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Living Trust Cost Calculator

Estimate the cost of a revocable living trust — and the probate fees it could save your heirs.

Used to estimate probate savings

Estimated total cost

$749

Base trust drafting$249
Real estate transfer$250
Notary + recording$250
Total$749

Estimated probate savings

$37,500

Typical probate costs 3-7% of estate value — trust avoids this

Net benefit to heirs

$36,751

Probate savings minus trust setup cost

Analysis & insights

Setting up a individual revocable living trust via online service costs approximately $749 upfront. Estimated probate fees avoided on your $750,000 estate: $37,500 (typically 3-7% of estate value). Net benefit to your heirs: $36,751. Beyond the dollar savings, a trust also keeps your estate PRIVATE (probate is public), faster (months vs years), and allows for ongoing trustee management.

Net benefit to heirs

Trust setup cost is a small fraction of the probate fees + time it avoids.

Risk & benchmark gauge

Current band

Beneficial

$36,751 net benefit

0255075100
ModestBeneficialStrongMajor

Industry benchmarks

  • Trust setup total cost$749
  • Probate savings estimate$37,500
  • Net benefit to heirs$36,751
  • Estate value$750,000
  • Online service cost$200-500
  • Attorney-drafted cost$1,500-3,500

Key insights

A trust isn't just about probate

Trusts also handle incapacity (successor trustee can manage finances without court guardianship), keep estate matters private, and allow for staged distributions (e.g. "no lump sum to my 18-year-old").

Probate IS public record

In probate, your assets, debts, and beneficiaries become public record. Identity thieves, scammers, and prying relatives can all see. Trusts stay private.

A trust only works if you FUND it

Creating the trust document is step 1. Step 2 is RE-TITLING assets (home, brokerage, bank accounts) into the trust's name. Skip this and probate happens anyway.

Online services are fine for simple estates

LegalZoom, Trust & Will, RocketLawyer are adequate for straightforward situations. Use an attorney for: blended families, special-needs heirs, business interests, multi-state assets, or estate-tax-level wealth.

Recommended actions(4)

Re-title all major assets into the trust

High priority

Home deed, brokerage accounts, bank accounts (or pay-on-death designations), business interests. This is the step most online users forget.

Impact: Unfunded trust = probate happens anyway. Defeats the entire purpose.

Set up beneficiary designations on retirement + insurance

High priority

IRAs, 401(k)s, life insurance, annuities pass by BENEFICIARY designation — not the will or trust. Update these directly with each custodian.

Pair with a "pour-over" will

Medium priority

A short backup will that pushes any forgotten assets into the trust at death. Standard with most trust packages.

Legal Resources

LegalZoomLLC formation, wills & legal documentsStart with LegalZoom Rocket LawyerLegal documents & lawyer consultationsTry Rocket Lawyer NoloLegal guides, forms and attorney directoryBrowse Nolo

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This tool is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Settlement values vary widely. Consult a licensed attorney for advice specific to your situation.