A careful legal review of a Last Will and Testament (“will”) in the Philippines protects the testator’s wishes, reduces probate risk, and spots tax and family-law pitfalls early. This article explains how lawyers price a will review (as distinct from full drafting or probate), what drives costs up or down, what to expect in scope and deliverables, and practical ways to keep your bill predictable—Philippine context throughout.

1) What a “will review” typically includes

A focused review usually covers:

Formal validity under the Civil Code
- Whether the will is notarial (typewritten, signed by the testator and three credible witnesses, all in each other’s presence, with an attestation clause and notarial acknowledgment) or holographic (entirely handwritten, dated, and signed by the testator).
- Defects that commonly void wills: missing witness signatures on each page, defective attestation clause, notarization errors, or evidence of undue influence/lack of capacity at execution.
Substantive compliance with succession rules
- Legitimes of compulsory heirs (spouse, legitimate/illegitimate children, or ascendants) are reserved shares that cannot be impaired. A review checks that dispositions do not reduce legitimes or misclassify heirs.
- Disinheritance and conditions: whether grounds (if any) and wording can stand in probate.
Estate-tax awareness (planning-adjacent, not tax filing)
- Spotting assets that are hard to transfer, titling mismatches (e.g., conjugal/community property labeled as exclusive), and coordination with the current 6% estate tax regime and available deductions (e.g., standard deduction, family home cap), so the client can decide on further planning.
Execution package
- Guidance for signing day (who must be present, sequence of signatures, acceptable IDs for witnesses, notarization checklist).
- For expatriates or OFWs: options if signing abroad (Philippine consular acknowledgment vs. local notarization plus apostille, then probate in PH).

A review is narrower than full drafting. It can be delivered as (a) a written memo with tracked-changes suggestions, (b) a marked-up will, and/or (c) a signing-day script and checklists.

2) How Philippine lawyers charge for will reviews

Common fee structures

Fixed fee (most common for a straightforward review)
- Predictable; scope and number of revision cycles are defined.
Hourly billing
- Used when complexity is unclear (e.g., blended families, cross-border assets). Firms may use blended or tiered rates (partner/associate/paralegal).
Package/retainer
- Review bundled with will drafting, ancillary documents (self-proving affidavits, letter of wishes), or post-death guidance. Clarify which tasks are “review” vs. “probate” (a separate engagement).

Typical price ranges (Philippine pesos, indicative)

Simple review of a notarial or holographic will (no complex heirship/tax issues, ≤15 pages, one revision round): ₱10,000–₱35,000.
Moderate complexity (blended families, legitime computations, several properties, bank/brokerage assets, 1–2 revision rounds): ₱30,000–₱75,000.
High complexity / cross-border (foreign law questions, multiple jurisdictions, business interests, trust interface): ₱70,000–₱200,000+.

Hourly references (typical, not universal):

Metro Manila: associate ₱1,500–₱4,000/hr, senior associate ₱3,000–₱6,000/hr, partner ₱4,000–₱10,000/hr+.

Outside major metros: often 15–40% lower.

Taxes and pass-through charges

VAT: If the lawyer/firm is VAT-registered, 12% VAT is added to professional fees.
Withholding tax: Corporate clients may withhold a small percentage; individual consumers typically don’t.
Notarial fees: Often ₱1,000–₱5,000+ for a will (above ordinary documents because of formalities and notarization risk).
Incidental costs: ID copies, courier, venue or witness honoraria (if the firm arranges credible witnesses), translation/apostille if signing abroad.

3) Factors that move the fee

Complexity of heirs and assets
- Blended families, unknown or pretermitted heirs, illegitimate children recognition issues, usufructs/conditions, business shares, foreign property.
State of the draft
- Clean, lawyer-prepared drafts cost less to review than internet templates with structural defects.
Cross-border elements
- Domicile, situs of assets, and whether a foreign will or execution is involved.
Urgency and logistics
- Weekend or bedside execution, hospital signing, or multiple signings.
Scope creep
- Turning a “review” into full redrafting, adding estate-tax modeling, or resolving non-lawyer tasks (asset inventory, titling cleanup).

4) What to expect in a proper engagement

Engagement letter spelling out: scope (review vs. drafting vs. probate), fee basis, billing increments, taxes, out-of-pocket costs, number of revision cycles, turnaround for comments, confidentiality, and conflict-of-interest confirmation.
Deliverables you can request:
- A compliance checklist (formalities and substantive rules).
- Redline or tracked-changes draft.
- Signing-day brief (who signs where, order of signatures, what the notary will do, photo/ID checklist).
- Legitime worksheet showing reserved portions and free portion calculations.
- Issue log summarizing residual risks (e.g., a disposition likely to be contested).
Timelines (typical):
- Initial review memo within 3–7 business days for simple matters; faster if urgent fees are agreed.
- One or two revision cycles thereafter.

