How Much Does It Cost to Make a Will in 2026?
Most people put off writing a will because they assume it is expensive and complicated. It is neither: a basic will can cost nothing, a good online service costs less than a family dinner out, and even a lawyer-drafted will for a straightforward estate usually costs less than one month of car insurance.
Here are the actual 2026 prices for every route.
How Much Does a Will Cost at a Glance?
| Way to make a will | Typical cost in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Handwritten (holographic) will | $0 |
| DIY will template | $15–$50 |
| Online will service | $99–$299 |
| Attorney, simple will (flat fee) | $300–$1,000 |
| Attorney, moderate estate (flat fee) | $750–$2,500 |
| Attorney, complex estate (flat fee) | $2,500–$7,500+ |
| Attorney, hourly billing | $150–$450 per hour |
DIY Wills: $0 to $50
The cheapest will is one you write yourself: a handwritten — or holographic — will costs nothing, and in many US states it is legally valid even without witnesses. But not every state recognises holographic wills, and one unclear sentence can send your estate into probate for months.
A safer cheap option is a will template: LegalClarity puts DIY templates at $15–$50. You fill in your beneficiaries and who gets what, then sign in front of witnesses as your state requires. Templates suit simple situations — a house, a car, a bank account, everything to your spouse, then your children.
The risk is what templates cannot do: they cannot tell you your state's witness rules, or warn you that naming minor children directly means a court controls their inheritance until they turn 18. Simple situation, carefully followed instructions — a template is reasonable. Anything unusual — it is not.
Online Will Services: $99 to $299
Online will services sit between templates and attorneys: answer a guided questionnaire, and the service generates a will tailored to your answers, with signing instructions.
Nolo's Quicken WillMaker costs $99 (Starter), $139 (Plus), or $209 (All Access). LegalZoom charges $129 for a Basic Will. Trust & Will charges $199 for an individual and $299 for a couple. FreeWill offers a basic will for $0, funded by charity partnerships.
What you get is guidance: the software asks about guardians, an executor, and backup beneficiaries, and flags common mistakes. Most services store your will digitally and let you update it. What you do not get is a lawyer reviewing your situation — if your answers are wrong, the document will be wrong too.
Online services are the sweet spot for most young families: far more reliable than a blank template, at a fraction of an attorney's price. But a will is only valid once signed correctly under your state's law — follow the signing instructions exactly, and keep the signed original where your executor can find it.
Attorney-Drafted Wills: $300 to $7,500+
Hiring an estate attorney is the most expensive route, and for many people the best one — you pay for a professional who asks the questions you did not know to ask.
A 2026 Legaltemplates study of 909 law firms found simple wills cost $300–$800, moderate estates $750–$2,500, and complex estates $2,500–$7,500 or more. RetirementLiving.com gives a similar range: $300–$1,500 flat fee, or $200–$500 per hour. The State Bar of Michigan's 2026 survey found hourly rates of $150–$450, median $325.
Why the spread? A simple will names a spouse, children, an executor, and a guardian. A moderate estate adds a trust for minor children, a vacation property, or a blended family. A complex one can involve a business, property in more than one state, or a child with special needs — each layer adds hours of a lawyer's time.
Some attorneys charge by the hour, which makes sense when your situation is unusual. Always ask for a written estimate first, and ask what is included: the will only, or also a power of attorney and a healthcare directive? Many firms bundle those into a cheaper package.
A will is only one part of the picture — for trusts, powers of attorney, and probate, see our guide to how much estate planning costs.
Worked Example: A Married Couple With Two Kids and a House
Sarah and James are married, have two children aged 6 and 9, own a $420,000 house with a $280,000 mortgage, and have about $60,000 in savings and retirement. They want everything to go to each other, then to the children, and need to name a guardian.
Option 1: Online will service — $199–$299. Trust & Will costs $199 for an individual or $299 for a couple. The questionnaire covers the guardian, the executor, and a simple arrangement for the children. Done in an evening.
