A revocable living trust costs $3,500 at The Hive Law. The flat fee covers the trust, a pour-over will, healthcare directive, durable power of attorney, and deed transfer for one property. There are no hourly rates and no surprise invoices.
A Complete Family Trust Package at The Hive Law costs $3,500 flat. That is one flat fee that covers the trust, all supporting documents, deed preparation, and every step through signing. There is no hourly billing and no additional fees for revisions or calls.
Georgia estate planning attorneys typically charge between $250 and $500 per hour. A trust can take 8 to 20 hours depending on complexity, which puts most hourly-billed trusts between $2,000 and $10,000 with no way to know the final number before the work is done.
The sections below break down what is included, how this fee compares to hourly billing, and what your family would pay if you do not have a trust when you die.
Georgia Revocable Trust Cost Calculator
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Additional Georgia properties (besides your home)?
0
$550 each — rentals, land, cabins.
Properties outside Georgia? (number of states)
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$1,100 per state — we coordinate with local counsel.
Businesses or LLCs to move into the trust?
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$1,250 each — includes operating agreement update.
Complete Family Trust Package $3,500
Additional Georgia Deeds
Out-of-State Coordination
Business / LLC Transfers
Your Estimated Total $3,500
County recording fees are extra. We confirm your exact quote in your Design Meeting with our Attorney.
The $3,500 Complete Family Trust Package includes every document your family needs and every step required to make those documents work. Other firms charge a base fee for the trust document and bill separately for everything else. This package has one price.
The Six Documents
Revocable Living Trust. The core document. Names you as the trustee while you are alive, designates a successor trustee to manage and distribute your assets when you die, and keeps your estate out of Georgia probate court entirely.
Pour-Over Will. A backup document. Any asset you forget to put in the trust is “poured over” into it at death. This prevents those assets from going to the wrong person under Georgia intestacy law.
Quitclaim Deed. Transfers your Georgia home into the trust. Without this step, your home still goes through probate even if you have a trust. Deed preparation is included in the flat fee. Government recording fees apply when the deed is filed, those are disclosed upfront before you sign anything.
Financial Power of Attorney. Names someone to manage your finances if you become incapacitated. Without this document, your family may need a court-ordered guardianship to pay your bills, a process that can take months and cost thousands. See how much a power of attorney costs in Georgia for a full breakdown.
Advance Healthcare Directive. Georgia uses a single document that combines both a medical power of attorney and end-of-life care wishes. This tells doctors who can make medical decisions for you and what your wishes are if you cannot speak for yourself.
HIPAA Authorization. Allows the people you name to receive your medical information. Without it, hospitals may refuse to share information even with your designated healthcare agent.
The Three Implementation Steps
1
Document Walk-Through Call
Melissa walks through every document with you in plain language. You leave knowing exactly what each document does and what to do next.
2
Trust Funding Session
The trust only works if assets are inside it. This session covers how to retitle accounts, what to say to your bank, and which assets need to be transferred. Most clients complete funding within two to three weeks of this call.
3
Funding Checkup
A follow-up to confirm all accounts transferred correctly. If something did not transfer, it gets fixed before the file is closed.
The Four Included Services
Successor Trustee Orientation Call. The person you named to manage your estate gets a call from Melissa explaining exactly what their role is and what to do when the time comes.
Professional Coordination Call. Melissa briefs your CPA and financial advisor on the trust structure so they can update their records. This prevents conflicts between your trust and your investment accounts.
Surviving Spouse Transition Call. If you are married and your spouse survives you, this call walks your spouse through what happens next with the trust assets.
Post-Signing Checklist. A written list of every action item after signing, accounts to retitle, beneficiary designations to update, and anything that still needs attention.
The Guarantee
Every asset placed into the trust is guaranteed to avoid probate. If any asset goes through probate due to an error on The Hive Law’s part, The Hive Law handles the probate at no charge.
How This Cost Compares to Georgia Probate
The most common question about trust cost is whether it is worth it. The comparison that answers this is not attorney fees vs. attorney fees. It is trust cost vs. probate cost. If you die without a trust in Georgia, your estate goes through probate. Probate in Georgia costs an average of $15,000 in attorney fees and court costs, and that is for a straightforward estate. For a complex estate with rental properties, business interests, or out-of-state real estate, the cost reaches $35,000 or more. The timeline is 9 to 18 months for a standard case, up to 30 months for complex ones. A revocable trust costs $3,500 one time. It eliminates probate entirely for every asset held inside it. Your family does not pay court costs. They do not wait 9 to 18 months. They do not have an open court record that creditors and anyone else can search.
Probate cost: $15,000 average in attorney and court fees ($35,000+ if complex)
Probate timeline: 9 to 18 months standard, up to 30 months for complex estates
Probate control: Your family cannot sell, refinance, or distribute assets while the case is open
A trust that costs $3,500 today replaces a probate that costs $15,000 to $35,000 later. It also replaces the time, the court involvement, and the loss of control your family would otherwise face.
What Georgia Probate Actually Costs Your Family
The $15,000 average is not just attorney fees. Georgia probate involves several cost categories that most families do not anticipate until they are in the middle of the process.
Executor fees. Georgia law allows an executor to receive up to
2.5% of the estate value as compensation. On a $500,000 estate, that is $12,500, paid before beneficiaries receive anything. On a $1 million estate, that is $25,000.
Appraisal costs. Georgia probate courts require certified appraisals for real estate and other non-liquid assets. Each property requires a separate appraisal, billed separately.
Out-of-state property requires separate probate. If you own a vacation home, rental property, or land in another state, your family must open a separate probate proceeding in that state in addition to Georgia. This is called ancillary probate. Each state has its own filing fees, timeline, and attorney requirements. A revocable trust eliminates this entirely. Out-of-state real estate titled in the trust passes to beneficiaries without any court involvement in any state.
The court record is public. Everything filed in Georgia probate court, your asset inventory, account balances, who inherits what, is a public record. Anyone can search it. A trust keeps all of that private.
Flat Fee vs. Hourly Billing
Most Georgia estate planning attorneys charge by the hour. Rates run from $250 to $500 per hour. A trust takes 8 to 20 hours depending on how many calls you need, how complex your assets are, and how many revisions the documents require. You will not know the total until the invoice arrives. A flat fee does not change based on how many questions you ask or how many calls it takes. The Hive Law charges $3,500 for the Complete Family Trust Package. That number does not move. If something takes longer than expected, that is a cost The Hive Law absorbs. One exception to be aware of across the industry: Some firms advertise a low base fee for the trust document and bill separately for each additional document, each revision, and each call. When you add it up, the total often exceeds what a flat-fee firm charges. Before comparing prices, confirm what is included in the base fee and what costs extra.
What to Ask Any Estate Planning Attorney
Ask: Is this a flat fee for everything? Does the flat fee include deed preparation? Does it include funding guidance? Does it include a follow-up to confirm accounts transferred? Those are the items that vary most across firms.
How the Process Works — From First Call to Funded Trust
The Hive Law’s process runs entirely by phone. No office visits. No in-person signings required. Most families complete the process in 2 to 3 weeks from the first call through signing.
Step 1 — A 15-Minute Call With Shawn
The process starts with a short call. Shawn reviews your situation — what you own, who you want to leave it to, and whether a revocable trust is the right fit. This call confirms the scope, answers your questions, and sets the exact price. There are no surprises after this call.
Step 2 — Your Design Meeting With Melissa
Melissa, the estate planning attorney, works through all six documents with you by phone. She reviews your asset list, confirms how each asset should be titled, identifies your successor trustee and beneficiaries, and drafts everything to match your specific situation. This session takes 60 to 90 minutes.
Step 3 — Review Your Draft Documents
You receive your draft documents, typically within 3 to 5 business days. You review them and raise any questions. Most clients have no revisions. When you approve the documents, your signing session is scheduled.
Step 4 — Remote Signing With a Notary
Georgia allows remote notarization for estate planning documents. You sign by video with a licensed notary. No office visit required. The signing session takes 30 to 45 minutes.
