Texas Living Trust Setup Cost: Full Breakdown

Quick answer: general attorney-drafted Texas trust plans commonly run $1,200 to $3,500 for an individual ($2,000 to $5,000 for a couple), while Texas-specific hourly-rate market data puts fuller plans closer to $4,130 to $6,195. Compare either figure against your estimated probate cost in the Texas probate vs living trust calculator.

Typical Texas trust setup costs

Path	Typical cost
Flat-fee online plan	$399 – $600
Attorney-drafted, individual	$1,200 – $3,500
Attorney-drafted, couple	$2,000 – $5,000
Attorney-drafted, Texas-specific hourly data	$4,130 – $6,195

Ranges from Texas-specific attorney and estate-planning sources; treat as market context, not a quote. Get a written fee agreement before hiring.

Why the range is so wide in Texas

Billing method and scope drive most of the spread. A flat-fee individual or couple's package lands toward the lower end; an hourly-billed firm, or one handling real estate deed transfers and Texas's community-property structuring for a married couple, lands meaningfully higher for what can otherwise be a comparable underlying trust.

Community property adds a real wrinkle

Texas is a community property state, and how a couple's trust handles community versus separate property affects both drafting complexity and price. A quote that doesn't address this distinction for a married couple is worth asking about directly — it's one of the more Texas-specific reasons a couple's plan costs meaningfully more than an individual's.

What a complete quote should include

A properly drafted Texas trust plan typically bundles the trust document itself with a pour-over will, financial and healthcare powers of attorney, and funding assistance — retitling real estate and financial accounts into the trust's name. A cheaper quote that skips this funding work can leave the trust holding little or nothing at the time it matters most. See Texas Living Trust Funding Mistakes for what commonly goes wrong.

Facing probate in Texas?

A local probate attorney can review your estate — many offer a free consultation.

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Texas trust setup cost — frequently asked questions

How much does an attorney charge to set up a living trust in Texas?

It varies widely by firm and package. General attorney-drafted plans commonly run $1,200–$3,500 for an individual, $2,000–$5,000 for a couple, while Texas-specific hourly-rate data (around $366–$413/hour) puts fuller plans closer to $4,130–$6,195.

Why does Texas trust pricing vary so much between firms?

Billing method and scope. A flat-fee firm quoting a standard individual or couple's package tends to land toward the lower end; an hourly-billed firm, or one that includes real estate deed transfers and community-property structuring, lands considerably higher.

Is a DIY living trust cheaper in Texas?

Upfront, yes — online services run roughly $200–$600, and some flat-fee providers advertise packages as low as $399. The risk is the same everywhere: a trust that's invalid or never properly funded leaves a family facing full Texas probate anyway, on top of whatever was spent.

What should a Texas trust quote actually include?

Beyond the trust document itself, ask whether the quote includes a pour-over will, powers of attorney, and funding assistance for real estate and accounts — a cheap quote that skips funding support can leave the trust holding nothing important, and Texas's community property rules make couple's structuring worth getting right.

Estimate for general guidance only, not legal advice. Trust-side figures are market rates, not a statutory amount, and vary by attorney and estate complexity. Get a written fee agreement and consult a licensed Texas estate planning attorney.