Prices at a glance
| Option | One person | Couple | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| GoodTrust Estate+ | $149 | Not priced separately; includes up to 4 free family accounts | Includes a pour-over will and a year of updates, then $39 a year |
| Nolo Quicken WillMaker & Trust Plus | $149 | Same $149; covers up to 5 family members | Do-it-yourself software, one year of access; not valid in Louisiana |
| LegalZoom Living Trust | $399 Basic, $549 Premium | $499 Basic, $649 Premium | Premium adds a year of attorney help, then $199 a year |
| Trust & Will Trust Plan | $499 | $599 | Attorney Support add-on +$299 (not in AK, HI, LA, MS, OR, SC or TN); trust plans not offered in Louisiana |
| FreeWill | Free | Free | Living trust for California residents only |
| Ethos | Free | Free | Only with an eligible Ethos life insurance policy; not in Alaska or Louisiana |
| Estate planning attorney | $1,500 to $4,000 typical; above $5,000 for complex estates | Advice tailored to your state and family | |
Prices come from each provider’s website in October 2026 and change often. Check the provider’s site before you buy. We compare features in more detail in online wills and trusts compared.
What online services include
A typical online trust package includes the revocable living trust, a pour-over will, financial and health care powers of attorney, and instructions for signing and funding the trust. Trust & Will, for example, includes a certification of trust, a schedule of assets and a trust funding guide in its $499 plan.
You answer questions online, the service assembles documents for your state, and you sign them following your state’s rules, usually in front of a notary. Most services let you make changes for a period, then charge a yearly fee for further updates.
What you do not get, unless you pay for attorney access, is advice. The service will not tell you whether your plan fits your family, spot a tax issue or check that you funded the trust correctly.
What an attorney charges
LegalZoom’s 2026 cost guide puts an attorney-prepared living trust at $1,500 to $4,000, and above $5,000 for complex estates. SmartAsset cites $1,000 to $4,000. Nolo notes that fees under $1,200 to $1,500 are rare.
Most estate planning attorneys charge a flat fee for a trust package that includes the trust, a pour-over will, powers of attorney and health care directives. Ask whether the fee also covers:
- preparing and recording the deed that moves your home into the trust;
- help retitling bank and brokerage accounts;
- a signing meeting with witnesses and a notary;
- future changes, and at what price.
Trust & Will also matches people with complex needs, such as a child with special needs or a business, to an attorney, with engagements starting at $1,499.
Costs people forget
- Deed recording. Moving your home into the trust means recording a new deed with your county, which charges a recording fee.
- Notary fees. Usually small, and sometimes free at your bank.
- Updates. Yearly fees after the first year range from $39 to $199 at the services above. Attorneys charge for amendments.
- Attorney review. Optional add-ons, such as Trust & Will’s $299 Attorney Support, add a lawyer’s eyes to an online plan.
- Your time. Funding the trust takes calls and paperwork with each bank and broker. See how to fund a living trust.
Trust cost vs probate cost
AARP cites a financial planner’s estimate that probate can take 3% to 7% of an estate. For a $400,000 estate, that would be $12,000 to $28,000, paid before your heirs receive anything, plus months of waiting. A trust that costs $149 to $4,000 can avoid most of that for the assets you put into it.
The comparison is not always that stark. If your assets already pass by beneficiary designation, or your state has a generous small estate procedure or allows transfer-on-death deeds, a will plus those tools may achieve much of the same for less. Read what probate involves.
Trust cost vs will cost
A will costs less. Online, FreeWill offers one free in every state, Nolo’s software starts at $109, LegalZoom at $129, GoodTrust at $149 and Trust & Will at $199. An attorney-drafted simple will often costs about $1,000, according to Nolo, with simple ones starting near $300. Our will vs living trust guide explains what the extra money buys.
Not sure you need a trust at all? The 2-minute quiz tells you whether a will, a trust or an attorney fits your situation.
Online or attorney: which fits you
An online service is usually enough if
- you own a home in one state and your family situation is straightforward;
- your estate is far below the federal estate tax limit of $15 million per person in 2026;
- you are comfortable retitling your accounts and recording a deed yourself.
An attorney is worth the cost if
- a beneficiary has special needs and receives, or may need, government benefits;
- you own a business, property in several states or property abroad;
- you have a blended family or expect someone to challenge the plan;
- your estate is near the federal estate tax limit, or your state has its own estate or inheritance tax;
- you are planning for long-term care costs or Medicaid;
- you live in Louisiana, where several online services do not offer trusts.
Compare the online options side by side
Prices, what each package includes and who each service fits best.
Compare online servicesFAQ
Is an online living trust legally valid?
It can be. A trust’s validity depends on its content and on signing it according to your state’s rules, not on who typed it. The risk with online trusts is less about validity and more about fit: choices the software cannot flag, and trusts that are never funded.
Can I write my own living trust without a service?
It is possible, but mistakes in wording, signing or funding can defeat the purpose. If your situation is simple, an established online service or software costs little more than doing it yourself and gives you state-specific documents.
Do I pay the attorney again when my trust needs changes?
Usually yes, for an amendment or restatement, though some attorneys include minor updates for a period or offer maintenance plans. Ask before you hire.
Are there ongoing costs to keep a living trust?
A revocable trust has no annual filing fee and generally no separate tax return while you are alive. Ongoing costs are optional: yearly update plans from online services, or attorney fees when you amend it.
Sources
- Trust & Will: Pricing
- LegalZoom: Living trust packages
- Nolo Quicken WillMaker & Trust: Pricing
- GoodTrust: Pricing and renewal fee
- FreeWill: FAQ
- Ethos: Free will and trust
- LegalZoom: Cost to set up a living trust (updated March 2026)
- SmartAsset: Cost of a living trust vs a will (September 2026)
- Nolo: How much will a lawyer charge to write your will?
- AARP: Smart guide to estate planning (July 2026)
- IRS: What’s new, estate and gift tax
OakTrust.com provides general information, not legal advice. Prices are set by each provider and change often. Some links on this site may earn us a commission; see our affiliate disclosure.