How much does a Will cost? And why?

Originally published: April 2, 2019 | Last updated: January 26, 2026

How Much Does a Will Actually Cost?

The cost of a Will ranges from $0 to over $2,000, depending on the method you choose and the complexity of your estate. Here is a direct comparison:

What Exactly Is a Last Will and Testament?

A Will is a legal document that serves three primary functions:

1. Makes key appointments — names an Executor who is responsible for carrying out the instructions in your Will
2. Describes asset distribution — specifies how your estate (bank accounts, real estate, investments, possessions, family heirlooms) is divided
3. Names guardians — appoints who will raise your minor children if needed

Asset distribution can take several forms:

• Specific bequests: “I leave $1,000 to my nephew James Green”
• Percentage shares: “I leave 10 percent of my estate to St Luke’s Church at 123 Main Street”
• Equal shares: “I leave my estate in equal shares between my three children, John, Susan, and Daphne”
• Or any combination of these instructions

Under current law, a Will must be written on paper and signed. It typically requires two witnesses, unless the entire document is in your own handwriting (a “holographic Will”). Video Wills, electronically signed Wills, and verbal promises are not accepted as legal Wills under current laws. A Will must be an originally signed document — faxed, photocopied, or digitized versions are not readily accepted unless the original was proven to be accidentally lost or destroyed.

In essence, a Will is a 5–6 page document that makes key appointments and describes how your assets are distributed. The question is: how much should you pay to create one?

Why Are Some Wills Free?

Free Wills come in two forms, and both have significant drawbacks.

The Blank-Form Will Kit

Since a Will is fundamentally a piece of paper that makes appointments and describes asset distribution, a blank form can technically be free. However, these kits represent the bare minimum required for a legal Will and are grossly inadequate.

Well-drafted Wills do far more than the bare minimum. Even a “simple Will” includes provisions that blank-form kits miss entirely. These kits invariably cause problems — not for you, but for your loved ones who will be left sorting out the mess. For example, a typical free kit might ask you to “describe the powers of the Trustee” — a question that is impossible for any layperson to complete properly.

For more on this topic, read our detailed analysis of the free Last Will and Testament template.

The Free Online Will Service

Some online services guide you through the Will-writing process at no charge, potentially producing a better document than a blank kit. But there is a catch: by giving the service away free, they either have no legal team, development team, or customer support — or they generate revenue by selling your personal data to third parties like insurance companies and funeral services.

What Do You Get with a $1,000 Will from an Attorney?

When you hire an estate planning attorney, you are paying for two things: legal advice on your Will, and estate planning strategies for your assets.

Do You Need Legal Advice for Your Will?

If you are writing a Will to leave everything to your spouse — and in the event of a common accident, everything goes to your children — you probably do not need legal advice. Even if you need to name a guardian for your children and set up trusts for minor beneficiaries, you probably still do not need an attorney.

You should seek legal advice if:

• You need a custom legal clause written for a unique situation
• You have doubts about the legality of a specific provision
• A child with special needs is receiving government benefits, and you need a special needs trust to protect their benefits
• Your estate involves complex business ownership or international assets

In our experience, over 95% of people do not need legal advice to write their Will. For the vast majority, a well-designed online service produces the same document.

What Estate Planning Strategies Can an Attorney Provide?

Beyond writing the Will itself, an estate planning attorney can help with strategies to avoid or reduce probate fees. The most common strategies include:

• Revocable Living Trust — moves assets outside your estate so they are excluded from probate fee calculations
• Transfer on Death designations — allows certain accounts to pass directly to a beneficiary
• Beneficiary designations — on registered investments and insurance policies
• Tax planning — for very large estates that may be subject to estate tax

However, in some states probate fees are significantly less than the legal costs of avoiding them. And some of these strategies can be accomplished by writing your own Will and working with a tax specialist.

How Much Should a Will Really Cost?

You can definitely underpay for a Will, and you can certainly overpay. Even when using an estate planning attorney, if your situation is straightforward and you are not receiving estate planning advice, you should not pay more than about $400.

Here is an important fact: most lawyers use estate planning software to write a Last Will and Testament. You complete a form in the reception area, a staff member enters the information into the software, and the lawyer reviews it. It does not demand years of legal training to prepare this type of Will.

What About Online Will Services?

A growing number of online Will services give you direct access to the same software that lawyers use. They put a consumer-friendly front-end on it and allow you to prepare your own Will. In most cases, the final result is word-for-word identical to a Will prepared by an attorney.

These services range from about $40 to $100 to prepare a Will, and usually offer additional options including ongoing updates. Over the years, online services have become increasingly sophisticated — something traditional law firms have not been inclined to do. Features now include:

• Uploading important documents to a secure digital vault
• Documenting assets for your Executor
• Keyholder systems to ensure the right people get the right information at the right time
• Charitable bequest sections
• Support for blended family trusts

The key advantage is convenience. You can write your Will at any time, day or night, from the comfort of your home. When you need to make changes, you log in and update your Will in minutes to reflect new circumstances or changes in your intentions.

Why Does USLegalWills.com Charge $39.95?

Our pricing is based on our costs to deliver the service and our relative value in the marketplace.

What Are the Costs Behind USLegalWills.com?

Our costs fall into five categories, in order of spending:

1. Software development — continuous innovation to deliver the best service
2. Customer support — fully in-house, never outsourced; average team tenure exceeds 10 years
3. Legal consultation — developing new services and maintaining legal accuracy
4. Advertising — less than some competitors, which is why we may be less well known
5. Business overheads — insurance, administration, office costs

What sets USLegalWills.com apart:

• The only Will writing service offering a digital vault (LifeLocker) to upload important files for loved ones
• A proprietary Keyholder system ensuring the right information reaches the right people at the right time
• The only online Will service with a dedicated section on charitable bequests
• The only service supporting lifetime interest trusts for blended families
• Coverage for assets held outside of the US
• No personal data is sold to any third party
• No advertising on the platform

How Does USLegalWills.com Compare on Value?

Despite being the most complete online Will service with the best customer service and highest ratings, USLegalWills.com is also the most affordable. The entire process takes about 20 minutes and costs $39.95.

Click here to get started and write your Will right now.

Which Option Is Right for You?

Choosing the right option depends on your situation:

Related Articles

• Cost of a Will – From Zero to $2,000 and Somewhere in Between
• A Simple Will – From $0 to $1,000: How Much Should I Pay?
• The Free Last Will and Testament Service – Not All It Seems
• Online Will Services – Comparing LegalZoom with USLegalWills
• How to Write a Will: Your 10 Step Guide to Success