How Much Does a Living Trust Cost in Texas?

If you are asking how much a living trust costs in Texas, the honest answer is that the price depends on how the trust is created, what documents are included, and whether the trust is properly funded after signing.

For most Texas families, the better question is not just “What does the trust document cost?” The better question is “What does it cost to create a plan that can actually help avoid probate?”

Written by Austin B. Butts, JD. Austin is a Texas attorney whose State Bar profile lists Wills-Trusts-Probate as a practice area. Updated August 22, 2026. Pricing checked August 22, 2026. This article provides general legal information, not advice about an individual situation.

How Much Does a Living Trust Cost in Texas? The Short Answer

In Texas, a revocable living trust can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars depending on the provider and the level of guidance included.

Option	Current Price Example	Best Fit
National online platform	$399 to $649 in the current regular-price example below	People who want self-guided documents and are comfortable comparing state-specific scope, support, and renewal terms
Published Texas attorney packages	$1,250 to $2,750+ in the current examples below	Families who want individualized legal advice or have complex assets, blended families, tax concerns, or special planning needs
Texas-specific self-guided trust plan	$399 total with Texan Wills and Trusts	Texas residents who want an affordable trust-based estate plan built specifically for Texas

How Much Does a Living Trust Cost?

Across the United States, the advertised price for a revocable living trust can range from a few hundred dollars for self-guided online documents to several thousand dollars for an attorney engagement. That does not make every quote an apples-to-apples comparison.

One price may cover only a trust agreement. Another may include a pour-over will, financial and medical powers of attorney, a certificate of trust, deed work, trust-funding help, revisions, or individualized legal advice. A couple’s price may also differ from an individual’s price.

When comparing the cost to make a trust, ask five questions:

• Is the quoted price for one person or the whole household?
• Which supporting documents are included?
• Is a deed template, a completed deed, or county recording included?
• How long can the documents be revised or updated?
• Does the price include individualized attorney advice, or is that a separate service?

The useful comparison is the total cost of a usable plan—not just the living trust document’s price.

The lowest price is not always the best value. A trust only helps avoid probate if the right assets are moved into the trust or coordinated with the trust after the documents are signed.

Texas Family Trust Plan: $399 total for one individual or both spouses.

Texan Wills and Trusts offers a Texas-specific trust-based estate plan for Texas residents who want an affordable online option designed to help avoid probate when properly funded.

How Much Does a Trust Cost in Texas with a Local Attorney?

Texas law does not set a standard fee for preparing a living trust. Publicly posted Texas prices vary because the services included in each package vary.

In a price check on August 22, 2026, published Texas examples included a family-trust package starting at $1,250 for an individual and $1,955 for a couple, a living-trust package at $1,640 for an individual and $2,750 for a couple, and another attorney’s trust package starting at $1,750 for an individual and $2,250 for a couple. These are examples, not a statewide average or a quote for any reader’s situation.

Scope matters: one package may include meetings, custom advice, deed preparation or recording, funding assistance, revisions, witnesses, and notarization while another may price some of those services separately.

If your situation requires individualized legal advice, you may want to speak with a About us. Compare both the price and exactly what the engagement includes.

How Much Does a Trust Cost in Texas with National Online Companies?

National online providers often sell several tiers, so compare the regular price, current promotion, renewal terms, revision period, attorney access, and the documents included.

For one current example, LegalZoom’s published pricing on August 22, 2026 listed its Basic Trust at $399 for an individual and $499 for a couple, and its Premium Trust at $549 for an individual and $649 for a couple, before temporary discounts. Prices and inclusions can change.

A national provider may be a reasonable fit for someone comfortable evaluating the state-specific documents and completing the signing and funding steps. The important comparison is scope, support, and total cost—not the headline price alone.

Hidden Costs That Affect How Much a Trust Costs in Texas

When people ask, “How much does a trust cost in Texas,” they usually focus only on the purchase price. That approach overlooks other expenses that matter.

Trust Funding

A trust avoids probate only if you transfer assets into it. This process is called funding.

If you are still deciding whether the structure fits, start with how a Texas living trust works. Then review the five steps to set up a Texas trust and the asset-by-asset trust-funding guide.

If you create a trust but leave your home, bank accounts, or brokerage accounts outside of it, your family may still face probate.

