Quick answer: a standard Massachusetts revocable living trust commonly runs $1,500 to $3,500 with an attorney. A comprehensive or Medicaid-planning trust runs meaningfully higher, often $5,000 to $9,500 or more. Compare either figure against your estimated probate cost in the Massachusetts probate vs living trust calculator.
Typical Massachusetts trust setup costs
| Path | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Online / DIY service | Under $100 – $400 |
| Basic estate plan (will, health care proxy, POA) | $800 – $2,500 |
| Standard attorney-drafted revocable trust | $1,500 – $3,500 |
| Comprehensive or Medicaid-planning trust | $5,000 – $9,500+ |
| Boston-area attorney hourly rate | $400 – $800/hour |
Ranges from Massachusetts-specific attorney and estate-planning sources; treat as market context, not a quote. Get a written fee agreement before hiring.
Why Massachusetts trust pricing runs high in Greater Boston
Boston sits among a handful of U.S. metros — alongside New York and San Francisco — where estate planning attorney hourly rates commonly reach $400 to $800, compared with $150 to $400 in most of the country. Even flat-fee trust quotes tend to reflect that gap, which is part of why a comprehensive Massachusetts plan can land well above the $1,500–$2,500 baseline often quoted as a national average for a basic trust.
MassHealth changes the calculus for some families
Because MassHealth pursues Medicaid estate recovery with a 3-year window rather than the standard 1-year creditor deadline, families concerned about MassHealth eligibility or future estate recovery often need a trust drafted with that specifically in mind — which is more specialized work than a basic revocable trust and one reason Medicaid-planning trusts commonly cost more.
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 Massachusetts probate process it was meant to avoid — including the full year-long creditor wait. See Massachusetts 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.