Step 5 — Funding the Trust
Signing the trust document is step one. Funding it is step two. Funding means transferring your assets into the trust so they are actually protected. The Hive Law handles the deed transfer for your primary residence and provides written instructions for every other asset — bank accounts, investment accounts, and beneficiary-designated accounts. A trust that is not funded does not protect anything. Funding is what makes the trust work.
The Process
How a Revocable Trust Gets Built at The Hive Law
1
Book a Free Strategy Call
Book a free 60-minute strategy call with Melissa. She reviews your assets, your family situation, and what you want to happen when you are gone. At the end of the call, she gives you an exact quote for your situation. No pressure, no commitment required.
2
Meet With Melissa — Review and Sign Your Documents
Melissa drafts your complete trust package. When the documents are ready, she walks through each one with you on a call in plain language. You ask questions, request any changes, and sign. Documents are handled through a secure client portal — never by email.
3
Fund Your Trust
A trust only protects the assets inside it. After signing, The Hive Law walks you through exactly which accounts to retitle and what to tell your bank. A funding checkup call confirms everything transferred correctly. You receive a post-signing checklist so nothing gets missed.
Find Out Where You Stand
Find Out Where You Stand
Melissa reviews your assets, your family situation, and your goals. You leave knowing exactly what documents you need and what they cost. No hourly billing. No pressure.
Melissa Breyer is a Georgia estate planning attorney who works exclusively on trust-based estate planning and LLC formation. She personally designs every plan at The Hive Law and handles every client consultation herself. Every plan is built from scratch for your specific family, your specific assets, and your specific wishes.
110+ Five-Star Google Reviews
What Our Clients Say
After my father passed away, my mother had to rely on my father's employer to navigate the estate. It was a disaster. After this experience, I knew I needed a plan. I turned to The Hive Law to set up a trust. I no longer have to worry about my wife and children going through a difficult process if something happens to me. I highly recommend The Hive Law!
NicholasGoogle Review
My biggest fear was that if I died first, my wife would have no idea how to navigate the estate and legal system. I reached out to The Hive Law and they put my mind at ease immediately. Their process is easy to follow and they took care of everything. The Hive Law is the best decision I've made for my family's future.
Tristen PursleyGoogle Review
Working with Melissa Breyer to set up our Living Trust was a wonderful experience. She and her entire team were knowledgeable, professional, and made the whole process easy to understand. I highly recommend The Hive Law for all your estate planning needs!
Sharon PalmerGoogle Review
We highly recommend Hive Law. They were extremely helpful and professional in guiding us through the process of creating a Revocable Living Trust. Melissa and Shawn were thorough, answered all our questions, and made a potentially confusing process easy to understand.
Daryl CleverGoogle Review
The Hive Law made the entire estate planning and trust process easy to understand and stress-free. Melissa and Shawn walked us through every step and answered all of our questions. We feel confident that our family is protected. Highly recommend!
The Schmitty FamilyGoogle Review
My mom chose The Hive firm to help with estate planning after my father passed away. They were very thorough in explaining every step of the process. They made a difficult time much easier to navigate. I highly recommend The Hive Law for anyone needing estate planning services.
Ed UdvadiaGoogle Review
I used The Hive Law to help me create a trust for my family. The process was straightforward and Melissa and Shawn made sure I understood each step. They were responsive to all of my questions. I feel much more confident about my family's future now. Highly recommend!
Nate TablerGoogle Review
Working with Shawn and Melissa at The Hive Law has been a great experience. They are very knowledgeable and took the time to explain all of our options. They made the process of setting up a trust simple and stress-free. I would highly recommend them to anyone needing estate planning.
Kyle HaynieGoogle Review
The Hive Law Firm, and specifically Melissa, has been wonderful to work with during our estate planning process. She is knowledgeable, patient, and thorough. She answered all of our questions and made the process easy to understand. I highly recommend The Hive Law!
