--- title: "What Should Estate Planning Cost? A Fixed-Fee Explanation | Legacy Counsel" description: "Why we quote flat fees, what drives the number, and how to compare quotes between providers without guessing." lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "LegalService", "@id": "https://jacobslegacycounsel.com/#legalservice", "name": "Jacobs Legacy Counsel", "alternateName": [ "Legacy Counsel by Jacobs Counsel", "Jacobs Legacy" ], "url": "https://jacobslegacycounsel.com", "description": "Fixed-fee estate planning for high-net-worth families, founders, executives, and professional athletes. 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A Fixed-Fee Explanation", "description": "Why we quote flat fees, what drives the number, and how to compare quotes between providers without guessing.", "abstract": "Estate planning should be quoted as a fixed fee, because the scope can be defined before the work starts. The price is driven by whether the plan is will-based or trust-based, the complexity of what you own, your state and federal tax exposure, and whether advanced structures like an ILIT, SLAT, or GRAT are involved. When comparing quotes, confirm four things: whether funding is included, whether revisions are included, who actually drafts the documents, and what future questions cost. Legacy Counsel scopes the matter first and quotes one flat fee before drafting.", "datePublished": "2026-07-24", "dateModified": "2026-08-12T16:46:31.255746+00:00", "author": { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://jacobscounsellaw.com/about/drew-jacobs#person", "name": "Andrew R. 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A Fixed-Fee Explanation", "item": "https://jacobslegacycounsel.com/blog/what-estate-planning-costs-fixed-fee" } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "@id": "https://jacobslegacycounsel.com/blog/what-estate-planning-costs-fixed-fee#faq", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "Why do some firms still bill hourly for estate planning?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Habit, mostly. Scope is knowable here, so a flat fee is achievable — and it stops clients from avoiding questions to keep the bill down." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is funding included in a flat fee?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "In our engagements it is scoped and quoted with the plan. Ask directly, because this is the most commonly excluded item elsewhere." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Are online document services cheaper?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Upfront, yes. They do not review titling, coordinate beneficiary designations, or account for New York's estate tax cliff or New Jersey inheritance tax, which is where most of the value sits." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Do I pay again to update my plan?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Minor updates and periodic reviews are handled under a defined arrangement rather than surprise hourly invoices. A material life change is a new, separately quoted scope." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How often should a plan be reviewed?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Every three to five years, and immediately after a marriage, divorce, birth, death, liquidity event, or move to another state." } } ] } ] ] --- A Practice of [Jacobs Counsel LLC](https://jacobscounsellaw.com) Serving NY · NJ · OH — Vol. 2026 [Legacy Counsel ](/) Firm Resources Estate Planning Trusts [Probate & Admin](/probate-trust-administration)[Pricing](/pricing)[Book Call](https://cal.com/drewjacobs/estate-planning)[Start Intake](/get-started) Menu 1. [Home](/) 2. [Journal](/blog) 3. What Estate Planning Costs Fixed FEE [← Legacy Journal](/blog)Estate Planning · Pricing # What Should Estate Planning Cost? A Fixed-Fee Explanation Why we quote flat fees, what drives the number, and how to compare quotes between providers without guessing. July 24, 2026 6 min read By Drew Jacobs, Esq. The short answer Estate planning should be quoted as a fixed fee, because the scope can be defined before the work starts. The price is driven by whether the plan is will-based or trust-based, the complexity of what you own, your state and federal tax exposure, and whether advanced structures like an ILIT, SLAT, or GRAT are involved. When comparing quotes, confirm four things: whether funding is included, whether revisions are included, who actually drafts the documents, and what future questions cost. Legacy Counsel scopes the matter first and quotes one flat fee before drafting. Estate planning is one of the few legal services where the scope can be defined in advance. That is precisely why hourly billing makes