6 Best Online Will Makers of 2023
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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.
» Estate planning? Here’s how to get started
How much do online will makers cost?
Online Will Maker | Best for | