 TITLE: How to Plan Your Estate as a New Parent CONTENT: Is Estate Planning Expensive?\n-----------------------------\nDepending on your needs and assets, setting up an estate plan could be as simple as writing a will, choosing beneficiaries, and assigning your financial and health care powers of attorney. There are plenty of websites you can use to create these documents yourself, and that may be sufficient if your needs and financial arrangements are very simple.\nHowever, consulting an attorney can help ensure you aren't leaving anything to chance. Most attorneys offer flat-rate estate planning packages. Another option: Create a do-it-yourself will and pay a lawyer to review it. Since the average hourly rate for an attorney in the U.S. can run from $210 to $350, you may be able to purchase an estate planning package for less than a few hours of an attorney's time. This is usually less costly than working with an attorney from the get-go.\nA 2018 Martindale-Nolo Research\/Lawyers.com survey of people who used attorneys to draw up estate planning documents, 82% paid a flat fee. One-quarter of those paid between $500 and $1,000; 32% paid between $1,000 and $2,000. Some 80% of these respondents set up living trusts, which cost more than wills to create. If you only need a will, your costs should be on the low end of the scale. Many estate planners and attorneys will provide a free initial consultation. END