on LegalZoom's website
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A will ensures your possessions go to the right people after your death. If you have a complicated family situation or large estate, you may want to hire an attorney to help craft yours. But online wills and online will makers can cost less and meet your state’s legal requirements, too.
The best online will makers are reasonably priced, easy to use and tailored to each state’s requirements and offer online wills that are customizable to your life circumstances. Online will makers also can guide you through the process with good support and help you start estate planning on your timeline. Here are our top picks.
Nolo’s services are among the most comprehensive on the market.
on Nolo's website
on Nolo's website
Nolo’s services are among the most comprehensive on the market.
Nolo’s services are among the most comprehensive on the market. Its Quicken WillMaker offers over 35 state-specific estate planning documents in one place, available online or as a software download. The service can be used to make a pour-over will, health care directive, living trust, letters to survivors and other financial management documents, depending on your annual plan.
All three plans help you craft a will via a simple, straightforward questionnaire that guides you to the documents you need. If you decide not to use the cloud version, be sure you have enough space on your computer (54 megabytes) to download the software.
 | |  |
|---|---|---|
Price (one-time)One-time fee of $159 per individual or $259 for couples. | Price (one-time)None | Price (one-time)$89 for Basic will plan, $99 for Comprehensive will plan, $249 for Estate Plan Bundle. |
Price (annual)$19 annual membership fee. | Price (annual)$99 to $209 per year. | Price (annual)None |
Access to attorney supportNo | Access to attorney supportNo | Access to attorney supportYes |
GoodTrust's “Digital Vault” feature is helpful for incorporating your online assets into your estate plan for a reasonable cost.
on Nerdwallet
on Nerdwallet
GoodTrust's “Digital Vault” feature is helpful for incorporating your online assets into your estate plan for a reasonable cost.
Cost: One-time fee of $149 for an estate plan bundle including a will, living trust, advance directives and funeral and pet directives. Changes included for one year, then $39 per year after that.
Pros:
Digital vault available for organizing online accounts and digital assets.
One year of unlimited updates for no additional cost.
Family plan (each adult member can create their own documents) for no additional cost.
Cons:
No attorney support.
Documents aren’t state-specific, though all are legally binding in all 50 states after following the state-specific witnessing and notarization instructions provided.
GoodTrust stands out for its “Digital Vault” feature, an encrypted online platform for secure storage of any online asset, including social media accounts, subscriptions and online banking information. You can add a trusted contact to any account on an item-by-item basis and provide detailed instructions, such as how to memorialize your Facebook account or where to transfer your Venmo balance.
GoodTrust offers key estate planning documents for a reasonable fee compared to other estate planning services. The service includes customer support via email ticket and live chat during the will-making process.
Trust & Will stands out for its quick and easy-to-use process.
on Trust & Will's website
on Trust & Will's website
Trust & Will stands out for its quick and easy-to-use process.
Trust & Will stands out for its quick and easy-to-use process. The online will maker service includes HIPAA authorization, living will and power of attorney documents. You can download your documents, but all documents also ship free for first-time users with state-specific notarization instructions.
The Trust & Will website also includes a library of educational content to help users understand estate planning, and unlimited attorney support is available for $200 per year.
Rocket Lawyer stands out for its customer service, which includes the option to contact a lawyer for legal assistance via phone, email or online chat.
on Rocket Lawyer's website
on Rocket Lawyer's website
Rocket Lawyer stands out for its customer service, which includes the option to contact a lawyer for legal assistance via phone, email or online chat.
Rocket Lawyer stands out for its customer service, which includes the option to contact a lawyer for legal assistance via phone, email or online chat. This service is included in Rocket Lawyer’s $39.99 monthly fee, which gives you access to all estate planning documents on the platform.
Otherwise, you can fill out the company’s free will template. The seven-day free trial is a great way to take advantage of the upgraded customer service, but you’ll have to pay to make updates after the trial ends.
LegalZoom’s online will maker, like its other legal services, uses flat-fee pricing and offers attorney assistance for an added fee.
on LegalZoom's website
on LegalZoom's website
LegalZoom’s online will maker, like its other legal services, uses flat-fee pricing and offers attorney assistance for an added fee.
LegalZoom’s online will maker, like its other legal services, uses flat-fee pricing and offers attorney assistance for an added fee. The company has independent attorneys available in all 50 states who can help make sure your documents comply with your state’s laws.
