Generally, what is the cost to draft a simple Will?
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Generally, what is the cost to draft a simple Will?
Asked on August 9, 2011 Massachusetts
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 13 years ago | Contributor
Varies widely by area, since lawyer fees are driven more by cost of living and average income than anything else; for example, I have a friend in St. Louis is who charges 40% of what I charge simply because she's in St. Louis and I'm in northern New Jersey, near Manhatten.
However, while there is no simple or single answer, even in areas like northern NJ, where rates tend to be higher, I've seen simple wills be drafted for anything from around $250 - $750; personally, I charge $500, for comparison. You need to "comparison shop" in your area to see what different attorneys charge.
Having an attorney draft a will is a good investment for two reasons. First, wills are "technical" in that they have some very strict signing, language, etc. requirements. Drafting or executing a will incorrectly can mean that it is not valid at all, and an attorney is better placed than you to make sure you comply with all the rules. Second, an experienced attorney will think of potential issues--and have solutions for them--which would not even occur to you.
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