★ 5.0 (103 reviews) ·
179 William St, New Bedford, MA 02740, USA
2. Karabin Law Estate Planning Attorney
★ 5.0 (90 reviews) ·
66 N 2nd St, New Bedford, MA 02740, USA
★ 4.6 (62 reviews) ·
227 Union St #402, New Bedford, MA 02740, USA
★ 4.9 (54 reviews) ·
11 N Orchard St, New Bedford, MA 02740, USA
5. FURTADO LAW Estate Planning Attorney
★ 4.9 (50 reviews) ·
93 Spring St, New Bedford, MA 02740, USA
6. LAW OFFICE OF JENNIFER VELARDE Estate Planning Attorney
★ 4.8 (35 reviews) ·
301 Herman Melville Blvd, New Bedford, MA 02740, USA
7. Ashkar & Gomes, P.C. Estate Planning Attorney
★ 5.0 (26 reviews) ·
13 Centre St #2, New Bedford, MA 02740, USA
8. Pateakos & Poulin, P.C. Estate Planning Attorney
★ 4.5 (22 reviews) ·
324 Union St, New Bedford, MA 02740, USA
9. Law Office of Michael T. Friar Estate Planning Attorney
★ 4.9 (8 reviews) ·
342 Union St, New Bedford, MA 02740, USA
10. Medeiros Michael Estate Planning Attorney
★ 4.1 (19 reviews) ·
286 Union St, New Bedford, MA 02740, USA
11. Markey & Walsh - Attorneys at Law Estate Planning Attorney
★ 4.0 (18 reviews) ·
50 Homer's Wharf, New Bedford, MA 02740, USA
12. Law Offices of Beauregard, Burke and Franco Estate Planning Attorney
★ 4.7 (7 reviews) ·
333 Union St, New Bedford, MA 02740, USA
13. Feingold Bonnet-Hebert, P.C. Estate Planning Attorney
★ 5.0 (4 reviews) ·
25 Elm St #201, New Bedford, MA 02740, USA
14. Law Offices of Daniel C Perry Estate Planning Attorney
★ 5.0 (2 reviews) ·
388 County St Fl 1, New Bedford, MA 02740, USA
15. Mello Law & Advocacy, PLLC Estate Planning Attorney
★ 5.0 (2 reviews) ·
127 W Rodney French Blvd S1-B4, New Bedford, MA 02744, USA
16. Attorney Moira E. Tierney Estate Planning Attorney
★ 3.6 (18 reviews) ·
128 Union St #303, New Bedford, MA 02740, USA
17. Horan McLean Law Offices Estate Planning Attorney
★ 4.1 (13 reviews) ·
17 Orchard St, New Bedford, MA 02740, USA
18. Williams, Quintin, & O'Leary Estate Planning Attorney
★ 4.4 (7 reviews) ·
651 Orchard St #200, New Bedford, MA 02744, USA
19. Souza Kerry Garde Estate Planning Attorney
★ 5.0 (9 reviews) ·
17 S 6th St, New Bedford, MA 02740, USA
20. Colleen Tynan Law Offices Estate Planning Attorney
★ 4.3 (14 reviews) ·
9 S 6th St, New Bedford, MA 02740, USA
21. Law Office of Stephen S. Brown, LLC Estate Planning Attorney
★ 4.8 (8 reviews) ·
187 Newton St, New Bedford, MA 02740, USA
22. Tennyson LNC Estate Planning Attorney
179 William St #7, New Bedford, MA 02740, USA
23. Joseph F. deMello, Attorney at Law Estate Planning Attorney
★ 3.5 (2 reviews) ·
1592 Acushnet Ave, New Bedford, MA 02746, USA
24. The Medicaid & Estate Planning Strategies Law Firm, Pc Estate Planning Attorney
35 Arnold St
Estate planning attorneys in New Bedford, MA: a local guide
We currently track 24 estate planning, elder law, and probate attorneys serving New Bedford, MA in Bristol County. Across the ones with public reviews, the average customer rating is 4.6★ from 573 total reviews, and 15 hold a 4.5★ rating or higher. Alves Law Group, P.C. is among the most-reviewed locally, at 5.0★ across 103 reviews.
What estate planning costs in New Bedford
Rough planning ranges for the New Bedford area:
| Service | Typical range |
|---|
| Simple will package | $350–$1,350 |
| Revocable living trust package | $1,700–$4,500 |
| Full estate plan or probate work | $3,350–$8,950+ |
Many New Bedford estate attorneys quote flat fees for wills and trusts and bill hourly (often $250-$500/hr) for probate. Ask for a written fee agreement before you engage.
How to choose an estate attorney in New Bedford
- Make sure they'll keep your plan current as laws and your family change, and how updates are billed.
- Read reviews and ask for references from recent New Bedford estate clients.
- Pick a lawyer who focuses on estate planning and probate, not a generalist who dabbles.
- Confirm they're licensed and in good standing with the state bar, and ask how long they've practiced near New Bedford.
- Ask whether wills and trusts are flat-fee and what that covers (funding the trust, revisions, directives).
Questions to ask before you hire
- Do you focus on estate planning and probate specifically?
- Will you help fund the trust and store the documents?
- How do updates work as laws or my family change?
- Who will handle my file day to day?
- What's the realistic timeline for my New Bedford matter?
Many New Bedford listings also handle wills, trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and probate administration.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a will or living trust cost in New Bedford?
Many New Bedford estate attorneys charge flat fees, roughly $300 to $1,200 for a simple will package and $1,500 to $4,000 for a revocable living trust. Probate work is often billed hourly. Ask for a written fee agreement up front.
Do I need a will or a living trust?
It depends on your assets and goals. A will is simpler and cheaper; a living trust can avoid probate and keep matters private. A short consultation with a New Bedford estate attorney will tell you which fits.
How much does probate cost and how long does it take?
Probate cost and timeline vary by estate and county. Simple New Bedford-area estates can take several months, while complex ones run over a year. Ask the attorney for a realistic estimate for your situation.
What is the difference between estate planning and elder law?
Estate planning focuses on wills, trusts, and passing on assets; elder law also covers long-term care, Medicaid planning, and guardianship. Many New Bedford firms handle both.
Estate & elder law attorneys in New Bedford: what to know
How much does an estate planning attorney cost in New Bedford?
In the New Bedford area, simple wills often run $300–$1,200 and living trust packages $1,500–$4,000; probate and elder law work is commonly billed hourly at $250–$500. Most firms above offer a free or low-cost initial consultation — talk to two or three.
Estate planning vs. elder law vs. probate — which do I need?
Estate planning covers wills, trusts, and powers of attorney while you're healthy. Elder law adds Medicaid planning, guardianship, and long-term-care protection. Probate is the court process after a death — probate attorneys guide executors through estate administration.
What else do these firms handle?
Many attorneys above also handle special needs planning, asset protection, beneficiary disputes, estate tax planning, and real estate transfers in the New Bedford area.
Wills & TrustsLiving TrustsProbatePowers of AttorneyMedicaid PlanningGuardianshipSpecial Needs PlanningEstate Administration