Entrusted vs Probate Attorney: Which Approach Is Right for Your Estate?
When you’re named executor of an estate, one of the first decisions you face is how to approach the settlement process. Traditionally, that meant hiring a probate attorney. Today, AI-powered platforms like Entrusted offer another path.
Both approaches can help you fulfill your executor duties. But they work differently, cost differently, and fit different situations. This guide provides a straightforward comparison so you can understand which approach makes sense for your estate.
Quick Comparison: Entrusted vs Probate Attorney at a Glance
Before diving into the details, here’s a high-level view of how these two approaches compare:
| Factor | Probate Attorney | Entrusted |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $3,000-$15,000+ (or 2-4% of estate) | Subscription pricing |
| Document Organization | Your responsibility (billed if they do it) | AI-powered automatic extraction |
| Task Tracking | Limited (you manage most tasks) | Automated, jurisdiction-aware |
| Beneficiary Communication | Your responsibility | Built-in transparency portal |
| Legal Advice | Yes | No (flags when you need it) |
| Court Representation | Yes | No |
| Availability | Business hours, appointment-based | 24/7 access |
| Estate-Specific Guidance | Yes (billed hourly) | Yes (included in subscription) |
| Timeline Control | Depends on attorney availability | You set the pace |
Who Each Approach Is Best For
A probate attorney may be better if you:
- Face a will contest or family disputes
- Have an estate with business interests
- Need someone to appear in court on your behalf
- Are dealing with estate tax obligations
- Have property in multiple states
- Want someone else to handle legal filings entirely
Entrusted may be better if you:
- Have a straightforward estate with common assets
- Want to reduce costs while still getting guidance
- Need to keep beneficiaries informed without constant calls
- Are managing the estate from out of state
- Want 24/7 access to your estate information
- Prefer to handle tasks yourself with clear direction
What Does Hiring a Probate Attorney Mean?
A probate attorney is a lawyer who specializes in estate settlement and the legal process that follows someone’s death. When you hire one, you’re paying for legal expertise, court representation, and professional guidance through probate.
What Attorneys Provide
Legal advice and strategy. Attorneys can interpret will provisions, advise on complex situations, and help you navigate legal requirements. When questions have legal implications, they provide answers backed by their professional license.
Court representation. If you need to appear in probate court, an attorney can represent you. This is especially valuable if there are hearings, disputes, or complicated filings.
Document preparation. Attorneys draft legal documents like petitions, accountings, and court filings. They ensure documents meet court requirements and are filed correctly.
Dispute resolution. If beneficiaries contest the will or creditors dispute claims, attorneys can negotiate or litigate on the estate’s behalf.
Estate tax filings. For estates that owe federal or state estate taxes, attorneys work with CPAs to prepare complex returns.
What Attorneys Typically Don’t Do
Understanding the limits helps set realistic expectations:
- Document organization: Attorneys expect you to gather and organize estate documents. If they do it, you pay hourly rates for administrative work.
- Beneficiary updates: Communicating with family remains your responsibility. Attorneys represent the estate, not individual beneficiaries.
- Task management: You’re still responsible for tracking what needs to happen and following up on deadlines.
- Asset discovery: Finding unknown accounts and assets is your job. Attorneys advise on what to do with assets, not how to find them.
Cost Structure
Probate attorneys typically charge in one of three ways:
Hourly rates: $200-$500 per hour depending on location and experience. Every phone call, email, and meeting goes on your bill. A 15-minute call at $400/hour costs $100.
Flat fees: $1,500-$5,000 for straightforward estates. This provides cost certainty but usually covers only standard services. Complications cost extra.
Percentage-based fees: Some states set statutory fees based on estate value. In California, attorneys receive 4% of the first $100,000, 3% of the next $100,000, and so on. For a $500,000 estate, that’s $13,000 in attorney fees alone.
The estate typically pays these costs, not you personally. But higher legal fees mean less money distributed to beneficiaries.
Strengths of Hiring an Attorney
- Professional liability: Attorneys carry malpractice insurance and have professional obligations
- Court access: Can appear on your behalf and handle litigation
- Legal authority: Can provide binding legal advice
- Dispute handling: Experienced in negotiations and contested matters
- Complex matters: Essential for business assets, tax issues, and multi-state estates
Limitations to Consider
- Cost: Legal fees add up quickly, especially at hourly rates
- Availability: Attorneys work business hours and juggle multiple clients
- Your time still required: You do most of the legwork; they provide legal guidance
- Communication burden: You still handle beneficiary updates
- Variable quality: Experience and responsiveness vary significantly between attorneys
What Is Entrusted?
Entrusted is an AI-powered estate settlement platform designed to guide executors through probate. Rather than billing by the hour for advice, Entrusted provides continuous access to tools, guidance, and organization features that help you handle estate settlement confidently.
What Entrusted Provides
AI document processing. Upload estate documents and Entrusted automatically extracts key information. Bank statements, insurance policies, property records, and account correspondence are analyzed. Account numbers, balances, beneficiary designations, and asset details populate your estate inventory without manual data entry.