Option 2: Attorney package — $995–$1,695. A Seattle estate firm cited by KinlyPlan charges roughly $995–$1,695 for a couple's package: a will for each spouse plus a power of attorney and a healthcare directive.
What does the extra $800–$1,400 buy? First, a lawyer spots the trap the software misses: if both parents die while the children are minors, a simple will leaves the inheritance in court-managed accounts, while a lawyer can set up a trust paying for school and living costs under a trustee the parents chose. Second, the lawyer checks the house, retirement accounts, and life insurance all point the same way — beneficiary forms override a will, and mismatches are a common estate mistake. Third, the documents are checked against the couple's state law and signed correctly.
For Sarah and James, the online service is enough for a basic will. The attorney package is worth it for the trust, the extra documents, and the confidence nothing was missed. A good rule: if the cost of getting it wrong is more than the lawyer's fee — and for parents of young children, it almost always is — pay the lawyer.
What Makes a Will More Expensive?
Blended families create competing claims that need careful drafting. Property in more than one state can mean two probate cases — a lawyer may recommend a trust to avoid that. A family business raises questions about who runs it if you die. A child with special needs needs a special-needs trust — money left directly can disqualify them from government benefits. Tax planning matters less for most families — federal estate tax only applies above $13.99 million in 2026 — but some state estate taxes kick in much lower. Urgency costs too: a 48-hour draft carries a rush fee. If none of these apply, you are a simple case — don't pay a complex-case price.
How to Keep the Cost Down
Start cheap, then upgrade: an online will today beats a perfect will you never make, and a lawyer can review it later. Bundle your documents — a will plus power of attorney and healthcare directive in one package is almost always cheaper than three separate fees. Do the homework first: list assets, debts, beneficiaries, executor, and guardian before meeting a lawyer — every hour gathering facts is an hour you pay for. Ask about flat fees, and if a lawyer quotes hourly, ask for a cap or a written estimate. Update rather than rewrite when life changes — a new child, a divorce, a move — and many online services let you update for free. And don't skip it to save money: dying without a will hands decisions to a court, and probate without a will often costs far more than a will ever would.
Making a will is one of the cheapest important things you will ever do; the most expensive will is the one you never make. Simple situation? Spend $99–$299 online this week. Kids, a business, or a complicated family? Spend $300–$1,000 on a lawyer. Either way, get it signed, tell your executor where it is, and move on.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a simple will cost? From $0 by hand, $15–$50 as a template, $99–$299 online, or $300–$1,000 from an attorney (Legaltemplates, 2026 study of 909 firms). For most straightforward situations, an online service or a simple attorney will is best.
Can I make a will for free? Yes — a handwritten will costs nothing, and FreeWill offers a basic online will for $0. But a handwritten will is not recognised in every state, and any mistake in wording or signing can invalidate it. A free will beats no will, if you follow your state's signing rules.
Is an online will legally valid? Yes, if signed correctly under your state's law — usually in front of two witnesses, sometimes a notary too. The software generates the document; the signing makes it legal. Follow the instructions exactly and keep the signed original safe.
How much does a lawyer charge to write a will? A flat fee of $300–$800 (simple), $750–$2,500 (moderate), or $2,500–$7,500+ (complex), per Legaltemplates' 2026 survey of 909 firms. Hourly: $150–$450, median $325 (State Bar of Michigan, 2026).
How often should I update my will? Every three to five years, and immediately after a marriage, divorce, birth, death of a beneficiary or executor, a major purchase, or a move to another state. An out-of-date will can be worse than no will if it names the wrong people.
Sources: LegalClarity; Legaltemplates 2026 study of 909 law firms; State Bar of Michigan 2026 survey; RetirementLiving.com; LegalZoom, Trust & Will, Nolo Quicken WillMaker and FreeWill; KinlyPlan citing a Seattle estate firm.