Flat-fee estate planning on the South Shore
Most estate planning attorneys won't tell you what it costs until you're already in the room. I don't work that way. Everything I offer is flat-fee, which means you know the number before you call, and it doesn't change based on how long we spend together or how many questions you ask along the way.
The prices below cover what most South Shore families actually need. If your situation calls for something different, I'll tell you that plainly in our first conversation. Which is always free.
Every flat fee covers the full engagement from start to finish. That means your free consultation, all drafting and revisions, document execution with a licensed notary and witnesses, premium printed originals on archival paper in a keepsake binder, and electronic scanned copies of your signed documents before you leave the office. No add-ons. No surprises.
Will-based plans
A will-based plan is the right starting point for younger families, people early in the planning process, or anyone who wants to get the foundational documents in place and build from there. Every plan includes a last will and testament, a durable power of attorney, and a healthcare proxy with HIPAA authorization.
Individual essentials
$1,500
- –Last will and testament
- –Durable power of attorney
- –Healthcare proxy + HIPAA authorization
- –Document execution with licensed notary and witnesses
- –Premium printed originals in a keepsake binder
- –Electronic scanned copies before you leave
Couple essentials
$2,200
- –Two last wills and testaments
- –Two durable powers of attorney
- –Two healthcare proxies + HIPAA authorizations
- –Document execution with licensed notary and witnesses
- –Premium printed originals in a keepsake binder
- –Electronic scanned copies before you leave
Trust-based plans
For most South Shore homeowners, a revocable living trust is the better long-term choice. It keeps your estate out of probate court, protects your family's privacy, and gives everyone a cleaner path when it matters most. Every trust plan I offer includes the deed transfer to fund the trust. That step is where most plans quietly fail when it's handled elsewhere, and it's included here at no additional charge.
Individual trust plan
$3,200
- –Revocable living trust
- –Pour-over will
- –Durable power of attorney
- –Healthcare proxy + HIPAA authorization
- –Deed transfer to fund the trust
- –Document execution with licensed notary and witnesses
- –Premium printed originals in a keepsake binder
- –Electronic scanned copies before you leave
Couple trust plan
$4,500
- –Joint or separate revocable living trusts
- –Two pour-over wills
- –Two durable powers of attorney
- –Two healthcare proxies + HIPAA authorizations
- –Deed transfer to fund the trust
- –Document execution with licensed notary and witnesses
- –Premium printed originals in a keepsake binder
- –Electronic scanned copies before you leave
MassHealth protection planning
If protecting the home from a MassHealth claim is part of your goal, the planning centers on an irrevocable trust. This is more involved than a standard revocable trust plan, and the scope depends on your property situation, any existing mortgage, and where you stand relative to the five-year look-back window. I'll give you a clear picture of the cost in our first conversation.
MassHealth protection plan
Starting at $5,500
- –Irrevocable Medicaid Asset Protection Trust
- –Deed transfer (life estate or direct to trust)
- –Pour-over will
- –Durable power of attorney
- –Healthcare proxy + HIPAA authorization
- –Document execution with licensed notary and witnesses
- –Premium printed originals in a keepsake binder
- –Electronic scanned copies before you leave
Scope and cost vary based on property count, mortgage situation, and look-back strategy. The starting figure reflects a straightforward single-property plan.
Individual documents
Sometimes you need one document rather than a full plan. These are the flat fees for standalone work.
Uncontested probate
If someone close to you has passed and the estate needs to go through the Massachusetts probate process, I handle uncontested informal probate as a flat-fee engagement. Court filing fees are paid separately and passed through at cost, typically around $390 for informal probate in Massachusetts.
Informal probate (uncontested)
Starting at $3,000 + filing fees (~$390)
- –Petition and filing with Probate and Family Court
- –Inventory and accounting coordination
- –Creditor period management
- –Asset transfers and final closing
Probate engagements vary based on the number of assets, account complexity, real estate involved, and any creditor or tax issues. The starting figure reflects a straightforward single-property informal probate.
Your first conversation is free
If you're ready to get a plan in place, or just trying to figure out which direction makes sense for your family, I offer free consultations for families across the South Shore and South Coast. We'll look at your actual situation, talk through what fits, and I'll tell you honestly what I'd recommend. No sales pitch. No pressure. Just a clear answer.
Book Your Consultation(781) 724-1721 | Jason@JCullenLaw.com