Jurisdiction-aware task guidance. Based on where probate is filed, your estate’s complexity, and the documents you’ve uploaded, Entrusted generates a personalized roadmap. This isn’t a generic checklist. Tasks are specific to your state’s requirements and update as your situation evolves.
Beneficiary transparency portal. A built-in feature that gives beneficiaries read-only access to estate progress. Family members can see what’s happening without calling you for updates. This single source of truth reduces tension and eliminates the “where are we?” calls that consume executor time.
Living estate model. Unlike static tools, Entrusted’s profile evolves as you add documents, discover assets, and complete tasks. The system adapts to reality rather than forcing you to maintain a rigid structure.
Multi-executor collaboration. Full tools for co-executors to coordinate tasks, share documents, and track responsibilities. This prevents duplicate work when multiple people share executor duties.
24/7 access. Web-based platform works on any device. Check your estate status, upload documents, or review tasks whenever it fits your schedule.
What Entrusted Doesn’t Do
To be clear about boundaries:
- Legal advice: Entrusted provides guidance and information, not legal counsel. The platform helps you understand what tasks are typically required but doesn’t interpret law for your specific situation.
- Court representation: You cannot send Entrusted to a hearing. If you need someone in court, you need an attorney.
- Dispute resolution: If beneficiaries are fighting or someone contests the will, legal representation is essential.
- Tax preparation: Entrusted helps you understand what tax filings may be required but doesn’t prepare returns.
Cost Structure
Entrusted uses subscription pricing:
- Starter Plan: Full guided workflow, AI document extraction (up to 50 documents), beneficiary portal (up to 5 beneficiaries), state-specific task generation, and email support.
- Complete Plan: Everything in Starter plus unlimited documents, unlimited beneficiaries, priority support, multi-executor collaboration, and professional sharing.
The total cost is predictable and typically a fraction of attorney fees for comparable estates.
Strengths of Entrusted
- Cost predictability: Subscription model means no surprise bills
- AI automation: Document processing that would take hours happens automatically
- Family transparency: Beneficiary portal reduces communication burden
- Always available: Access your estate information anytime
- Adaptive workflow: Tasks update based on what you discover
- Out-of-state friendly: Designed for remote estate management
Limitations to Consider
- No legal advice: Cannot answer legal questions or represent you
- No court appearance: You handle hearings yourself or hire representation
- Not for complex situations: Business assets, tax issues, and disputes need professional help
- Self-directed: You’re doing the work (with guidance), not handing it off
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
Document Organization and Processing
Probate Attorney: Attorneys expect you to gather documents and bring them organized. If you ask them to sort through paperwork, you pay hourly rates for what is essentially administrative work. A paralegal at $150/hour spending 5 hours organizing your documents costs $750.
Entrusted: Upload documents and AI extracts key information automatically. Bank statements, insurance policies, deeds, and account correspondence are processed and added to your inventory. What would take hours of manual work happens in minutes.
Winner for: Anyone who wants to avoid paying legal rates for document organization will prefer Entrusted. Those who want to hand everything to a professional regardless of cost may prefer an attorney.
Task Guidance and Deadlines
Probate Attorney: Attorneys advise on what needs to happen but don’t typically track your tasks or send reminders. You’re responsible for following through and meeting deadlines. If you miss something, they’ll help fix it (at hourly rates).
Entrusted: Generates a personalized task list based on your jurisdiction and estate. Deadlines are tracked, reminders are sent, and tasks update as you progress. The system tells you what to do next and when it needs to happen.
Winner for: Executors who want proactive task management will prefer Entrusted. Those who want advice on demand (and are organized enough to track everything themselves) may be fine with attorney-only guidance.
Beneficiary Communication
Probate Attorney: Attorneys represent the estate, not individual beneficiaries. Keeping family informed remains your job. You’ll field calls, send updates, and manage expectations on your own. Some executors hire attorneys partly to have a “professional buffer,” but communication still falls to you.
Entrusted: The transparency portal lets beneficiaries check estate progress directly. They see what tasks are complete, what documents have been processed, and what happens next. This single source of truth dramatically reduces update calls and family tension.
Winner for: Executors dealing with multiple beneficiaries who want regular updates will benefit significantly from Entrusted’s portal. For detailed guidance on beneficiary communication, see our guide on what beneficiaries wish executors knew.
Availability and Access
Probate Attorney: Attorneys work business hours and schedule appointments. Getting a quick answer might mean waiting for a callback. Urgent questions on weekends or evenings wait until Monday.
Entrusted: Available 24/7 on any device with a browser. Check your estate status at midnight, upload documents on Sunday, or review tasks during your lunch break. The platform works on your schedule.
Winner for: Executors who work full-time jobs or live in different time zones will appreciate Entrusted’s constant availability. Those who prefer scheduled consultations may be comfortable with attorney appointments.
