Free 2026 Planning Tool

Trust & Will Cost Estimator: 7 Pricing Insights for 2026

See a personalized cost range for protecting your home and savings — then read the seven insights every New York family should understand before signing an estate plan.

This Is an Interactive Tool Designed to Educate and Inform.  the Estimated Investment Shown Is Not a Fee Quote, and Your Actual Investment May Differ.

Asset Protection & Estate Plan Cost Estimator

Personalized to your goals — instant range, no email required.

A Medicaid Asset Protection Trust (MAPT) shields assets subject to New York's 5-year look-back.
New York deed transfers add recording & filing fees per property.

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    The Pricing Playbook

    7 Essential Pricing Insights for 2026

    Estate planning prices vary widely for what looks like "the same documents." Here's what actually drives the number.

    1

    The cheapest plan is rarely the lowest-cost plan

    A basic will can cost only a few hundred dollars upfront, but it sends your estate through New York's Surrogate's Court — commonly 3%–7% of estate value in fees and 9 to 18 months. A trust costs more on day one and frequently saves the family far more later.

    Probate on a $700K estate can cost $20,000–$45,000+
    2

    Revocable and irrevocable trusts solve different problems

    A revocable living trust avoids probate but does not protect assets from nursing-home spend-down. A Medicaid Asset Protection Trust is irrevocable and does shield assets — if funded before the look-back window. Paying for the wrong one is the costliest mistake we see.

    RLT: $1,275–$5,100 · MAPT: $3,400–$10,200+ in NY
    3

    New York's 5-year look-back makes timing a cost factor

    Assets transferred into a MAPT are only protected from Medicaid after a five-year look-back. Waiting risks your assets and can force more expensive crisis planning than proactive planning would have cost.

    Plan 5+ years ahead to maximize protection
    4

    "Funding" the trust is part of the real price

    An unfunded trust is an empty box. Deed transfers, beneficiary re-designations, and account retitling make a trust work. Each NY real-property deed transfer carries recording and filing fees. A quote that omits funding isn't cheaper — it's incomplete.

    Each NY deed transfer adds recording & filing fees
    5

    Flat fees beat hourly billing for most families

    The national average estate attorney bills around $370/hour. A flat fee gives certainty and removes the incentive to over-bill. Ask whether your quote is flat or hourly — and exactly what's included.

    Couples' trust plans: typically $1,700–$3,400+ flat
    6

    Your plan should be maintained, not framed and forgotten

    Laws, assets, and families change. A plan signed in 2020 may not reflect 2026 rules. Membership-style maintenance keeps documents current and funded — usually far less than rebuilding a plan after a life event.

    Annual review ≪ cost of rebuilding a stale plan
    7

    Complexity — not document count — drives the price

    Blended families, a business interest, out-of-state property, special-needs beneficiaries, or taxable estates each add design work. Two families can buy "a trust" and pay very different amounts for good reason.

    Scope > page count when it comes to fees
    Side by Side

    Will vs. Living Trust vs. Asset Protection Trust

    Feature Simple Will Revocable Living Trust Medicaid Asset Protection Trust
    Typical NY cost (2026) $255–$1,020 $1,275–$5,100 $3,400–$10,200+
    Avoids probate No Yes Yes
    Keeps affairs private No Yes Yes
    Protects from nursing-home spend-down No No Yes*
    Can be changed anytime Yes Yes No* (iPUG MAY BE CHANGED)
    Effective during incapacity No Yes Yes

    *Protection applies to assets transferred at least five years before a Medicaid application, due to New York's look-back period.

    Common Questions

    Trust & Will Cost FAQ

    A comprehensive Medicaid Asset Protection Trust in New York typically ranges from about $3,400 to $10,200 or more, depending on complexity, the number of properties, and whether powers of attorney, health care proxies, and deed transfers are included. Because a MAPT is irrevocable and requires careful drafting and funding, it sits above the cost of a revocable living trust.
    A will is cheaper upfront — often a few hundred dollars — but it does not avoid probate. New York probate can cost 3%–7% of the estate and take many months. A trust costs more to set up but commonly saves the family far more than the difference by avoiding probate entirely.
    No. A revocable living trust avoids probate but does not protect assets from Medicaid spend-down because you retain control. To shield your home from long-term-care costs, you generally need an irrevocable Medicaid Asset Protection Trust funded at least five years before applying for Medicaid.
    Price is driven by scope and complexity, not page count. Blended families, business interests, multiple or out-of-state properties, special-needs beneficiaries, and the funding work required all affect the fee. Flat-fee pricing gives you certainty about what is and isn't included.
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    Disclaimer: This cost estimator is a free educational tool and produces general planning ranges only. It does not constitute legal advice, an attorney-client relationship, or a quote or offer of services. Costs vary by individual circumstances; figures reflect general 2026 New York market ranges. Tax, Medicaid, and estate planning rules change and contain important exceptions. For advice specific to your situation, consult a licensed New York attorney. Alatsas Law Firm, 2115 Avenue U, Brooklyn, NY 11229.