Is estate planning expensive?

Estate planning can range from relatively inexpensive to very expensive, depending on your situation. In California, the costs of estate planning can vary significantly. A basic will typically costs around $500 to $1,000. The cost can increase if you have a more complicated estate, such as owning property in different states, have business interests, or have a large portfolio of investments. An estate plan can be done with a lawyer or online, but the cost will usually be higher if done with a lawyer. Consulting with a financial advisor, such as a tax attorney or estate planning lawyer, will give you the best advice and strategy for creating an effective estate plan. For those with larger assets, such as stocks and real estate, an estate plan may require a trust in addition to a will. A trust typically costs anywhere from $2,000 to $20,000, depending on the complexity of the trust. Whether estate planning is expensive or not also depends on how much time you are willing to spend researching and understanding the laws and regulations that apply to estate planning in California. Depending on the complexity of your estate, there are numerous state and federal taxes and legal considerations that must be taken into account. However, taking the time to properly plan for your estate can save you a great amount of time and money in the long run.

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