Setting up a trust in the United States is not a one-size-fits-all process. According to the data, the average cost of a revocable living trust prepared by an attorney ranges between $1,000 and $4,000, with highly complex trusts for wealthy households exceeding $10,000. By contrast, online trust services such as LegalZoom or Trust & Will typically charge between $100 and $600 upfront, plus optional subscription fees for updates.
A SmartAsset 2024 survey found that more than 60% of Americans with estates above $500,000 choose a living trust over a will, largely because trusts can bypass probate court, a process that costs heirs an average of 3% to 7% of the estate value in fees and delays.
Cost Factors
Several variables influence both the upfront and long-term cost of a trust:
- How do you create the trust (DIY, online service, or attorney)
- Whether it’s for an individual or a couple
- Complexity of assets and distributions
- Trust the funding process
- Ongoing amendments and updates
Option 1: Creating a Trust With an Attorney
Working with an estate planning attorney remains the most common method. Costs vary significantly by state and city size, as well as attorney expertise.
Typical range: $1,000 – $10,000+
- Simple revocable trust: $1,000 – $2,500
- Moderate complexity (business interests, multiple properties): $3,000 – $5,000
- High complexity (multiple beneficiaries, tax planning, succession issues): $5,000 – $10,000+
Attorneys may also charge extra for trust funding, deeds, or business ownership transfers.
| Complexity | Typical Attorney Cost | Examples of Assets Involved |
| Basic | $1,000–$2,500 | House + simple accounts |
| Moderate | $3,000–$5,000 | Rental property, brokerage, multiple heirs |
| Complex | $5,000–$10,000+ | Business, LLC interests, conditional gifts |
According to the American Bar Association (2024), attorney-prepared trusts in major metropolitan areas like New York and Los Angeles tend to run 25–40% higher than those in smaller cities.
Hiring an attorney usually includes not just the trust document itself, but also related estate planning tools like a pour-over will, durable power of attorney, and an advance healthcare directive. Bundling these services raises the cost but ensures a complete plan.
A 2023 survey found that nearly 70% of attorneys package trusts with at least two other documents, meaning clients often pay more but receive broader protection.
Geography also plays a big role in determining cost. For example, in states with higher living costs, such as California or New York, attorney fees for estate planning regularly exceed $4,000, while in states like Texas or Ohio, families with straightforward estates often secure full revocable living trusts for around $2,000. Regional cost-of-living indexes, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024), strongly correlate with attorney billing rates.
Finally, the complexity of the estate itself can push costs higher. A trust that simply covers a home and a checking account requires minimal drafting. By contrast, a trust holding business interests, multiple investment properties, or conditional gifts for heirs demands significantly more time and legal customization. In these cases, attorneys often consult financial planners or accountants, which adds to the bill.
According to the Hanckok Whitney, cases involving closely held businesses average $7,500 or more for trust creation.
Option 2: Online Trust Services
View this post on Instagram
Digital trustmaking platforms such as LegalZoom, Trust & Will, and Just In Case Estates offer a middle ground between DIY and hiring an attorney.
Typical range: $100 – $600
- Add-ons like attorney review or live customer support raise the price.
| Provider | Individual Plan | Couple’s Plan | Annual Update Fee | Attorney Review |
| Just In Case Estates | $348 | $398 | Free | +$200 |
| LegalZoom | $499 | $599 | $199/year | +$100 |
| Trust & Will | $499 | $599 | $39/year | +$300 |
If you expect to update your trust frequently, subscription fees can push LegalZoom costs above $2,000 over ten years, while JIC Estates remains under $400 with free updates.
Digital trust services appeal to families with straightforward estates because they balance affordability and convenience. A 2024 SmartAsset estate planning report found that nearly 35% of households under $500,000 in total assets prefer online trust platforms due to their speed and lower upfront cost. Most services allow you to finish a trust in 30–60 minutes, compared to the weeks it might take with an attorney.
Another benefit is that many online platforms now provide tiered support levels. Basic packages allow you to draft documents independently, while premium tiers offer live chat, video support, or even one-time attorney review. This hybrid model ensures a higher degree of accuracy than pure DIY approaches while still being far cheaper than hiring a local lawyer. For example, Just In Case Estates includes free funding support, helping clients correctly retitle bank accounts or property , a service that attorneys often charge hundreds of dollars for.
