Cost of a Will by State
What a will actually costs where you live — and the honest part the price tag hides. A will is cheap because it directs your estate through probate; it doesn't avoid it. Each guide gives the real cost, what makes a will valid in that state, whether handwritten wills count, and when you may need more than a will.
The national picture, briefly
A simple will is inexpensive almost everywhere: roughly $300 to $1,000 with an attorney, $0 to $150 online (several services are free), or $0 if you handwrite one in a state that allows it. Cost rises only with complexity — minor children, a blended family, a business, or estate-tax exposure.
What does vary by state is the law: how many witnesses you need, whether a handwritten (holographic) will is valid at all, and whether your state offers a self-proving affidavit (Ohio, notably, doesn’t). And one thing is true everywhere — a will does not avoid probate. It just tells the court who gets what. The pages below break it down state by state.
- California CA View →
- Texas TX View →
- Florida FL View →
- New York NY View →
- Pennsylvania PA View →
- Illinois IL View →
- Ohio OH View →
- Georgia GA View →
- North Carolina NC View →
- Michigan MI View →
- Connecticut CT View →
- Arkansas AR View →
- Indiana IN View →
Will or trust? Start here
- How to Write a Will (and What Makes It Valid) — the step-by-step.
- Do I Need a Will? — the honest “do you even need one” answer.
- Will vs. Trust: Which Do You Need? — when a will is enough, and when it isn’t.
- Average Cost of a Living Trust by State — the probate-avoiding alternative, by state.
Educational information only — not legal advice. Prices and laws change and depend on your situation. Always confirm current rules with a licensed attorney in your state. Sources: published 2026 attorney and online-service pricing; state will-execution statutes cited on each state page.