Estate planning is about making your own decisions now, so your family is not left guessing later. At Wolfe & Houlehan PLLC in Lexington, we prepare Kentucky wills, revocable living trusts, powers of attorney, and living wills for individuals and couples, and we help families through probate when a loved one has died.
Most of our estate planning clients need a straightforward set of documents, prepared correctly and signed properly. We explain your options in plain language, help you choose what fits your family and your budget, and tell you honestly when a simpler (or more involved) plan makes sense.
This page offers general information about Kentucky law, not legal advice. Reading it or contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship; that begins only when we agree in writing to represent you. See our advertising notice.
Our Estate Planning Services
- Revocable Living Trusts – a trust-based plan that can keep your property out of probate and provide for you if you become incapacitated.
- Wills – simple, properly drafted and signed Kentucky wills, including guardian nominations for minor children.
- Powers of Attorney & Living Wills – a durable financial power of attorney, a living will, and a health care surrogate designation.
- Will Alternatives – what happens without a will, and how beneficiary designations, joint ownership, and other tools work.
- Changing Your Will – how to update a will the right way and where to keep the original.
- Marriage, Divorce, and Your Will – how life changes affect your estate plan.
- Joint and Mutual Wills and Holographic (Handwritten) Wills – what Kentucky law says about each, and their pitfalls.
- Will Contests – challenging or defending a will in court.
If you are dealing with the estate of someone who has died, see our Probate pages, including probate administration, estate administration, serving as executor, and guardianship.
Estate Planning Fees
We price routine estate planning as flat-fee packages, so you know the cost before we start. We are happy to walk you through exactly what each package includes before you decide.
How pricing works
- Packages: the signing ceremony is included in the listed price.
- À la carte documents: the fee covers preparation. You are not required to sign at our office. If you would like us to hold the signing and provide the witnesses and notary, it is a flat $250 per appointment, no matter how many documents you sign.
- Complex matters, such as business succession or tax planning, are quoted individually after we talk.
“Both powers of attorney” means a financial power of attorney and a living will / health care surrogate designation.
Packages for spouses
| Package | What is included | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Will-based package | Six documents: a simple will, financial power of attorney, and living will / health care surrogate designation for each spouse. Includes up to 1 hour of attorney consultation. | $1,000 |
| Trust package | Revocable living trust, certificate of trust, bill of transfer, and one quitclaim deed with its $50 recording fee, plus a will, financial power of attorney, and living will / health care surrogate designation for each spouse. Includes up to 2 hours of attorney consultation. Additional deeds are quoted separately. | $2,000 |
| Trust package, blended family | Everything in the trust package, with the trust or trusts drafted for a blended family (for example, providing for a spouse while protecting children from a prior relationship). Blended families often need a separate trust for each spouse; the fee is the same whether your plan uses one trust or two. Includes up to 3 hours of attorney consultation. | $2,500 |
Packages for individuals
| Package | What is included | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Will-based package | A simple will, financial power of attorney, and living will / health care surrogate designation. Includes up to 1 hour of attorney consultation. | $750 |
| Revocable living trust package | Revocable living trust, certificate of trust, bill of transfer, and one quitclaim deed with its $50 recording fee. Includes up to 2 hours of attorney consultation. Additional deeds are quoted separately. | $1,500 |
À la carte documents for individuals
| Document | Document fee | Total with signing |
|---|---|---|
| Will only | $350 | $600 |
| Revocable living trust only | $1,000 | $1,250 |
| One power of attorney | $150 | $400 |
| Both powers of attorney | $250 | $500 |
Discount policy. We take 10% off our attorney fees for military, teachers, police, and firefighters, and for clients who make a donation of $250 or more to an animal shelter or equivalent organization. The discount applies to attorney fees, including the signing appointment, but not to hard costs such as recording fees. Only one discount applies per engagement; discounts do not stack. Just tell us the reason when you pay. We invoice the full amount, and you pay 90% of the attorney fees plus any hard costs.
Payment. Half the flat fee is due when you sign the engagement agreement. The balance is due within 30 days after we send your draft documents for review, or at your signing ceremony, whichever comes first. À la carte documents are paid in full at the outset.
Additional quitclaim deeds for trust funding are quoted separately. Fees for probate, will contests, and guardianship are described on those pages. If your situation does not fit one of these packages, we will quote it before we begin. Our fee information is offered in accordance with the Kentucky Supreme Court rules on lawyer advertising; see our advertising notice.
How to Get Started
- Complete our secure estate planning intake form, or call us at (859) 444-4695.
- One of our attorneys will speak with you about your goals and recommend a plan.
- You sign an engagement agreement and pay the first half of the flat fee (à la carte documents are paid in full).
- You complete the questionnaire for your plan.
- We prepare your documents and review them with you. We then hold a signing ceremony with the witnesses and notary that Kentucky law requires.
We will give you a realistic timeline once we know the scope of your plan. We can exchange documents by email, mail, or in person.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a trust, or is a will enough?
For many families, a will together with powers of attorney and a living will is sufficient. A revocable living trust can be worth the added cost if you own real estate, want to avoid probate, want a smoother path if you become incapacitated, or have a blended family. We will tell you which fits your situation. See our page on revocable living trusts.
Do I have to hire a lawyer to make a will?
No. Kentucky does not require it. But a will that is not signed and witnessed correctly, or that does not cover what you assumed it would, may not accomplish your goals. Our job is to make sure yours does.
Do I need to come to your office?
The signing ceremony is where your documents become effective. Most clients sign at our Lexington office, where we handle the witnesses and notary. If you live far away or cannot travel, contact us and we will talk through the options.
What if my situation is more complicated?
Business ownership, out-of-state property, a family member with special needs, or significant tax concerns may call for a customized plan. Contact us and we will quote it after we talk.
Talk With Us
To get started, complete our secure estate planning intake form, and one of our attorneys will follow up with you. You can also call us at (859) 444-4695 or contact our office. Wolfe & Houlehan PLLC is located at 226 N. Upper St., Lexington, Kentucky 40507.