How Much Does Estate Planning Cost for a Business Owner in Georgia?

What You Own Determines What You Pay

The base estate plan costs $4,000 and covers your personal assets. Everything business-related is an add-on priced per entity.

• Revocable Trust Package (base): $4,000 — trust, will, POA, healthcare directive, one deed
• Each LLC transfer: $1,250 — operating agreement amendment and membership interest assignment into trust
• Each S-Corp transfer: $1,750 — additional IRS compliance steps to preserve the S-Corp election
• Buy-sell agreement: $550 — required if you have a business partner
• Additional Georgia properties: $550 each — rental, land, vacation home (primary home is included in base)
• Out-of-state properties: $1,100 per state

A sole owner with one LLC pays $5,250. A business owner with a partner, two LLCs, and two rental properties pays $8,150.

What the Base Package Includes

• Revocable living trust — holds your assets outside probate. Your successor trustee distributes everything when you die, without court involvement.
• Pour-over will — catches any asset not transferred into the trust during your lifetime.
• Durable financial power of attorney — authorizes someone to manage your personal finances if you become incapacitated.
• Healthcare directive and living will — documents your medical wishes and authorizes someone to make healthcare decisions on your behalf.
• HIPAA release — allows your healthcare agent to access your medical records.
• One Georgia deed — transfers your primary home into the trust, prepared and recorded as part of the flat fee.

Build Your Estimate

Select your plan type and add what you own. The total updates as you go.

What Each Add-On Costs and Why

LLC Transfer — $1,250 per LLC

Transferring an LLC requires amending the operating agreement to name the trust as the member and successor manager, and assigning the membership interest into the trust. Count each LLC separately.

S-Corp Transfer — $1,750 per S-Corp

S-Corps have IRS shareholder eligibility requirements. A trust holding S-Corp shares must qualify as an ESBT or QSST. Failing to meet those requirements causes the business to lose its S-Corp tax election permanently.

Buy-Sell Agreement — $550

Required if you have a business partner. Without it, your co-owner’s heirs could become your business partners.

Additional Georgia Properties — $550 each

Your primary home is included in the base. Count any other Georgia real estate held in your personal name. Properties inside an LLC are covered by the LLC transfer.

Out-of-State Properties — $1,100 per state

Count the number of states where you own real estate outside Georgia. Properties inside a Georgia LLC are not counted.

What a Will Costs vs. a Trust Package

A will-based plan costs $1,500. It does not avoid probate. For a business owner, the LLC membership interest goes through the Georgia probate court — leaving the business in a legal gray zone for 9 to 18 months. A will also does not transfer business entities. For most business owners, a will-only plan does not solve the succession problem.

What Business Estate Planning Costs Without Planning Ahead

Without an estate plan, your LLC membership interest goes through Georgia probate — costing 3 to 7 percent of the gross estate value in attorney fees, plus valuation fees, court costs, and revenue lost while the business operates without legal authority for 9 to 18 months. See what it costs to die without a succession plan for the specific numbers.