How much does a will cost?
Short answer
A will can cost nothing (FreeWill is free) or about $109 to $219 with Nolo's WillMaker plans (prices checked October 11, 2026). A lawyer-drafted will is usually a flat fee; as an illustration, 3 hours at Clio's $349 national average rate is $1,047. Whatever route you take, the will must be signed with your state's formalities, typically two witnesses, or it can fail at probate.
Three ways to make a will and what each costs
A will can cost nothing or more than a thousand dollars, depending on who writes it.
- Free tools: FreeWill offers its will tool at no charge, funded by nonprofit partners who hope users will leave them a gift [9].
- Paid software: Nolo's WillMaker lists a Starter plan at $109 (will, health care directive and final arrangements), a Plus plan at $149 and an All Access plan at $219, with online access renewable at $39.99 a year (prices checked October 11, 2026) [8].
- A lawyer: estate lawyers usually quote a flat fee for a will or a will package. We have not found a reliable national survey of flat fees for wills, so we show the time involved instead.
Example (lawyer, hourly illustration): a 1-hour consultation, 1.5 hours of drafting and revisions, and a 0.5-hour signing meeting = 3 hours × $349 (Clio's national average rate) [10] = $1,047. A couple with mirror wills, or a will with a testamentary trust for minor children, takes more time. Ask for a flat quote that names every document included.
Software and lawyers sell different things. Software gives you a document that meets your state's formal requirements if you sign it correctly. A lawyer adds judgment: spotting problems with your family situation, your assets and how they pass, and supervising the signing so the will is valid.
Signing formalities: where do-it-yourself wills fail
A will that is not signed and witnessed the way your state requires may be refused at probate, and your property then passes under intestacy law instead. Most states require the will to be in writing, signed by you, and signed by two witnesses, but the details differ, as the table shows.
| State | Witnesses | Handwritten (holographic) will | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | Two witnesses present at the same time [1] | Valid if the signature and material provisions are in your handwriting; no witnesses needed [2] | A court can accept an improperly witnessed will on clear and convincing evidence of intent [1] |
| Florida | Signed at the end; two witnesses who sign in your presence and each other's [3] | A handwritten will counts only if signed and witnessed like any other will [3] | Can be made self-proving with an affidavit before a notary or other officer [4] |
| New York | Signed at the end; two witnesses, within one 30-day period [5] | Only for members of the armed forces in wartime, people accompanying them, and mariners at sea, and only for a limited time [6] | Electronic wills are scheduled to be allowed from December 12, 2027 [5] |
| Pennsylvania | Signed at the end; witnesses required only if you sign by mark or someone signs for you [7] | A will written and signed in your hand meets the signature rule [7] | Proving the signature at probate is a separate step; many people still use witnesses |
Self-proving affidavit
Many states let you attach a self-proving affidavit: you and your witnesses swear before a notary that the will was properly signed. In Florida, the affidavit is made before an officer authorized to administer oaths and attached to the will [4]. The benefit comes later. The probate court can accept the will without tracking down witnesses years after the signing, which saves time and legal fees for your family. The cost now is usually just a notary fee; see notary fees by state.
Signing checklist
- Use two adult witnesses who receive nothing under the will.
- Sign at the end of the document, in front of both witnesses, and have them sign in front of you and each other.
- In New York, complete the witnessing within one 30-day period [5].
- Add a self-proving affidavit if your state offers one.
- Do not staple, unstaple or handwrite changes on a signed will. Changes need a codicil signed with the same formalities [3].
- Tell your executor where the original is kept.
When a do-it-yourself will is reasonable and when to pay a lawyer
A software or free will can be reasonable if you are single or married with one set of children, your assets are modest and mostly pass by beneficiary designation (retirement accounts, life insurance), you own property in only one state, and you expect no family disputes.
Pay for a lawyer if you have a blended family, a child with special needs, minor children who would inherit significant money, a business, property in several states, a large estate, or a relative likely to contest the will. In those cases the drafting decisions cost far more to fix than to get right.
A will does not control everything. Accounts with beneficiary designations, jointly owned property and assets in a trust pass outside the will. A will also usually has to go through probate, which has its own costs; those are covered in estate planning lawyer cost.
Questions to ask a lawyer before you hire
- Is the fee flat, and does it include a health care directive and power of attorney?
- How many revision rounds are included?
- Will you supervise the signing and provide witnesses and a notary?
- Do you keep the original, and is there a charge for updates later?
Related: power of attorney cost, hourly vs flat fees.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to make a will online?
Prices for named services checked October 11, 2026: FreeWill is free, and Nolo's WillMaker plans are listed at $109, $149 and $219, with online access renewable at $39.99 a year.
Do I need a lawyer to write a will?
No state requires a lawyer to write a will. A lawyer is most valuable when your family or assets are complicated or when a contest is likely.
Does a will need to be notarized?
In most states a will needs witnesses, not a notary. A notary is used for an optional self-proving affidavit, which makes probate easier.
Is a handwritten will valid?
It depends on the state. California accepts a will whose signature and material provisions are in your handwriting without witnesses, while New York allows unwitnessed handwritten wills only for certain military members and mariners.
How many witnesses does a will need?
Two in California, Florida and New York. Pennsylvania requires witnesses only if you sign by mark or someone signs for you.
Sources
- Cal. Prob. Code §6110 (execution of wills) — California (public.law mirror). Two witnesses present at the same time; clear-and-convincing-evidence cure (checked October 11, 2026)
- Cal. Prob. Code §6111 (holographic wills) — California (public.law mirror). Handwritten signature and material provisions valid without witnesses (checked October 11, 2026)
- Fla. Stat. §732.502 (execution of wills) — Florida Legislature. Signed at the end with two attesting witnesses; holographic wills excluded from out-of-state recognition (checked October 11, 2026)
- Fla. Stat. §732.503 (self-proof of will) — Florida Legislature. Self-proving affidavit before an officer authorized to administer oaths (checked October 11, 2026)
- N.Y. Estates, Powers and Trusts Law §3-2.1 (execution of wills) — New York State Senate. Signed at the end, two witnesses within one 30-day period; electronic-will version effective Dec. 12, 2027 (checked October 11, 2026)
- N.Y. Estates, Powers and Trusts Law §3-2.2 (nuncupative and holographic wills) — New York State Senate. Holographic wills valid only for armed forces members, those accompanying them and mariners at sea, for limited periods (checked October 11, 2026)
- 20 Pa.C.S. §2502 (form and execution of a will) — Justia (Pennsylvania Code mirror). Signed at the end; two witnesses required only when signed by mark or by another person (checked October 11, 2026)
- WillMaker pricing — Nolo (Quicken WillMaker & Trust). Published plan prices: $109 Starter, $149 Plus, $219 All Access; $39.99 renewal (checked October 11, 2026)
- FreeWill home page — FreeWill. Free online will tool funded by nonprofit partners (checked October 11, 2026)
- Compare Lawyer Rates (2025 Legal Trends Report) — Clio. US national average lawyer hourly rate of $349 (checked October 11, 2026)