How Much Does a Will Cost? Lawyer vs. Online vs. DIY

Attorney fees, online platforms, DIY templates — the price range for a will is massive. Here's what you actually get at each price point, and what makes sense for most young adults.

By Willy Team · July 16, 2026 · 5 min read

If you've ever Googled 'how much does a will cost,' you've probably seen answers ranging from $0 to $3,000. That spread isn't a mistake. The price of a will depends almost entirely on who makes it — and for most young adults, the most expensive option isn't the one you need.

Let's break down what you actually pay, what you get for it, and where the value is.

Option 1: Hire an estate planning attorney ($1,000–$3,000+)

The traditional route. You schedule a consultation, sit down with a lawyer, answer a lot of questions, and receive a professionally drafted will — usually within a few weeks.

What you're paying for:

A licensed attorney who knows your state's specific requirements
Custom language for complex situations (business ownership, trusts, blended families)
In-person guidance for anything complex or unusual
Someone who can spot problems you didn't know you had

When it's worth it: If you own property in multiple states, have a blended family, own a business, or have assets worth more than $1–2 million — hire a lawyer. The complexity justifies the cost.

When it's overkill: If you're in your 20s or 30s with a simple situation — a savings account, some personal property, a partner, maybe a pet — you're probably paying for services you don't need.

Option 2: Online will platform

Online platforms walk you through a series of questions and generate a legally formatted will. You print it, sign it in front of two witnesses, and you're done.

What you're paying for:

A legally valid document that meets your state's requirements
Guided questions so you don't miss anything important
Instant download — no waiting weeks for an appointment
The ability to update it when your life changes

What you're not paying for: A lawyer's review of your specific situation. If something unusual comes up, the platform can't advise you the way an attorney can.

For the vast majority of young adults with simple estates — which is most of us — an online will is legally equivalent to one drafted by an attorney at a fraction of the price. Willy starts at $79 for a digital download, which includes both a Last Will and Testament and a Personal Directive — one of the lowest prices among established online will platforms.

Option 3: DIY (free, sort of)

You can technically write your own will using a template you find online. It's legal in all 50 states, as long as you follow the requirements: in writing, signed, and witnessed by two adults who aren't inheriting from you.

The upside: $0.

The downside: Easy to get wrong. Ambiguous language, missing required elements, or conflicting provisions can make a will difficult to execute — or invalid entirely. A court that's trying to interpret a confusing self-written will is not a good situation for anyone.

If you're going this route, use a reliable, state-specific template and have someone with legal knowledge at least review it before you sign.

What actually drives the cost?

A few things:

Complexity of your estate. The more complicated, the more it costs — at every price point. Simple situations are cheap to document.

Whether you want a lawyer's time. That's what most of the attorney fee pays for. For complex situations, it's valuable. For simple ones, it's often not necessary.

Whether you include additional documents. Many estate plans include more than just a will — a healthcare directive (living will), a power of attorney, maybe a trust. Bundled packages cost more, but they cover more.

The comparison that actually matters

| Cost | $1,000–$3,000+ | $79–$99 | $0 |

| Legal validity | Yes | Yes | Yes, if done right |

| State-specific guidance | Yes | Yes | Depends on template |

| Good for complex estates | Yes | No | No |

The honest take

For most of us in our 20s and 30s, spending $1,500 on a will attorney is like hiring a contractor to hang a picture frame. You're paying for expertise you don't actually need.

An online platform gets you a legally valid document in about 20 minutes, costs less than a dinner out, and covers everything that matters for your situation. You can always upgrade to an attorney later if your life gets more complicated.

The worst option — financially and practically — is no will at all. Which is currently what 67% of Americans have.

Ready to get yours done? Willy takes about 10 minutes and costs $79 for a digital download. [Start your will today](/create-will).