Estate Planning Guide
How Much Does a Living Trust Cost?
The real answer: anywhere from $500 to $5,000+. What you pay depends on how you create it and what's included. Here's a breakdown so you can make the right call.
The short answer
DIY software: $150–$400. Online legal services: $500–$1,500. Estate planning attorney: $2,000–$5,000+. The cheaper options give you documents; the more expensive ones give you guidance and customization. Most homeowners are well-served by a quality online service.
Cost comparison
| Option | Cost | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| DIY Software | $150–$400 | Templates you fill out yourself. No guidance. |
| Online Services | $500–$1,500 | Guided questionnaire, generated documents, some include notarization. |
| Mantle | $995 | Full trust package, online notarization included, asset transfer guidance. |
| Estate Attorney | $2,000–$5,000+ | Custom drafting, legal advice, complex situations. |
DIY software: $150–$400
Products like Quicken WillMaker or Nolo's Living Trust give you templates and a basic questionnaire. You answer questions, it generates documents, you print and sign.
The upside: Cheapest option. Works fine if you have a simple situation and know what you're doing.
The catch: No guidance on whether you're making the right choices. No help with the notarization. No help transferring assets into the trust (the part most people get wrong). If you mess something up, you won't know until it's too late.
Online services: $500–$1,500
Services like LegalZoom, Trust & Will, and Mantle guide you through the process with a questionnaire, generate state-specific documents, and offer varying levels of support.
What varies: Some include notarization, some charge extra. Some help you transfer assets into the trust, most don't. Some offer attorney consultations as add-ons.
Best for: Most homeowners with straightforward situations. You get quality documents without paying attorney rates.
Estate planning attorney: $2,000–$5,000+
An attorney drafts custom documents, provides legal advice specific to your situation, and can handle complex scenarios like blended families, business ownership, or high-value estates.
Worth it if: You have a complex family situation, own a business, have assets over $1 million, or need tax planning strategies.
The catch: Expensive, and you still have to fund the trust yourself. Many attorneys hand you documents and leave you to figure out the asset transfer part.
Hidden costs to watch for
- •Notarization: $25–$150 if not included. Required in most states.
- •Deed recording: $50–$200 per property to officially transfer your home.
- •Updates: Some services charge $100–$400 every time you need to make a change.
- •Attorney add-ons: "Consultation" packages can add $200–$500.
The real cost of not doing it right
A trust that isn't properly funded is just expensive paperwork. The most common mistake: people create a trust but never transfer their house into it. When they die, that house still goes through probate.
Probate costs average 3–8% of the estate plus 6–18 months of delays. On a $500,000 home, that's $15,000–$40,000 your family loses — way more than any trust costs upfront.
What to look for in an online service
- ✓Notarization included — not a $100+ add-on
- ✓Asset transfer guidance — they help you actually fund the trust
- ✓All documents included — trust, pour-over will, healthcare directive, POA
- ✓Free updates — life changes, your trust should too
- ✓State-specific — estate law varies by state
Create your trust for $995
Mantle includes everything: living trust, pour-over will, healthcare directive, financial POA, online notarization, and step-by-step guidance to transfer your assets. Done in 30 minutes.
Get Started →Free to start. Pay when you're ready to sign.