This is a hard question but one you should discuss with the lawyer at or before the initial meeting.  Often people call us and ask what their estate plan will cost.  This is like calling a doctor and saying you have a stomach ache but you want to know what it will cost before you come to see him.  The cost depends on the problem.  This is the same in an estate plan.  The cost usually will depend on the complexity of the documents you need.  The complexity depends on the nature of your family or other beneficiaries and your assets.  However, you should ask whether the attorney bills by the hour or charges a flat rate for wills of a certain category.  You can ask for “ball park” amounts to give you some idea of the cost.  You can ask if the initial meeting is free.  Sometimes attorneys give an initial free consultation.  In our firm we do not because the information we give at the initial meeting is usually the most valuable legal advice we provide in an estate planning engagement.  Never hesitate to ask about fees up front.  If an attorney refuses to discuss fees, find another attorney.  You have a right to a written fee agreement before you retain the attorney to prepare your documents.  You should expect to pay a retainer, which will be some or all of the anticipated fee up front. If the amount of the fee exceeds what you can pay at one time on your budget, you can discuss paying by credit card or paying over several months.  Estate plans for a husband and wife should not cost twice as much as an estate plan for a single person just because there are two sets of documents.  Often they are mirror images of one another, making the second set of documents less expensive to prepare.

Last updated on January 6, 2011 by Glenn Karisch