How Much Does Estate Planning Cost in Dallas, Texas?

Most Dallas attorneys will not tell you what estate planning costs until you are already in their office, but at The Patterson Law Firm, we believe in transparency. A basic flat-fee estate planning package, which includes a will, powers of attorney, and a healthcare directive, starts at $1,000, and a revocable trust package starts at $2,000. Here is what those numbers include, what drives the cost higher, and how flat-fee billing compares to what you would pay an hourly attorney to draft the same documents.

How much does estate planning cost in Dallas?

Estate planning in Dallas starts at $1,000 for a basic will package at The Patterson Law Firm, billed as a flat fee rather than by the hour. That covers the core set of documents most people need. A revocable living trust package starts at $2,000, because it involves more drafting and the added step of moving your assets into the trust so it works as intended.

But keep in mind, those are starting points, not the whole story. Your exact cost will depend on how complicated your situation is, so the sections below walk through what moves the price. That way, you will know the costs before you commit to anything, even our free consultation.

What's included in a basic estate planning package in Texas?

Our basic package covers the documents that work together to protect you during your life and handle your affairs afterward. At The Patterson Law Firm, the flat-fee will package starting at $1,000 includes the following for a single individual.

This set is the foundation for most families. If your situation is more complex, you may need a trust or additional planning tools, which can increase costs.

What does a revocable living trust cost in Dallas?

A revocable living trust package at The Patterson Law Firm starts at $2,000, which is more than a will package but less than what your family could spend on probate. A trust is designed to keep your estate out of the probate court, and that is where the math often favors it over time.

Will Package vs. Trust Package vs. Probate With No Plan

A side-by-side look at cost and what you get. Scroll sideways on mobile to see all three columns.

Why do some estate planning attorneys charge by the hour instead of flat fees?

Hourly billing is simply how some firms have always done it. The trouble is what it does to you: an hourly arrangement means you do not know the final cost until the work is finished. Every phone call, every revision, and every question can add to the bill, which leaves families reluctant to ask the questions they should be asking.

Flat fees give you a number you can plan around. You know the cost before the work starts, and you can pick up the phone without watching a meter run. The Patterson Law Firm uses flat-fee pricing because a family deciding how to protect itself deserves to know the cost in advance, not after.

What drives the cost up? What makes estate planning more expensive?

The starting fees cover straightforward situations. Cost rises when your circumstances call for more documents, more coordination, or more careful planning. The most common factors are:

• Business ownership. Passing on a company or your share of one requires succession planning that a basic package does not include.

• Out-of-state property. Real estate in another state can trigger a separate probate there, and planning around that adds work.

• Blended families. Providing for a current spouse and children from prior relationships takes precise drafting to avoid conflict later.

• Special needs beneficiaries. Leaving money to a loved one who receives benefits often calls for a special needs trust so the inheritance does not disqualify them.

• Complex assets. Multiple properties, investment accounts, or business interests take more structure to plan around.

  
  

None of these means an open-ended bill. It means your plan needs more than the basic set, and we'll tell you what that costs before we begin.

Is cheap estate planning worth it? What happens with online will services?

Online will services, like the well-known do-it-yourself platforms, can work for very simple situations. If your estate is uncomplicated and you understand exactly what you are signing, a template may be better than having nothing at all.

But that is not the end of the answer. Those tools do not account for your individual circumstances; they can miss Texas-specific requirements, and there is no attorney to catch a mistake or answer a question later. A will that is invalid or unclear under Texas law does not reveal the problem until you are gone, and by then your family is the one paying to fix it. Set the cost of a low-price online will against what an hourly attorney charges to untangle a defective document in probate, and the inexpensive option can turn out to be the expensive one.

What's the right next step to find out what my plan will cost?

Book a free consultation. You will leave knowing what documents you need and what they cost, with no obligation and no surprises. The starting fees on this page are real, and the consultation is where we turn them into a specific number for your specific situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Flat-fee estate planning in Dallas should not be a mystery. At The Patterson Law Firm, Caleb Patterson offers transparent pricing: a will package starts at $1,000 and a revocable trust package at $2,000, so you can plan with a real number instead of an open-ended bill. To learn more before you book, explore the firm's guide to choosing between a will and a trust, its estate planning services, and its guide to passing on a Texas business.

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This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. The fees described are flat starting fees for the packages listed and may vary based on the complexity of your situation. For guidance and a quote for your specific circumstances, please consult a licensed Texas estate planning attorney. Content reviewed by P. Caleb Patterson.