Some attorneys charge additional fees to help transfer real estate or coordinate account changes. Some online providers offer limited guidance. Real estate often creates the biggest problems in probate. If you own a home, this guide explains how to transfer a house after death in Texas.

If funding does not happen correctly, the trust may not achieve its main goal.

Amendments and Updates

Life changes. Families grow. Assets increase. Laws evolve.

Some providers charge separately for amendments. Others require you to repurchase the entire plan. That increases the long-term cost.

A plan that seems inexpensive at first may cost more over time.

Trust Cost Versus Probate Cost in Texas

A properly funded revocable living trust often costs less than $5,000 even on the higher end of attorney pricing.

Probate in Texas can easily exceed that amount depending on the estate’s size and complexity. Even relatively simple estates often involve several thousand dollars in expenses.

Probate also requires public court filings. Anyone can review what assets passed through the estate. A trust allows private administration.

When Texans focus only on the upfront cost, they often overlook the financial and emotional cost of probate.

To understand what a trust is avoiding, review the real cost of probate in Texas.

Why the Cheapest Option Is Not Always the Best

Price matters. However, estate planning documents control what happens to your home, savings, and children’s inheritance.

A generic template that does not align with Texas law can create confusion later. At the same time, the highest price does not automatically guarantee the best fit for a straightforward family situation.

You want a solution that balances affordability with Texas-specific drafting.

That balance often sits between national template providers and high-fee law firms.

If you are still comparing options, see how pricing differs for wills here: how much does a will cost in Texas.

What the $399 Texas Family Trust Plan Includes

The $399 price is one total household price: one purchase covers an individual or both spouses. There is no required subscription, and one year of plan updates is included.

Included in the self-guided plan	Important boundary
Revocable Living Trust, Certificate of Trust, Assignment of Personal Property and Digital Assets, funding guide, and deed template	Creating the documents and funding the trust are separate steps. You must review, properly sign, and complete the asset-transfer steps that apply to you.
Pour-Over Will and guardian documents	A pour-over will does not by itself keep an unfunded asset out of probate.
Durable Power of Attorney, Medical Power of Attorney, HIPAA Authorization, Directive to Physicians, and Disposition of Remains	The plan supplies self-guided documents and recorded general explanations; it does not create an attorney-client relationship.
One plan for one individual or both spouses, one year of updates, and a seven-day satisfaction guarantee	Individualized legal advice and document review are available only through a separate engagement with Book Law Firm.

Texan Wills and Trusts focuses on Texas and provides attorney-created documents through a guided online system. You complete the questionnaire in about 30 minutes, then follow the signing and funding instructions that apply to your plan.

One purchase can cover both spouses · No required subscription · One year of updates · Self-guided documents, not individualized legal advice

Why Texas-Specific Drafting Matters

Texas handles probate differently than many states. Independent administration remains common. Community property rules affect what a surviving spouse receives. Homestead protections add another layer of complexity.

A trust plan designed specifically for Texas law reduces friction later.

When comparing options, ask:

• Does this provider focus only on Texas?
• Does the plan address Texas property rules clearly?
• Does the system explain how to fund the trust?

Those questions matter more than a small price difference.

Primary Texas Legal Sources

Readers who want the governing text can review the Texas Trust Code provisions in Property Code Chapter 112, the homestead provisions in Property Code Chapter 41, the recording provisions in Property Code Chapter 13, and Texas Estates Code Chapter 401 on independent administration.

Living Trust Cost in Texas: Common Questions

Why does the cost of setting up a trust in Texas vary so much?

The cost of setting up a living trust in Texas depends on what is included, how much guidance you need, and whether the provider is using Texas-specific legal documents. A basic trust document may cost less upfront, but a complete trust-based estate plan usually includes more than just the trust agreement.

For many Texas families, the better comparison is not just “document price.” The better comparison is the total cost of creating the plan, funding the trust, avoiding the probate process, and keeping the plan usable for your family after death or incapacity.

Is a flat fee trust plan better than hourly billing?

A flat fee can make the cost easier to understand because you know the price before starting. Traditional law firms may charge a flat fee for common estate planning packages, but the total cost can still vary depending on complexity, meetings, revisions, and whether deed work or additional legal advice is included.

