How much does a will cost? 6 options and their prices

Your last will and testament is one of the most important legal documents you’ll ever make. In your will, you’ll make important decisions that help protect and provide for the people you love most. But there can be a lot of perceived barriers to creating a will, and one of those is how much a will costs.

How much does it cost to make a will?

So how much does a will cost? It depends on the method you use.

There are two routes you can take when making your will: You can hire a lawyer to draft it for you, or you can make a DIY will. That’s right — it’s possible to create a legally valid will without an attorney’s help.

Below are six options you can use to make your will, from least to most expensive, and considerations to help you choose the best option for your situation.

Is it legal to make your will without a lawyer?

Before we dive in, we want to answer a common question: Yes, you can make your will without hiring a lawyer. Under the Sixth Amendment, American citizens have the right to legally represent themselves, which includes making their own will.

There are some criteria you need to meet to make sure your will is legally binding, like including your name on your document and signing your will in front of witnesses. These requirements apply regardless of whether you write your own will or hire an attorney to help you.

Learn more: How to make a will without a lawyer: A step-by-step guide

Option 1: Use a free online will-maker.

Cost: Free

With today’s technology, it’s never been easier or more affordable to create a legally-binding will online. Using a reputable online will-maker like FreeWill is a great option if you want to make your will for free without falling into the common pitfalls of a handwritten will.

FreeWill’s easy-to-use documents are legally binding in all 50 states, customized to you, and come with thousands of 5-star reviews. It’s also completely free to use and can take as little as 20 minutes to complete.

If you use a different online will provider, keep in mind that some providers might promise free will forms or kits in exchange for your participation in phone calls or life insurance pitches. Before you give out your personal information, do a quick search on a consumer review website like Trustpilot to see if the company is reliable. You can also read their privacy policy to see how they use your personal information.

Option 2: Write your will by hand.

Cost: Free

A handwritten will is known as a holographic will. Although writing your will by hand may seem like the simplest and most affordable option, estate attorneys generally don’t recommend it. Holographic wills can be difficult to prove legally valid in court, and they may contain errors or unclear wishes. They also aren’t allowed in all states.

Learn more about the pitfalls of holographic wills and a better alternative you can use instead.

Option 3: Printable will forms or templates.

Cost: Varies

These are blank forms, often provided in PDF format, that you print and then fill out with your information. If you fill in the blanks by hand, they can be considered a type of holographic will.

Will templates can initially be appealing because they seem affordable. However, they can lead to the same pitfalls as other handwritten wills. You also can’t customize printable will templates to your situation, making them less flexible than other options.

Estate laws vary by state, which is something fill-in-the blank will templates often don’t take into account. It’s up to you to make sure the template you use is in line with your state’s laws.

User experience varies greatly from template to template. There are some sites that walk you through the process of creating your “free” will, then ask you for a credit card at the end before granting you access to your documents. It can be helpful to read the fine print before you invest time in a template.

Option 4: Do-it-yourself will kits.

Cost: $15-$50

You can buy DIY will kits from retailers like Amazon or Walmart. One thing to note with DIY will kits is that, like blank will forms you download off the internet, will kits are often very basic and hard to customize. And if you write them by hand, they can pose the same problems as any other handwritten will.

Option 5: Paid online will providers.

Cost: $50-$300

Paid online will providers charge you a fee to create your will documents using their templates. If you need to make changes to your will in the future (which most people do), paid providers usually charge for these edits.

These one-time will forms might be more expensive than other options, but are often more affordable than hiring a lawyer to create your will.

If you want to create your will online but are looking for a more affordable option, consider trying FreeWill’s free online will-maker.

Option 6: Hire an estate attorney.

Cost: $300-$1,500+

Hiring a lawyer is generally the most expensive way to write your will. The benefit is that estate attorneys are experts in law, and they have experience and expertise that you won’t get with many DIY will options.

How much it costs an attorney to write your will depends on several factors, including:

• Where you live. If you live in an area with a higher cost of living, attorney’s fees are naturally going to be higher and your will is going to cost more.
• How complicated your estate is. If you have a lot of assets, own a business, or have difficult family relationships, it can take more time to organize your estate and set up your will. More time with your lawyer often results in a higher fee.
• Which fee structure your attorney uses. Estate attorneys typically bill their time using two fee structures: flat fees, and hourly fees. A flat fee for a will can cost $300 to $1,000, depending on the size of your estate. Flat fees are nice because you know exactly how much you’ll be paying. Hourly fees, on the other hand, can be more difficult to estimate. An attorney’s hourly fee can range from $100-$400 an hour, depending on their experience and where you live.

Also remember that if you ask your attorney to make edits or changes to your will down the road, they will likely bill you for that time.

Which option is right for you?

Here’s the good news: making your will doesn’t have to break the bank. For most Americans, a DIY will option, like FreeWill’s free will software, is a great, affordable option to record their wishes.

If your estate is complicated or you want additional support, an estate attorney might be a better choice. If you decide to hire a lawyer to make your will, you can prepare your documents in FreeWill’s will template, then download and print them to bring to your attorney. Documenting your wishes in advance can save you money and time.

Keep reading: How to make your will in 10 easy steps