Estate Planning Cost in Washington State

Estate planning costs in Washington State vary based on the complexity of your estate, the type of documents you need, and the experience of your attorney. This guide breaks down the real costs Bellevue and Seattle families can expect to pay for wills, living trusts, probate, and comprehensive estate planning in 2024.

Estate Planning Cost Overview in Washington State

Service	Typical Cost Range	Best For
Simple will (individual)	$500 – $800	Small estates, young families
Couple's mirror wills	$800 – $1,500	Married couples with modest assets
Revocable living trust (basic)	$1,500 – $2,500	Homeowners, avoid probate
Comprehensive trust package	$2,500 – $4,500	Families with real estate + investments
Complex estate plan (tax, business)	$4,500 – $10,000+	High-net-worth, business owners
Probate attorney fees	$300–$500/hr or 2–5%	Estate administration
Power of attorney (financial)	$150 – $400	Incapacity planning
Healthcare directive + proxy	$150 – $400	Medical decision planning

Will Cost in Washington State

A will is the most affordable estate planning document. In Bellevue and Seattle, expect to pay:

• Simple individual will: $500 – $800
• Couple's mirror wills: $800 – $1,500
• Complex will (with testamentary trust): $1,200 – $3,000

The price includes attorney consultation, drafting, and supervised signing with witnesses.

Living Trust Cost in Washington State

A revocable living trust costs more upfront but saves your family thousands in probate. Bellevue and Seattle families typically pay:

• Basic living trust: $1,500 – $2,500 (trust + pour-over will)
• Comprehensive package: $2,500 – $4,500 (trust, will, POA, healthcare directive, funding guidance)
• Complex trust (AB trust, special needs): $4,500 – $10,000+

Probate Cost in Washington State

If your loved one's estate goes through probate in King County, expect these costs:

• Court filing fee: ~$200
• Publication fee: $50 – $200
• Personal representative fee: Court-determined reasonable compensation
• Attorney fees: $300–$500/hour or 2–5% of estate value
• Appraisal fees: $300 – $1,000 (for real estate and valuable assets)
• Washington estate tax: Applies to estates over $2.193M (2024), rates from 10%–20%

A Bellevue probate attorney can provide a flat-fee or hourly estimate based on your specific situation.

Flat Fee vs. Hourly Billing — What to Expect

Most Bellevue and Seattle estate planning attorneys charge flat fees for document preparation (wills, trusts, POA). Probate representation is typically billed hourly or as a percentage of the estate.

Billing Method	When Used
Flat fee	Wills, trusts, POA, healthcare directives
Hourly ($300–$500)	Probate, trust administration, disputes, complex planning
Percentage (2–5%)	Probate (alternative to hourly)

Washington State Estate Tax — Does It Apply to You?

Washington is one of the few states with its own estate tax. In 2024, the exemption is $2.193 million per person. Estates above this threshold owe Washington estate tax at rates from 10% to 20%.

For Bellevue and Seattle homeowners — where median home values are $1.4M and $850K respectively — hitting the Washington estate tax threshold is more common than you might think. A Bellevue estate planning attorney can implement strategies to reduce or eliminate the estate tax burden.

How to Save on Estate Planning Costs

• Be organized: Bring a complete list of assets, debts, and beneficiaries to your first meeting
• Know what you want: Decide on guardians, executors, and trustees before consulting an attorney
• Bundle documents: A comprehensive package (trust + will + POA + healthcare directive) is cheaper than buying each separately
• Choose flat-fee services: Avoid hourly billing for document preparation
• Avoid online templates: Cheap online forms often lead to expensive legal problems later