Quick answer: a basic Arkansas revocable living trust commonly runs $1,000 to $3,000 with an attorney. Arkansas-specific hourly-rate data puts a typical individual plan at $2,890 to $4,335. Compare either figure against your estimated probate cost in the Arkansas probate vs living trust calculator.
Typical Arkansas trust setup costs
| Path | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Online / DIY service | $30 – $600 |
| Basic will (comparison point) | $942 – $1,884 |
| Attorney-drafted revocable trust | $1,000 – $3,000 |
| Individual plan, Arkansas-specific hourly-rate data (~$289/hr) | $2,890 – $4,335 |
| Complex estate (business, tax planning) | $7,000+ |
Ranges from Arkansas-specific attorney and estate-planning sources; treat as market context, not a quote. Get a written fee agreement before hiring.
A trust here can avoid two fee schedules, not one
Because Arkansas splits its probate fees — the executor's 10/5/3% cap on personal property only, and a separate 6-tier attorney schedule on the total value including real estate — a trust's savings can be larger for an estate with significant real property, since that value would otherwise feed the attorney fee base even though it skips the executor's.
Trust vs will: the real trade-off
A basic Arkansas will costs meaningfully less upfront ($942–$1,884) than a trust ($1,000–$3,000 or more). But a will still requires the estate to go through full probate — both fee schedules, the 6-month creditor wait, and the public court record. A properly funded trust is the more expensive document upfront in exchange for avoiding all of that later.
Why the cheapest option carries real risk
Online services cost less upfront, but a trust that's invalid or never properly funded leaves a family facing the exact Arkansas probate process it was meant to avoid, both fee schedules included. See Arkansas Living Trust Funding Mistakes for the most common way this goes wrong.
A local probate attorney can review your estate — many offer a free consultation.