How Much Does a Will Cost in Texas?

Many Texans worry about the expense of creating estate planning documents. One of the most frequent questions we hear is, How much does a will cost in Texas? The amount varies across the state, but the average basic will-based estate plan costs between $1,500 – $3,000. The final cost depends on the complexity of your property, the type of legal help you choose, and whether you need additional documents beyond the will itself.

At Lewis Law Firm PLLC, we believe estate planning should be accessible to everyone. Led by attorney Samantha Lewis, our firm helps Texans create wills and other estate planning documents that fit their lives and budgets. With nearly a decade of legal experience and a commitment to making the process approachable, Samantha focuses on estate and legacy planning as the kindest thing you can do for your family. We work to simplify what other lawyers often overcomplicate, giving you a clear, affordable plan to protect your loved ones.

What Does a Will Do?

A will is a legal document explaining how you want your loved ones to handle your money, property, debts, and personal belongings—your estate—after your death. A will also lets you name guardians for minor children and appoint someone you trust, an executor, to follow your will’s instructions and take your estate through probate court.

Put simply, a will ensures that your wishes guide what happens to your property instead of Texas laws. Without a valid will, state law decides who receives your estate and what proportion.

Factors That Affect the Cost of a Will in Texas

Cost depends on several key factors, especially the complexity of your estate and the specifics of your attorney’s services.

Estate Complexity

Your estate is your combined assets and debts after you die. A complex estate may include:

• A large amount of money;
• Many different types of assets, like business interests and investment accounts;
• Unique property such as ranchland or mineral rights;
• Blended families; and
• Property ownership across multiple states or countries.

A simple will may meet your needs if you own only a few assets, keeping costs lower. But the more you need your will to address, the more time and legal skill drafting it requires. As a result, complex estates typically have higher costs than more straightforward estates.

Attorney Services

Hiring a lawyer costs more than using a generic template or online service. Templates and online services sound promising, but you risk a lot by relying on them, such as:

• Failing to meet Texas requirements to create a valid will, especially signature and witnessing requirements;
• Lacking customization to account for unique family dynamics such as blended families, stepchildren, or estranged relatives;
• Omission of important clauses, like naming an alternate executor or addressing debts;
• Using confusing and ambiguous wording;
• Being unable to integrate with other documents like powers of attorney, medical directives, and trusts;
• Not getting advice about tax implications, asset protection, and how to avoid unnecessary probate; and
• Gaining a false sense of security only for loved ones to discover after death that the template failed to protect them.

When you hire a lawyer, you receive tailored guidance and assurance that your will meets Texas law and will hold up in probate court. An experienced attorney can also anticipate issues you might not consider, like how remarriage or debts could affect your estate. Addressing these matters upfront saves your loved ones from having to figure those things out after you are gone.

Flat Fees Versus Hourly Billing

Another factor that affects cost is how an attorney bills for services. Estate planning attorneys often charge flat fees, specific amounts they tell you in advance, for straightforward wills.

We may use hourly billing in more complex situations, especially if your plan requires customized documents or unusual provisions. Your attorney should explain their billing structure before you hire them.

Location

Where you live in Texas may influence the cost of legal services. Attorneys in large cities often charge more than those in smaller communities because of higher business and living expenses.

Yet, many law firms, including Lewis Law Firm PLLC, offer predictable flat fees regardless of location. That way, clients know the price of their plan before the work begins, reducing the risk of unexpected costs.

How Much Does It Cost to Make a Will in Texas?

The average cost of a will in Texas can vary significantly from person to person. A basic will for someone with few assets typically costs less than one for a family with complex property or tax concerns.

Still asking, How much does a will cost in Texas? It can help to think about costs as a sliding scale. The simpler your needs, the lower the price. The more protections you want to include, the higher the investment.

Supplementing Your Will

A will gives you an important foundation, but most people benefit from additional estate planning documents that protect them during their lifetime and afterward, such as:

• Powers of attorney—names someone you trust to handle legal, financial, or medical matters if you become unable to manage them yourself;
• Advance directive (living will)—states your wishes for end-of-life medical care; and
• Trusts—move property into an arrangement where a trustee manages it for various purposes.

Adding these documents increases the cost of your plan, but it also reduces the risks of disputes, medical uncertainty, and financial confusion for your family.

Affordable Estate Planning in Texas — Call (512) 737-8404 to Schedule Your Consultation

At Lewis Law Firm PLLC, we focus on creating estate and legacy plans that match your needs, whether preparing a simple will or building a comprehensive strategy with trusts and other protections. Because we know every family is unique, we take time to explain your options and give you a transparent cost structure before you begin.

Creating a will is critical to protect your loved ones and ease their burdens when you are gone. Our firm serves clients across Texas with estate planning and probate services. To learn more about how we can help you, contact Lewis Law Firm PLLC today.