On price tags alone, a will wins: it is the simpler, less expensive document to prepare, while a revocable living trust package involves more drafting and costs more upfront. But the sticker prices tell only half the story, because the two documents shift costs to different points in time.
What you pay now
A will is the cheaper document today — whether a simple will on its own or the bundle with a power of attorney and healthcare proxy. A revocable living trust package costs more upfront because it involves more drafting plus funding work: re-deeding your home into the trust and retitling accounts. Ask for an exact quote for your situation; court and recording fees are additional.
What your family pays later
Here's the flip side. A will must be probated. In Surrogate's Court that means a filing fee under SCPA §2402 that scales with the estate — up to $1,250 for estates of $500,000 or more — plus attorney fees for the proceeding (probate attorney fees vary with the estate and are discussed separately from court filing fees) and months of waiting. A properly funded trust skips that entirely: your successor trustee distributes assets privately without a court case. For many families, especially homeowners, the trust's upfront premium is smaller than the probate costs it eliminates.
Which is right for you
Cost isn't the only factor — privacy, incapacity planning, out-of-state property, and family dynamics all matter. Compare the options on our estate planning page.
How Schwartsman Law Group can help
Schwartsman Law Group PLLC will run the will-versus-trust math for your actual assets. Founding attorney Marianna Schwartsman and her team advise clients from offices in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Manhasset, in English, Spanish, and Russian. Call +1 212 518 3868, email ms@schwartsmanlaw.com, or request a free consultation for exact pricing on both options.