I need to verify a statement that it costs more than $80 to have a
lawyer draft a will. We all know lawyers charge $175 an hour (and up)
and that it would likely take a half hour or more to draft a will but I
need some verification. Thanks.
Rich

Dear williamwhisper-ga;

Thank you for allowing me to answer your interesting question.

According to Great Lake Family Magazine, a publication that answers
questions about family issues, it does indeed cost (on average) more
than $80 to have a will drafted by an attorney ? and this statement is
dated 2001:

?QUESTION: What is the average cost for a typical will?

ANSWER: ?Approximately $150, but most attorneys usually draft packages
which include a trust, a pourover will, a power of attorney and a
medical/patient advocacy document. In addition to those four
documents, things to transfer into the trust are required, such as a
deed. I also draft a ?bill of sale? that picks up all the personal
property, household furnishings, jewelry, artifacts, etc. that get
transferred into the trust. With this total estate planning, the costs
could range all over the board, from approximately $800 to over
$3,000.?

GREAT LAKES FAMILY
http://www.glfamily.com/html/ma-01/ma-01-will.html


The actual costs will depend in part on where you live and how
complicated the will ultimately is, but a more recent statement is
this, from Bernt A. Jacobsen law firm in Lake Oswego, Oregon, that may
give you a better idea of current costs associated with the drafting
of a typical will:

?A typical will for a husband and wife cost between $325 and $600
while a living trust for the same couple is normally between $950 and
$1,450.?

BERNT A. JACOBSEN
http://www.berntlaw.com/living_trusts.htm

Generally speaking, this estimate seems fairly universal to the United
States and also appears to be confirmed by a number of other
knowledgeable sources located in other states:

??a simple will typically costs from $300 to $500.?
MERCY MEDICAL CENTER (IOWA)
http://www.mercycare.org/about/foundation/news/updatewill.aspx

?A simple will typically costs $300 to $500; about the cost of a new set of tires.?
LAW OFFICES OF BRADLEY A THOMAS (WASHINGTON DC)
http://www.bradleythomaslaw.com/

?Drafting a simple will typically costs from $300 to $500; a more
customized document can run between $1,000 and $3,500. Generally
speaking, the larger and more complicated the estate, the higher the
cost of the will.?
MCCURLEY ORSINGER MCCURLEY NELSON & DOWNING L.L.P. (TEXAS)
http://www.mkmn.com/CM/MOMNDintheNews/MOMNDintheNews22.asp



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have any questions about my research please post a clarification
request prior to rating the answer. Otherwise I welcome your rating
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in the near future. Thank you for bringing your question to us.

Best regards;
Tutuzdad-ga ? Google Answers Researcher



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thank you very much for a fast thorough job