Quick answer: a basic Kentucky revocable living trust commonly runs $1,500 to $2,500 with an attorney. Kentucky-specific hourly-rate data puts a fuller plan closer to $3,440 to $5,160. Compare either figure against your estimated probate cost in the Kentucky probate vs living trust calculator.
Typical Kentucky trust setup costs
| Path | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| DIY template | $50 – $200 |
| Online service | $199 – $1,500 |
| Basic attorney-drafted trust | $1,500 – $2,500 |
| Full plan, Kentucky-specific hourly-rate data | $3,440 – $5,160 |
Ranges from Kentucky-specific attorney and estate-planning sources; treat as market context, not a quote. Get a written fee agreement before hiring.
What a complete quote should include
A properly drafted Kentucky trust plan typically bundles the trust document itself with a pour-over will, financial and healthcare powers of attorney, and funding guidance. Real estate deserves particular attention — a deed that's never recorded into the trust's name leaves that property to go through probate regardless of the rest of the plan.
The inheritance tax is a separate question from trust cost
Kentucky has no state estate tax, but it does have an inheritance tax based on the beneficiary's relationship to the decedent. A trust doesn't reduce what a Class B or C beneficiary (in-laws, cousins, friends) owes — that tax follows the relationship, not the transfer mechanism. The trust decision in Kentucky is really about the 5% executor fee and the appointment-triggered creditor wait, not the tax bill itself.
Why the cheapest option carries real risk
DIY templates and online services cost less upfront, but a trust that's invalid or never properly funded leaves a family facing the exact Kentucky probate process it was meant to avoid. See Kentucky 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.