An online Texas-specific trust system can also use a flat fee, but you should look closely at what the plan includes. A lower price is only helpful if the documents are designed for Texas law and the system clearly explains the next steps after purchase.

Does a trust avoid the probate process automatically?

No. A trust helps avoid probate only if the right assets are moved into the trust or coordinated with the trust. Moving assets into the trust is often called trust funding.

If you create a trust but leave your home, bank accounts, or other assets outside the trust, your family may still need probate for those assets. That is why the cost of a living trust in Texas should include the time and effort needed to understand funding, beneficiary designations, and real estate issues.

What if I own multiple properties?

Multiple properties can make estate planning more important because each property may create its own transfer issue after death. A trust can help centralize control and make administration smoother, but the details matter.

Texas homeowners should pay attention to homestead rules, mortgage issues, title insurance, and whether each property should actually be transferred into the trust. For rental property, business property, or property in another state, it may be worth getting individualized legal advice before making title changes.

Does a revocable living trust provide asset protection?

For most Texas families, a revocable living trust is mainly a probate-avoidance and administration tool. It can help make things easier for your family, but it is not usually the same thing as an asset protection trust.

Some people use the term asset protection broadly, but a standard revocable living trust generally does not protect your own assets from your own creditors while you are alive. If your goal is creditor protection, Medicaid planning, lawsuit protection, or advanced tax planning, you should speak with an attorney before relying on a basic revocable trust plan.

How much does it cost to make a trust?

If you mean a revocable living trust, the price can range from a few hundred dollars for self-guided online documents to several thousand dollars for an attorney engagement. The total depends on whether the price covers one person or a couple, which supporting documents are included, whether deed and funding work are included, how long revisions are available, and whether the price includes individualized legal advice.

Is $399 the total price for both spouses?

Yes. The Texas Family Trust Plan costs $399 total for one individual or both spouses, includes one year of updates, and does not require a subscription. It is a self-guided document plan with recorded general explanations, not an attorney-client engagement. Depending on your assets and the help you choose, you may separately incur notary, county recording, title, tax, or professional-service costs.

Comparing trust quotes? Before comparing only the price, review what a complete Texas living trust package should include, from the trust and pour-over will to powers of attorney, signing instructions, and practical funding help.

Clear Answer: How Much Does a Trust Cost in Texas?

You can expect:

National online pricing varies by provider, plan tier, and whether the plan covers one person or a couple

The published Texas attorney examples above range from $1,250 to $2,750+, depending on scope

$399 for a Texas-specific trust plan built exclusively for Texas residents

The real issue involves value, not just price.

If your goal includes avoiding probate, protecting your spouse, and creating clarity for your children, you need a trust plan that works under Texas law.

Is a $399 Self-Guided Trust Plan the Right Fit?

The Texas Family Trust Plan is designed for Texas residents who want a revocable trust-based estate plan, are comfortable following recorded explanations and written signing and funding instructions, and do not need recommendations based on unusual or disputed facts.

Consider speaking with a Texas attorney before relying on a self-guided plan if you need advanced tax or business-succession planning, creditor or Medicaid planning, individualized public-benefits advice, or recommendations for a disputed or unusually complex family or ownership situation.

If the self-guided plan fits, one $399 purchase can cover an individual or both spouses and includes one year of updates. You can also learn how long probate can take in Texas before comparing your options.

Take the Next Step

If you live in Texas and want an affordable, Texas-specific trust plan, the Texas Family Trust Plan offers a practical solution.

You can complete the questionnaire online. You receive your documents quickly. You move forward with clarity instead of confusion.

Do not let cost uncertainty stop you from protecting your family.

Purchase the Texas Family Trust Plan today.

Texas Estate Planning Guides

• How Much Does a Will Cost in Texas?
• The Real Cost of Probate in Texas
• How Long Does Probate Take in Texas?
• How to Transfer a House After Death in Texas

Related resources: Best way to create a will or trust in Texas

Cost Is Only One Piece of Estate Planning in Texas

Focusing only on cost can lead to the wrong decision.

Estate planning in Texas involves choosing the right structure, not just the lowest price. A plan that avoids probate can save your family time, money, and stress later.

See how estate planning works in Texas