The trade-off is that online trusts may not be suitable for complex estates. Families with multiple properties across states, blended families with conditional gifts, or small businesses typically require more customization than online templates can handle.
As the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel notes, online platforms are best suited for “modest estates with straightforward distributions.”
Option 3: Do-It-Yourself Trusts
It is possible to draft a trust using state-provided templates or even entirely self-written documents.
Cost: Nearly $0, aside from filing fees for property deeds.
Risk: Without legal training, small mistakes may invalidate the trust or cause probate disputes later. Legal scholars at CJEL caution that DIY trusts often miss state-specific statutory language that courts require.
The appeal of DIY trusts is clear: they represent the lowest-cost method. Someone comfortable with legal research can download a state-approved form and fill it out themselves, paying only $50–$300 in recording fees to transfer property deeds into the trust. For families with a single home and minimal assets, this may appear to be an efficient solution.
However, the risk of errors is high. According to a consumer survey, more than 40% of people who started a DIY trust later sought professional help after realizing their documents were incomplete or legally flawed.
Common mistakes include failing to properly fund the trust, leaving out required notary acknowledgments, or misidentifying successor trustees. In many cases, these errors force the estate back into probate, defeating the main purpose of having a trust in the first place.
Experts warn that DIY trusts are only advisable for individuals with extremely simple estates, such as a single property and one or two beneficiaries. Even then, it is recommended to at least pay for an attorney review.
Additional Costs Beyond Setup
Even after drafting, trusts require ongoing attention. Costs come from funding, amendments, and trustee management.
Funding a trust is one of the most overlooked costs. While each deed transfer may only cost $50–$300, families with multiple properties can easily spend $1,000 or more just on filing fees. Business interests are even more complex, often requiring accountants to ensure ownership is properly retitled without tax consequences.
Amendments are another area where costs accumulate over time. With attorneys, revisions can quickly add up, often costing hundreds or thousands of dollars depending on the scope.
Trustee compensation varies depending on who is chosen. A family member often waives formal payment, but corporate trustees charge a percentage of assets under management. For example, a $1 million trust managed by a bank could generate $10,000 annually in trustee fees, which adds up significantly over time.
Cost of Maintenance Over 10 Years
| Provider / Option | Initial Cost (Individual) | 10-Year Maintenance | Total 10-Year Cost |
| JIC Estates | $348 | $0 | $348 |
| LegalZoom | $499 | $1,891 | $2,390 |
| Trust & Will | $499 | $351 | $850 |
| Attorney (basic) | $1,500 | $500–$1,500 in revisions | $2,000–$3,000 |
| Attorney (complex) | $5,000+ | $2,000–$4,000 | $7,000–$10,000+ |
Who Should Consider a Living Trust?
- Small estates (<$100k): A will may be sufficient. Some states offer expedited probate for small estates.
- Moderate estates ($100k–$1M): A living trust can save thousands in probate and provide more control.
- Large/complex estates ($1M+ or multiple properties/businesses): Trusts are highly recommended for privacy, asset management, and tax planning.
The National Association of Estate Planners (2024) notes that nearly 65% of households with estates over $1 million use revocable living trusts.
Living Trust vs. Trust Fund: Key Distinction
- Living Trust: Legal structure created during your lifetime to manage assets.
- Trust Fund: The actual pool of assets inside the trust.
Think of the trust as the container and the fund as its contents.
Common Types of Trusts and Their Benefits
Final Thoughts
The cost of setting up a trust varies widely, but the true measure of value lies in whether it saves your heirs from expensive probate, ensures your wishes are followed, and protects your assets long-term.
For many middle-income families, online services strike the best balance of affordability and functionality.
For high-net-worth individuals or business owners, paying more for attorney expertise is usually worthwhile.
- $100–$600 with online platforms (plus possible subscription fees)
- $1,000–$10,000+ with attorneys, depending on complexity
- Additional costs for funding, amendments, and trustee management
