Estate planners charge $300 to $1,500 for a simple estate plan or $5,000 to $20,000 for a more complex estate plan. Estate planning attorneys charge either a flat fee for an estate planning package or an hourly rate of $100 to $300+ per hour. Estate planners in small towns and newly licensed lawyers needing experience may cost less.

Estate planning is the process of creating a plan that appoints who or where you want your assets and possessions to go to after your death. Estate planners—also called estate planning attorneys or estate probate attorneys—are licensed attorneys who specialize in estate and trust law that work with you to create an end-of-life plan based on your specific situation and needs.

Estate planning may involve:

• Creating a will
• Setting up a limited or durable power of attorney (POA)
• Creating a long-term healthcare plan
• Setting up a trust to protect your assets and designate beneficiaries
• Additional tax planning

While you can create estate planning documents yourself, hiring an estate planner is often the best option to ensure the documents are filled out correctly and prevent any issues with transferring your assets to your designated beneficiaries after your pass on. Estate planners know the details of the laws and, in addition to ensuring that your estate plan documentation is valid, they can answer questions and give you professional financial and tax advice throughout the estate planning process.

The documents you should bring to your estate planning appointment will vary depending on your specific situation. In general, you'll want to bring all the documents needed to give the most complete picture of your current total assets. This may include some or all the following items:

• Bank statements
• Brokerage account and investment statements
• Retirement account statements
• Business owner or partnership documentation
• Credit card statements
• Mortgage or other loan documentation
• Insurance policies
• Real estate, auto, and watercraft titles or deeds
• Trademark, patent, copyright, or intellectual property documentation
• Birth certificates
• Adoption certificates
• Marriage certificates
• Divorce decrees
• Beneficiary or guardianship designations
• Pre-nuptial or post-nuptial agreements

Estate planning often involves sharing a lot of personal information, so it's important to hire an experienced professional that you trust and are comfortable talking with. When researching estate planners near you, be sure to:

• Interview and compare fees from 3 to 5 estate planning attorneys who are licensed, bonded, and insured.
• Review their profile and look for excellent reviews on Thervo and Google.
• Look for an attorney in your state who specializes in estate and trust law.
• Look for members of the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils or the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys.
• Ask them about their experience with trusts and estates like yours.
• Ask for a detailed explanation of their fees and fee structure.
• Hire an estate planner who can work within your budget.

Asking the right questions can help you choose the best estate planner near you:

• How long have you been an estate planner?
• What education and certifications do you have?
• Do you offer free consultations?
• How long do you expect this process to take?
• What is your preferred method of communication?
• Do I contact you directly or do you have an assistant?
• Do you charge an hourly rate or a flat fee?
• How much do you charge for estate planning?
• What is included in the fee, and what additional costs might come up during the process?