How we charge
Every estate plan at Frost Law Group is a flat fee quoted at the end of the first meeting, once we know your family, your assets and what you want. The fee covers design, drafting, a plain-English summary, changes, the signing meeting with witnesses and notary, and—for trusts—the deeds and funding letters. There is no hourly clock during the planning process.
What drives the price
- Will-based or trust-based. A trust-based plan is more work: the trust itself, a pour-over will, deeds, and funding.
- Single or married. Couples receive two sets of documents and, often, one joint trust.
- Complexity. A blended family, a business, a child with special needs, out-of-state property or asset-protection goals add drafting and design time.
- Real estate. Each parcel titled to a trust needs a deed, recorded with the county.
- Tax planning. Estates approaching the federal exemption need structures most families do not.
Typical market ranges
Across the Charleston area, a standalone will or set of powers of attorney is generally priced in the hundreds of dollars; a complete will-based plan for a couple in the low thousands; and a trust-based plan more than that, rising with complexity. These are ranges for the market, not a quote—we will give you an exact number for your plan before you commit. Ask us; the consultation itself is where the quote comes from.
What it costs to skip it
Probate court fees in South Carolina rise with the size of the estate (S.C. Code § 8-21-770), estates stay open at least eight months, and an attorney is usually needed anyway. A conservatorship for an incapacitated adult with no power of attorney involves petitions, examiner reports, a hearing and annual accountings. Measured against that, planning is inexpensive.
Get a number.
Tell us what you own and who you love. You will leave the first meeting with a flat-fee quote.
Questions people ask
Do you charge for the first meeting?
Call us and we will tell you. For estate planning, the first meeting is where the plan is designed, and any consultation fee is credited toward the plan.
Are updates included?
Changes during drafting are included. Later amendments are quoted separately and are usually modest.
Related pages
Estate planning
Wills, trusts, powers of attorney and living wills for South Carolina families.
Learn moreRevocable living trust
Avoid probate, plan for incapacity, keep it private. When a trust is worth it.
Learn moreLast will and testament
Who inherits, who is in charge, and who raises the kids—decided by you, not the statute.
Learn more