How much does estate planning cost for high income earners in Raleigh?

A comprehensive estate plan for a high-income family typically costs $2,500 to $5,000 for a revocable living trust package. Irrevocable trusts add $3,500 to $10,000 depending on complexity. These costs should be weighed against probate costs ($5,000 to $15,000 or more), potential estate taxes (40% on amounts above the exemption), and the income tax cost to beneficiaries under the SECURE Act's 10-year rule.

Is a will enough for a high income earner in North Carolina?

In most cases, no. A will goes through probate, creates a public record, and offers no protection during incapacity. For high-income professionals in Raleigh, a revocable living trust provides probate avoidance, privacy, incapacity planning, and distribution control that a will alone cannot match.

Do I need an estate plan if my estate is under the $15 million exemption?

Yes. Estate planning is not just about estate taxes. It covers probate avoidance, asset protection, SECURE Act planning for retirement accounts, incapacity planning, and making sure your family is protected regardless of family structure.

Federal estate tax exemption

Mar 16

Written By Jenaye Merida

The federal estate tax exemption (also called the basic exclusion amount or unified credit) is the total value of assets an individual can transfer at death or during their lifetime without incurring federal estate or gift tax.

As of 2026, the exemption is $15 million per individual ($30 million for married couples who elect portability), as set by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) signed into law on July 4, 2025, which raised the exemption baseline with no scheduled sunset and indexed it for inflation.

The OBBBA removed the TCJA sunset provision that would have reduced the exemption to approximately $7 million per person. The $15 million threshold has no scheduled sunset and will be adjusted annually for inflation beginning in 2027.

Key details

The 2026 federal estate tax exemption is $15 million per individual, up from $13.99 million in 2025, as announced by the IRS in Revenue Procedure 2025-32 on October 9, 2025.
Married couples can protect up to $30 million combined by electing portability, which allows the surviving spouse to use any unused portion of the deceased spouse’s exemption.
Estates exceeding the exemption are taxed at rates up to 40% on the amount above the threshold.
The annual gift tax exclusion remains at $19,000 per recipient for 2026, allowing individuals to transfer wealth without reducing their lifetime exemption.
North Carolina does not impose a state estate tax (repealed effective January 1, 2013, under Session Laws 2013-316), so the federal exemption is the only estate tax threshold relevant to North Carolina residents.

According to the IRS tax inflation adjustments for tax year 2026, published October 9, 2025.

For a full analysis of how the federal estate tax exemption and the OBBBA affect planning strategies for Raleigh professionals, see federal estate tax and the 2026 changes for Raleigh high earners.

To understand when irrevocable trusts become relevant at these exemption levels, see trusts for high income earners in North Carolina.

For the complete estate planning guide, see estate planning for high income earners in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Jenaye Merida https://jenayemerida.com

Federal estate tax exemption

Key details

Related pages

Revocable vs irrevocable trust

Intestate succession (NCGS Chapter 29)