5) Ways to keep fees predictable (without sacrificing quality)

Start with an asset/heir snapshot: list properties (with titles, TCT/CCT numbers), bank/brokerage accounts, vehicles, businesses, debts, and how each is titled (exclusive vs. conjugal/community).
Name all potential heirs and disclose previous marriages or children (including those born out of wedlock). Surprises late in the process increase cost and risk.
Decide on the will type early (notarial vs. holographic) and where you will sign (Philippines or abroad).
Ask for a fixed-fee review limited to formal validity + legitime check, with priced add-ons for tax modeling or redrafting.
Bundle witness and notary logistics if you prefer the firm to handle execution day—priced upfront.
Avoid last-minute signings unless you accept an urgency premium.

6) Sample budget scenarios

Single person, simple estate (condo + deposits), notarial will
- Review & memo + signing checklist: ~₱15,000–₱25,000
- Notary & incidentals: ~₱2,000–₱5,000
- Total (ex-VAT): ₱17,000–₱30,000
Married with children, several properties, legitime computation, 1 revision cycle
- Review + redline + legitime worksheet: ₱35,000–₱60,000
- Notary/logistics: ₱3,000–₱8,000
- Total (ex-VAT): ₱38,000–₱68,000
Cross-border (PH assets + foreign brokerage), will executed abroad
- Review coordinating apostille/consular issues, 2–3 calls: ₱80,000–₱150,000+
- Apostille/translation: as incurred

(Figures are indicative; firm reputation and urgency significantly affect quotes.)

7) Review vs. Probate fees (don’t confuse them)

A will review happens before death. Probate is the court process after death to prove the will, appoint an executor, and authorize estate settlement. Probate fees and costs are separate and typically larger, covering pleading preparation, witness examination (e.g., subscribing witnesses for notarial wills), publication, bonds (if required), and court appearances. When discussing fees, confirm you are engaging counsel only for review, not for probate.

8) Red flags and how to compare quotes

Unclear scope (“I’ll take a look”) without a deliverable list.
No engagement letter or refusal to issue receipts.
Very low fixed fees that exclude all revision cycles or hide add-ons (witnesses, notary, travel).
No legitime analysis when there are obvious compulsory heirs.
Guaranteed tax outcomes—estate tax is computed post-death and depends on actual net estate and laws then in force.

When comparing quotes, line up: scope, timelines, number of revisions, who will attend execution, tax/VAT treatment, and who bears out-of-pocket costs.

9) Practical checklist for clients

Photo/scans of government IDs (testator + three credible witnesses).
Latest titles, tax declarations, bank certifications (for context; sensitive details may be redacted for the review stage).
Marriage certificate(s), birth certificates of children (if relevant).
Draft will (editable file) + any prior wills/codicils.
Preferred signing location and date; notary options (office vs. on-site).
Special situations to disclose: prior marriages/annulments, acknowledged/unacknowledged children, major gifts already given, foreign citizenship/residence, serious illness affecting capacity.

10) FAQs

Is a lawyer required to make a will? Not by law—but legal review is strongly advisable. Many wills fail in probate because of small formal errors.

Can I use a holographic will to save on fees? Yes, but holographic wills are strictly construed: entirely handwritten, dated, and signed by the testator. They still face probate and may need handwriting proof; a notarial will, if properly executed, is often easier to prove.

Can the lawyer who reviewed my will act as notary and witness? The lawyer may notarize if duly commissioned, but lawyers should not be witnesses to a client’s will to avoid conflicts and future testimony issues.

Will my review fee be credited if I proceed to full drafting? Many firms credit part or all of a review fee to a drafting package—ask for this in the engagement letter.

11) How to request a precise quote (email template)

Subject: Request for Fixed-Fee Will Review (Philippines) Body (copy/paste and fill in):

Will type: Notarial / Holographic / Undecided
Pages/word count:
Heirs: (spouse/children/others; brief)
Assets overview: (properties/locations; bank/brokerage/business interests)
Cross-border elements: (citizenship/residence/foreign assets)
Target signing date & city:
Deliverables requested: compliance memo; redline; legitime worksheet; signing-day attendance; witness arrangement; notary arrangement
Preferred fee structure: fixed fee with one revision cycle
Urgency/constraints:

Bottom line

For a Philippine will review, most individuals can expect a fixed fee in the ₱10,000–₱75,000 range depending on complexity, plus VAT (if applicable) and notarial/incidental costs. Define the scope tightly (formal validity + legitime check), ask for concrete deliverables and a price-capped revision cycle, and plan execution logistics early to avoid urgency premiums.