Teresa OverstreetGoogle Review
Shawn and Melissa were amazing to work with! My partner and I recently bought a house and wanted to get important things like wills, healthcare directives, etc. set up. They were incredible at answering all our questions and working with us to make sure we felt confident in all of the legal aspects. Having tried to do this online before with one of the DIY tools, it was just an amazing experience to get to talk through what we wanted with a knowledgeable human and have them take care of the details.
Denali PrayGoogle Review
Hive Law was awesome to work with! Melissa and Shawn explained everything, kept things stress-free, and were always quick to respond to my questions. They made the whole process simple and smooth from start to finish. Highly recommend if you want a team that's knowledgeable but also easy to work with.
Ryan RollinsGoogle Review
I lost my father in February of this year without any estate planning in place. The process of dealing with the probate court has been overwhelming and expensive. After this experience, I contacted The Hive Law to set up a trust so my children never have to go through what I've been through. Melissa and Shawn were compassionate, knowledgeable, and made the entire process simple. I highly recommend The Hive Law!
Rachel ShannonGoogle Review
I used to know the bare minimum about probate and trust. I first encountered Shawn Breyer on Facebook. He was offering a webinar that I watched. That gave me a better understanding of probate versus trust. I was impressed enough to have him and his wife represent me. I had my initial one on one interview with Melissa Breyer, it went smoothly and she made everything clear. We are now proceeding with getting a revocable trust in place.
Jer UdvadiaGoogle Review
The Hive Law has been amazing throughout the process of setting up our trust. Every detail is considered and no stone is left unturned. They have been easy and enjoyable to work with. I would absolutely recommend them! Don't let your estate be turned over to Probate!!
Christy EvansGoogle Review
Frequently Asked Questions
A revocable trust in Georgia costs between $2,000 and $5,000 depending on the attorney and what is included. At The Hive Law, the Complete Family Trust Package is $3,500 — a flat fee that includes the trust, pour-over will, deed preparation, powers of attorney, healthcare directive, HIPAA authorization, and all implementation services.
Yes, for most people. A revocable living trust costs $3,500 upfront. Georgia probate costs an average of $15,000 in attorney and court fees, takes 9 to 18 months, and creates a public record. The trust eliminates probate entirely for assets held inside it. For a $300,000 estate, the trust pays for itself more than three times over.
In Georgia, attorney fees for a revocable trust range from $1,500 to $5,000 depending on the firm’s billing model and what is included. Flat-fee firms give you one number upfront. Hourly billing firms give you a range. The final hourly bill can exceed the flat fee estimate if the work takes longer than expected.
Technically no, but online trust documents create two serious problems. First, the document may not comply with Georgia law for execution and witnessing — making it legally invalid. Second, a trust only works if assets are transferred into it. Online services don’t prepare your deed, don’t guide you through funding, and don’t follow up to confirm everything transferred correctly. An invalid or unfunded trust does not avoid probate.
The Complete Family Trust Package includes six documents (revocable living trust, pour-over will, quitclaim deed, financial power of attorney, advance healthcare directive, and HIPAA authorization), three implementation sessions (document walk-through, trust funding session, and funding checkup), and four additional services (successor trustee orientation, professional coordination call, surviving spouse transition call, and post-signing checklist). One flat fee covers all of it.
Most clients complete the process in 2 to 3 weeks from the first strategy call to signing. The call is 60 minutes. Melissa drafts the documents after the call. Once approved, you sign and receive your funding instructions. The full funding process — retitling accounts and recording the deed — typically takes another 2 to 4 weeks depending on your bank.
A standalone will at The Hive Law costs for an individual. A Complete Family Trust Package costs $3,500. The difference is significant, but the comparison that matters is total cost including what happens after death. A will does not avoid probate — your estate goes through the Georgia probate court regardless. A trust eliminates probate entirely. When you add in Georgia probate costs ($15,000 on average), the trust is the less expensive option over time.
Yes. A revocable living trust is designed to be updated. If you buy a new property in Georgia, you transfer it into the trust by preparing a new deed. If you acquire other assets, you retitle them into the trust or name the trust as beneficiary. The Hive Law’s post-signing checklist covers how to handle new assets as your situation changes.
