A basic will drafted by an attorney in Pennsylvania typically costs $500 to $1,500. More complex estate plans that involve trusts, business interests, blended families, or special needs planning run $1,500 to $6,000 or higher. Online will services generally charge $99 to $250, and free templates exist if you’re willing to draft it yourself. What you should pay depends on how complicated your assets and family situation are, so the honest answer to “how much does a will cost in Pennsylvania” starts with knowing which tier you actually belong in.
What Drives the Price
Complexity is the single biggest factor. A will that leaves everything to a spouse, or splits assets evenly among adult children, is quick work. Add a business, rental property, a blended family, minor children who need a guardian named, or a beneficiary receiving government benefits who could lose them from an outright inheritance, and drafting time climbs.
Attorney experience matters too, though not always the way people expect. A seasoned estate planning lawyer may charge a higher hourly rate and still finish faster than a general practitioner working through the nuances for the first time. Hourly rates for Pennsylvania estate attorneys generally fall between $250 and $350. Some Philadelphia and Pittsburgh firms charge $400 or more. In less expensive markets, rates run $150 to $275 per hour.
Many estate planning attorneys prefer flat fees for will preparation. Clients want cost certainty, and the work is predictable enough to price that way. When you call around, ask whether the quote is flat or hourly, and what happens if you need extensive revisions.
Attorney-Drafted Wills and What the Fee Covers
Hiring an attorney is the most expensive option and the most thorough. Expect $500 to $1,500 for a straightforward will. Complex plans involving trusts, tax strategies, or provisions for blended families run $1,500 to $6,000 or more.
The fee usually covers more than the document itself. Most attorneys start with a consultation to review your assets, family situation, and goals. Drafting follows, with one or two revision rounds included. The attorney then supervises the signing to make sure the will is properly executed, arranging witnesses and notarization for a self-proving affidavit.
Ask upfront what’s included and what counts as extra. Additional revisions past the initial drafts sometimes trigger extra fees, and some firms charge separately for the signing ceremony.
Online Will Services
Platforms such as Trust & Will (starting around $199 for an individual plan) and Willow (around $99 for a will) run you through a questionnaire and generate a document from your answers. They suit people with straightforward estates who want more structure than a blank template but don’t need customized advice.
The output still has to be printed, signed, and properly executed under Pennsylvania law to be valid. Online services can’t spot issues specific to your situation the way an attorney can, so they work best when your assets and family structure are uncomplicated.
Writing Your Own Will
Pennsylvania doesn’t require you to hire an attorney. A will you draft yourself is legally valid as long as it meets the state’s execution requirements. Free templates are widely available, and the out-of-pocket cost is effectively zero.
The risk is real. A poorly worded clause or a missing signature can turn a simple estate into an expensive dispute after death. If your situation is genuinely simple and you’re willing to research the rules carefully, a DIY will can work. For most people with meaningful assets or dependents, the savings aren’t worth the gamble.
Bundled Documents and Add-On Costs
A will is usually one piece of a broader plan. Many firms bundle it with a financial power of attorney and a healthcare directive for a single flat fee, often $400 to $800 per person, which is typically cheaper than buying each document separately.
If you’re paying for these individually, expect:
- Financial power of attorney: $100 to $300. This designates someone to handle your finances if you become incapacitated.
- Healthcare directive or living will: $100 to $300. This states your medical treatment preferences and names a healthcare agent.
- Revocable living trust: $1,500 to $4,500 or more to set up. A trust can avoid probate, provide for minor children or beneficiaries with special needs, and give you more control over how assets are distributed. Not everyone needs one, but for larger or more complicated estates the upfront cost often saves money and time later.
Dying without a will (intestate) leaves Pennsylvania’s default rules to decide who gets your property, and those rules often produce results you wouldn’t have chosen. The cost of a basic will is modest compared to what intestacy can cost a family in legal fees and delay.
What Pennsylvania Requires for the Will to Be Valid
Pennsylvania’s requirements are simpler than many people assume. A will must be in writing and signed by the testator at the end of the document. That’s the core requirement. The law does not require witnesses for a standard signed will, and it does not require notarization.1Pennsylvania General Assembly. Pennsylvania Code Title 20 – Section 2502 Witnesses become mandatory only when the testator signs by mark rather than a full signature, or when someone else signs on the testator’s behalf due to illness or disability.
Notarization is optional but useful. You can attach a self-proving affidavit, a notarized statement signed by you and your witnesses confirming the will is authentic. Without one, witnesses may need to appear in court after your death to verify the will. With it, the will can generally be admitted to probate without that step. A notary visit typically costs $5 to $15 in Pennsylvania, making this inexpensive insurance against delays.
Two boundaries worth knowing. Pennsylvania does not recognize traditional holographic wills; you can handwrite yours, but it still has to meet the same signature requirements as a typed one. And as of early 2026, Pennsylvania does not recognize electronic-only wills. Legislation to adopt the Uniform Electronic Wills Act has been introduced, but until it passes you need a physical document with a handwritten signature.
When to Update and What That Costs
A will isn’t a set-and-forget document. Pennsylvania law automatically modifies it in certain situations. If you divorce after making a will, provisions benefiting your ex-spouse become ineffective. If you marry after making a will, your new spouse receives their intestate share unless the will already provides for them or was clearly made in anticipation of the marriage. If you have or adopt a child after making a will and didn’t intentionally omit them, that child receives a share as if you had died without a will.2Pennsylvania General Assembly. Pennsylvania Code Title 20 – Section 2507
These automatic changes don’t always produce the outcome you’d want, so updating after major life events matters. You can amend through a codicil or draft an entirely new will. Many estate attorneys charge roughly the same for either. A new will avoids the ambiguity that arises when a codicil contradicts or partially overlaps with the original. If your circumstances have shifted substantially, a new will is almost always the cleaner path, and you should expect to pay something close to the original drafting fee.