Irrevocable trust cost in 2026
Irrevocable trust costs $2,500 to $10,000 per trust in 2026, and most people pay about $6,000.
What moves the price
- A simple trust costs less than one with many assets or special rules.
- Where you live matters, since lawyer rates differ by state and city.
- Medicaid or asset protection plans take more work and cost more.
- Moving real estate into the trust adds filing fees.
- Yearly costs like tax returns and trustee fees come after setup.
What is included
The range is per trust, lawyer setup fee. The setup fee usually covers drafting the trust papers and advice from the lawyer. Filing fees for deeds, yearly tax returns and trustee fees are often extra. A paid trustee may charge 0.5% to 1.5% of the trust's assets each year.
Irrevocable trust costs from the sources
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Lawyer setup, Ohio guide | $2,500 to $5,000 or more |
| Lawyer setup, average | $6,000 |
| Lawyer setup, simple to complex | $3,000 to $10,000 or more |
| County filing fee for real estate | $125 to $250 |
| Yearly tax return by a CPA | $1,500 to $4,000 or more |
| Paid trustee, each year | 0.5% to 1.5% of trust assets |
Average prices in US dollars. Source: Wolterman Law.
Ways to pay less
- Ask for a flat fee up front instead of paying by the hour.
- Pick a family member as trustee to skip yearly trustee fees.
- Get quotes from two or three estate lawyers before choosing.
What price guides say
We checked 3 price guides and read every number on their pages. They do not all measure the same thing, so the ranges on this page come from putting them side by side.
- Wolterman Law: How Much Does a Trust Cost in Ohio? (2026 Pricing Guide)
- SmartAsset: How Much Does a Living Trust Cost in NY?
- LegalZoom: What Is the Average Cost to Prepare a Living Trust?
Common questions
How much does this cost in 2026?
Irrevocable trust costs $2,500 to $10,000 per trust in 2026, and most people pay about $6,000. Most people pay about $6,000 per trust. The low end is $2,500 and the high end is $10,000.
What changes the price the most?
The biggest factors are: A simple trust costs less than one with many assets or special rules; Where you live matters, since lawyer rates differ by state and city; Medicaid or asset protection plans take more work and cost more.
How can I pay less?
Ask for a flat fee up front instead of paying by the hour. Pick a family member as trustee to skip yearly trustee fees. Get quotes from two or three estate lawyers before choosing.
Where do these numbers come from?
From 3 named price guides: Wolterman Law, SmartAsset, LegalZoom. Each one is linked on this page with the date we read it.
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