so little sense for it. ## How we price We scope first: what you own, how it is titled, who should receive it, and what needs to be protected. Then we quote a fixed fee for the entire engagement — drafting, revisions, the signing meeting, and the funding work. You approve the number before we begin. Details are on our [pricing page](/pricing). ## What moves the number - **Will-based versus trust-based:** the simplest defensible plan versus a funded trust structure. - **Asset type:** W-2 income and a house is not the same engagement as an operating company, concentrated stock, or property in three states. - **Tax exposure:** New York's cliff, New Jersey inheritance tax, and federal exposure each add analysis. - **Advanced structures:** an [ILIT](/ilit-attorney), [SLAT](/slat-attorney), [GRAT](/grat-attorney), or [dynasty trust](/dynasty-trust-attorney) is scoped separately. ## How to compare quotes fairly Ask every provider four questions: Is funding included? Are revisions included? Who drafts the documents? What happens when I have a question in three years? Two quotes that look far apart usually differ on those answers, not on quality of paper. ## The alternative cost Administration is the real budget line. Court fees, fiduciary commissions, appraisals, professional time, and months of frozen assets — see [what probate actually costs](/blog/what-probate-costs-nj-ny-oh) in New Jersey, New York, and Ohio. Planning is the cheaper side of that ledger. ## Next step [Send us your situation](/get-started) and we will scope it and quote a fixed fee. Educational information only, not legal or tax advice. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Frequently asked ## Questions we hear most Why do some firms still bill hourly for estate planning? Habit, mostly. Scope is knowable here, so a flat fee is achievable — and it stops clients from avoiding questions to keep the bill down. Is funding included in a flat fee? In our engagements it is scoped and quoted with the plan. Ask directly, because this is the most commonly excluded item elsewhere. Are online document services cheaper? Upfront, yes. They do not review titling, coordinate beneficiary designations, or account for New York's estate tax cliff or New Jersey inheritance tax, which is where most of the value sits. Do I pay again to update my plan? Minor updates and periodic reviews are handled under a defined arrangement rather than surprise hourly invoices. A material life change is a new, separately quoted scope. How often should a plan be reviewed? Every three to five years, and immediately after a marriage, divorce, birth, death, liquidity event, or move to another state. Free Download ### The Estate Planning Checklist A practical checklist covering documents, titling, beneficiary designations, and the funding steps most plans skip. Written for NY, NJ, and OH families. Send it to me Educational material only — not legal advice. Requesting the guide does not create an attorney-client relationship. We do not sell or share your email. Estate Planning Assessment ### Not sure what you need yet? A short, private assessment maps your situation to the documents and structures worth discussing — wills, revocable trusts, irrevocable planning, or administration support. [Take the 2-minute assessment →](/quiz/estate-planning) Educational only. Completing the assessment does not create an attorney-client relationship. Keep reading - [Small Estate Shortcuts in New Jersey, New York, and Ohio Estate Planning · Probate ](/blog/small-estate-shortcuts-nj-ny-oh) - [How to Put Your House in a Trust (NJ, NY, and OH) Estate Planning · Trusts ](/blog/how-to-put-your-house-in-a-trust) - [New Jersey Inheritance Tax: Who Pays, Who Is Exempt, and How Planning Changes the Math Estate Planning · New Jersey ](/blog/new-jersey-inheritance-tax-explained) [← More from the Legacy Journal](/blog)[Start Your Estate Plan](/get-started) Estate Planning & Legacy Counsel Legacy Counsel by Jacobs Counsel. Fixed-fee estate planning, trusts, wills, and generational wealth strategy for high-net-worth families. 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All rights reserved. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. **Jurisdiction.** Drew Jacobs is licensed to practice law in New York, New Jersey, and Ohio . Estate planning is highly state-specific — laws governing wills, trusts, probate, estate and inheritance tax, and asset protection vary materially by jurisdiction. We represent clients whose residence, primary assets, or business interests are situated in NY, NJ, or OH. For matters involving other states, we coordinate with qualified local counsel. Nothing on this site constitutes legal advice or an offer to represent you in a jurisdiction in which we are not licensed.