ABA Family Legal Guide

Estate Planning

Estate-Planning Basics

What can I do to minimize the costs of estate planning?

A lawyer or other professional often charges by the hour for the amount of work put into the estate plan. Ask about fees at your first consultation and inquire about how much your total estate plan might cost. If your legal adviser charges by the hour, the more time you invest in locating relevant documents and putting your wishes in writing, the less preparatory work your adviser will have to do. This should go a long way toward reducing the final cost of your estate plan.