How Much Does It Cost To Make A Will With A Lawyer
The traditional way of making a will with a lawyer can be costly. The process of setting up a will with a lawyer can be costly regardless of the complexity of your affairs. If you're looking to go down the traditional route, it could cost anywhere from $500 to $5,000 or more.
So, what makes making a will with a lawyer expensive? Having a lawyer create your will is a complex process and is not as simple as getting it done in one day. This process involves hours of consultation and discussion of every detail, right down to the wording.
However, the process need not be so complicated. There is more than one way of making a will. With a move towards digitization, online will services are proving to grow in popularity.
- The average cost of a simple will. However, if you have a more complicated estate or more complex affairs, the price you can be charged can be steep, costing around $1,000 or more.
- $300 is considered to be at the lower end of a lawyer drafted will, whilst $1,000 is considered to be a more realistic estimate. However, it's not unusual for the price to be much higher.
- If you also wanted your lawyer to draft additional documents, this could cost you anywhere from $200 to $400 an hour or more, depending on the complexity of your situation.
Additionally, if you decide to make any changes to your document, it will cost an additional fee as well as additional travel to meet for another consultation with your lawyer. The bottom line is that using a lawyer comes with a very high cost in comparison to an online will cost.
Pricing Methods
- Flat Fee - It's common for lawyers to charge a flat fee to put together your will as well as write and set up additional documents. Lawyers tend to have a set of standardized clauses established from previous forms they have written. They can reuse these clauses and tailor them to suit a clients' wishes. Therefore, the process of document drafting doesn't take too much time. What a flat fee accounts for is not the lawyer's time, but their expertise and experience. They are not obliged to keep a record of how they spend their time, giving them the freedom to set an objective fee as lawyers don't charge the same flat fee. Additionally, it's unlikely that a list of prices will be presented by the lawyer. It will be down to you to speak with the lawyer to get a quote. This process can be daunting and time-consuming.
- Hourly Fee - Some attorneys will charge by the hour instead of charging a flat fee. This pricing method leaves uncertainty as it can easily rack up with a consultation going over the time limit or if you stray from the topic of your will during your meetings. Charging by the hour could leave you with a nasty shock.
Factors That Could Affect the Cost Of A Will
- Assets - Having more assets will increase the price of your will as additional attention will be required to distribute the assets.
- Location - Attorneys based in cities will charge higher than those in rural areas. An attorney in a city charges around $400 whilst an attorney in a rural area may charge around $100.
- Specialization - If you require the organization of your estate, hiring an estate planner is often more expensive.
The traditional way of making a will doesn't necessarily have to be the option you have to go for. Making a will with a lawyer proves to be an expensive and time-consuming option. With a world moving toward digitization, online will services are growing in popularity offering a reliable, efficient, and affordable service.
Online Will Services Cost
How much does an online will cost with Wills.com?
The answer is simple: starting at $99! At Wills.com, we provide the best of both worlds by offering an easy, affordable, yet high-quality will creation service that you can complete from the comfort of your home.
Our Online Wills:
Creating a will online with Wills.com eliminates the hassle of lengthy consultations and paperwork. You can set everything up in just a few minutes. Our platform is user-friendly, and we offer secure storage and unlimited free changes to your will, ensuring that you’re always in control of your estate plan.
Now Offering Remote Online Notary (RON) Services
We are also excited to announce that we now offer Remote Online Notarization (RON) services! Not only can you create your will online, but you can also get it notarized remotely from wherever you are. Here’s the breakdown of our notarization packages:
1. Basic Online Will ($99):
• A professionally constructed legal will.
• Secure storage for peace of mind.
• Unlimited free changes.
2. Will with Remote Online Notarization (You provide witnesses) - $249:
• Create your will and have it notarized remotely via video call.
• You’ll need to provide two witnesses during the notarization session.
3. Will with Remote Online Notarization (We provide witnesses) - $349:
• All the benefits of the basic will creation.
• We provide two impartial witnesses to join the remote notarization call.
• Full legal compliance and convenience from your own home.
Why Choose Online Will Services?
1. Convenience:
With online will services, there’s no need to schedule long meetings with lawyers or visit offices. You can create and notarize your will from home. Our service also includes mobile notary options if you prefer in-person notarization.
2. Comprehensive and Customizable:
You can tailor your will to your specific needs, whether it’s distributing assets or naming guardians for your children. Your will is legally binding and can be customized to cover even complex estates.
3. Affordable:
Traditional will lawyers can charge hefty fees, but with Wills.com, you can get your will and notarization at a fraction of the cost.
Frequently Asked Questions About Notarization and Wills
Can you write your own will? Yes! You can easily write your own will online with Wills.com.
- What is a notary? A notary public is an official who can legally verify the signing of important documents, including wills. They ensure that the document is signed under legitimate circumstances.
- How much do notaries charge? The cost of notary services varies, but at Wills.com, we offer competitive pricing with our Remote Online Notary services starting at $249.
- Where can I find a notary? You can easily find a notary online using our platform available remotely 24/7
- How to notarize a document? Once you’ve completed your will, you can schedule an online notarization session where our team will guide you through the process.
- Initialed will before seeing a notary? No problem! If you’ve already initialed your will, you can still bring it to a notary for final signing and notarization.
- Nearest notary: Wills.com offers remote notary services, so the nearest notary is just a video call away!
- Notarizing a will online: We offer the full range of notary services online. Whether you provide your own witnesses or need us to provide them, we’ve got you covered.
- Where to get a will notarized: You can get your will notarized with Wills.com, whether online or through mobile notary services.
Learn more at wills.com/notarize
At Wills.com, we’re dedicated to simplifying the estate planning process for everyone. With our affordable, convenient, and secure online will services, you can ensure that your family and loved ones are protected according to your wishes.