Price is a key factor in selecting an attorney. Keep in mind what your budget is and find a lawyer whose fees you can afford.

Fees are likely to be dictated by several factors, including:

• Your location
• The experience level of the attorney
• The intricacy of your requirements

Fees will vary but be prepared to pay around $300-$1,200 for simple estate plans, including a will, power of attorney, and medical directives. Complicated plans can cost up to $5,000.

Flat Fee – The main benefit of this service is that you should know how much you’ll be paying so you can stick to your budget. Ensure that the flat fee includes and whether you have a set number of meetings or just a specific period. Get clarity on which specific services and documents you’ll be getting for the cost and how much further updates will be.

Hourly Rate – Hourly rates can range from $250 to $550, on average. Ask upfront how long the services you want will take so you can get an idea of likely expenses.

Although both options have benefits and drawbacks, most estate planning is done on a flat fee basis.

Tip: Free consultations are great, but always get the fee details upfront, ask questions to check you fully understand, and stick to time limits. Determine if the free consultation outweighs any higher costs later.

When you start speaking to potential attorneys, ensure to ask, not just for rates, but how often you need to pay, and how you’ll be charged.

Other fees for specific tasks that you should consider from the outset include court filings, online research, courier fees, document copying, etc.

Tip: It’s possible to save on costs by using a junior lawyer who tends to charge less than senior lawyers. They are always supervised, so unless you have complex needs, this could be a great way to reduce costs.