Cost Comparison
For a typical estate worth $400,000 with a home, bank accounts, and standard assets:
Probate Attorney (hourly): 20-40 hours at $300/hour = $6,000-$12,000 Probate Attorney (percentage): 3% of estate = $12,000 Probate Attorney (flat fee): $3,000-$5,000 (if available for this estate size)
Entrusted: Subscription cost for the duration of settlement
The difference can be substantial, especially for larger estates where percentage-based fees scale with value regardless of complexity.
Winner for: Cost-conscious executors handling straightforward estates will see significant savings with Entrusted. Those with complex estates requiring legal expertise may find attorney fees justified.
Handling Complex Situations
Probate Attorney: Essential when legal expertise matters. Will contests, business valuations, estate tax returns, multi-state property, and creditor disputes all benefit from professional representation. Attorneys can negotiate, litigate, and protect the estate’s interests.
Entrusted: Helps you identify when situations need professional attention. The platform flags complexity but doesn’t replace legal counsel. For genuinely legal matters, you’ll still need an attorney.
Winner for: Complex estates need attorneys. Straightforward estates can often proceed with Entrusted alone.
Who Should Choose a Probate Attorney?
Hiring a probate attorney makes sense when:
- A will contest is threatened or underway: Legal disputes require legal representation
- The estate includes business interests: Business valuation, continuation decisions, and ownership transfers involve legal complexity
- Estate taxes are owed: Federal or state estate tax returns are not DIY projects
- The estate may be insolvent: When debts exceed assets, payment priority becomes a legal matter
- Property is in multiple states: Ancillary probate requires understanding multiple jurisdictions
- You want to fully delegate: Some executors prefer handing everything to a professional regardless of cost
- Your state requires attorney involvement: Florida and Texas have attorney requirements for certain proceedings
If you face any of these situations, professional legal help is worth the investment.
Who Should Choose Entrusted?
Entrusted is likely the better fit when:
- The estate is straightforward: Common assets like a home, bank accounts, and vehicles
- The will is clear and uncontested: No one is challenging the distribution plan
- Beneficiaries are cooperative: Family is communicating well and aligned on outcomes
- You want to reduce costs: Subscription pricing is predictable and typically much lower than attorney fees
- You need to keep beneficiaries informed: The transparency portal eliminates update calls
- You’re managing from out of state: Remote access and guided tasks help distance executors
- You want to stay in control: You prefer handling tasks yourself with clear guidance
For many estates, Entrusted provides the structure and support needed to settle affairs confidently without the cost of full attorney representation.
The Hybrid Approach: Using Both
These options aren’t mutually exclusive. Many executors find the best approach combines Entrusted’s organization and guidance with strategic attorney consultation.
Use Entrusted for:
- Document processing and organization
- Task tracking and deadline management
- Beneficiary communication through the portal
- Day-to-day estate management
- Understanding what needs to happen next
Use an attorney for:
- Initial consultation to identify any red flags
- Specific legal questions that arise
- Court appearances if required
- Complex matters beyond standard probate
This approach gives you the benefits of both: continuous guidance and organization from Entrusted, plus professional legal input when it actually matters. You might spend $500-$1,500 on targeted attorney consultations rather than $10,000+ on full representation.
When you do consult an attorney, arriving organized with Entrusted makes the conversation more efficient. You’ll have clear asset inventories, specific questions, and understanding of what’s already been handled. That means less time (and cost) spent on basics.
Making Your Decision
The right choice depends on your estate’s complexity and your priorities:
Choose based on estate complexity: Straightforward estates with common assets can often proceed with Entrusted. Complex situations involving business assets, tax obligations, or disputes need professional legal help.
Choose based on cost sensitivity: If minimizing expenses matters (and it often does, since fees reduce what beneficiaries receive), Entrusted offers significant savings for appropriate estates.
Choose based on communication needs: If you need to keep multiple beneficiaries informed, Entrusted’s portal provides meaningful value that attorneys don’t typically offer.
Choose based on your involvement preference: Entrusted empowers you to handle the process with guidance. Attorneys allow you to delegate legal matters. Neither fully removes your involvement as executor.
Questions to Ask Yourself
- Is anyone likely to contest the will or create disputes?
- Does the estate include business ownership or complex assets?
- Will estate taxes be owed?
- How many beneficiaries need regular updates?
- Am I comfortable handling tasks myself with guidance?
- Is cost a significant consideration?
If the first three answers are “no” and the last three are “yes,” Entrusted is likely your better path.
Get Started with Entrusted
Settling an estate is one of the most significant responsibilities you can take on. The approach you choose shapes how much time you spend, how much the estate pays in fees, and how smoothly you navigate the months ahead.
If your estate is straightforward and you want to reduce costs while keeping beneficiaries informed, Entrusted was built for exactly this situation. AI-powered document processing, jurisdiction-aware task guidance, and a transparency portal that keeps everyone aligned.
See your personalized probate roadmap. Upload your first document and let Entrusted show you the path forward. For guidance on where to begin, see our complete guide to first steps as an executor.