You can craft an online will starting at $89 and add other forms, such as a power of attorney for $35 and a living will for $39.
Do Your Own Will offers wills, living wills and power of attorney documents for download as PDFs and Word documents.
on Nerdwallet
on Nerdwallet
Do Your Own Will offers wills, living wills and power of attorney documents for download as PDFs and Word documents.
Do Your Own Will offers wills, living wills and power of attorney documents for download as PDFs and Word documents. You can select your state and fill in basic information to craft a basic will at no cost. This service doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of other online will makers, and you may need to double-check the legal standards for your state, but it’s simple, functional and free.
Fabric by Gerber Life offers a free online will maker catered to families with young children.
on Nerdwallet
on Nerdwallet
Fabric by Gerber Life offers a free online will maker catered to families with young children.
Fabric by Gerber Life offers a free online will maker catered to families with young children. Fabric’s will template isn’t state-specific, though the website does provide instructions to make your will legally binding in your state. The process is fairly quick and offers an easy way to appoint guardians and beneficiaries, with the option to sign up for life insurance through the platform as well.
Software | Financial power of attorney | Medical directives | Trusts | Property management |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Nolo’s Quicken WillMaker | Included in Plus and All-Access plans. | Health care power of attorney and living will are included in all plans. | Living trust is included in Plus and All-Access plans. | Transfer on Death deed is included in Plus and All-Access plans. |
GoodTrust | Durable financial power of attorney included in will-based estate plan. | Advance health care directive included in will-based estate plan. | Trust plan is separate from will-based plan. Trust plan includes revocable living trust. | None. |
Trust & Will | General power of attorney is included in Will plan. | HIPAA authorization, living will and power of attorney are included in Will plan. | Living trust plan starting at $599 includes a trust, medical directives and a pour-over will. | Special warranty deed transfer service is available for $265 per deed. |
Rocket Lawyer | Free durable and general power of attorney templates. | Free living will and medical power of attorney templates. | Free living trust template. | Free quitclaim deed template. |
LegalZoom | Included in Estate Plan Bundle. | Living will is included in Estate Plan Bundle; no medical power of attorney. | Living trust is available for $249. | Deed transfer service starts at $249. |
Do Your Own Will | Free general power of attorney template. | Free health care power of attorney and living will templates. | None. | None. |
Fabric by Gerber Life | None. | None. | None. | None. |
Online wills can be legally binding if they’re specific to your state and properly notarized. Notarization requirements can vary from state to state; in some, you may need only two witnesses to sign and won’t need an attorney. Also, make sure to use a reputable, well-reviewed online will maker if you’re going the do-it-yourself route.
Many websites have free and low-priced will templates available for download. You can find templates specific to your state and estate situation, though more specific forms may cost extra.
A template is a decent starter option if you can’t invest in a more comprehensive effort, but make sure the template meets your needs and state legal requirements.
If your estate is complex or large, it might be worth your time and money to consult an estate planning attorney right away, especially if you live in a state with its own estate or inheritance taxes.
Hiring a professional can help ensure that you’re protected in specific situations you may have concerns about, including special child care provisions, business issues or a blended family with multiple heirs.
You can start writing your will yourself and then ask an attorney any lingering questions. By starting the process, you'll have answered or anticipated most questions a legal adviser would have and be able to discuss any concerns.
Your fees might also be lower because you’ll have done much of the prep work before consulting an attorney. However, even a partial lawyer's fee is more expensive than other will-writing methods, and working with a professional can be time-consuming and require multiple appointments.
| | |
|---|---|---|
Price (one-time)One-time fee of $159 per individual or $259 for couples. | Price (one-time)None | Price (one-time)$89 for Basic will plan, $99 for Comprehensive will plan, $249 for Estate Plan Bundle. |
Price (annual)$19 annual membership fee. | Price (annual)$99 to $209 per year. | Price (annual)None |
Access to attorney supportNo | Access to attorney supportNo | Access to attorney supportYes |
Fees Varies by Advisor (free initial consultation) | Fees $2,400 and up per year (free initial consultation) | Fees 0.30% management fee |
Account minimum $150,000 | Account minimum $0 | Account minimum $50,000 |
Promotion 3-Month Satisfaction Guarantee | Promotion Get $300 reward into Facet brokerage account for new members who transfer at least $5,000 within the first 90 days of their Facet membership.* | Promotion None no promotion available at this time |
AD Paid non-client promotion | AD Paid non-client promotion | AD Paid non-client promotion |
