Illinois probate cost vs living trust cost
The probate side of this comparison reuses the same approach as the Illinois Probate Cost Calculator: a reasonable executor fee under 755 ILCS 5/27-1 (typically 2–4%, no statutory percentage), a comparable reasonable attorney fee under § 5/27-2, plus county filing and publication costs. On a $500,000 estate that's roughly $10,000–$20,000 in executor fee alone. The trust side is market data, not a statutory figure: Illinois attorneys typically charge roughly $1,000–$6,000 for a revocable living trust. See the full breakdown in Illinois Living Trust Setup Cost.
One Illinois-specific wrinkle worth knowing: a basic revocable trust doesn't by itself reduce exposure to Illinois's state estate tax, which kicks in above a $4,000,000 exemption — one of the lowest in the country and not portable between spouses. For estates near or above that line, more advanced tax planning matters more than the probate-avoidance case alone. See Is a Living Trust Worth It in Illinois? for the fuller picture.