Cost of preparing a will

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This was helpful--thanks OP for starting this thread! I just got a quote from a lawyer of $975 for 2 wills (assuming the spouses will leave everything to each other if one dies), medical and legal powers of attorney, living wills, and a trust for minor children, and $200 less without the trust. Seems reasonable based on what others are saying so I'm going to go for it!

Are you in the DC area? If so, who did you use?

We need to get this done in the next few weeks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it is not complicated. don't overspend. Wills are much like tax preparation -- the attorney/tax preparer will use the same software you could buy. They know more than you but are not doing anything complicated. If you have a more complicated situation, taxes too, it is a different story.

Totally not true about the software. It is not just filling out a form. Also, the lawyer, by knowing the law, knows what situations are “complicated”. I find clients usually do not.

There may or may not be a need to spend a lot on these documents, but make that decision in consultation with a lawyer who specializes in the area.

- estate lawyer

Meh. The same is true for taxes. We did wills and advanced directives online for 40$. We're in our 40s and have uncomplicated assets. Maybe when we're older we'll spring for a lawyer and do a trust, but for now, it's not worth 1500$ to us.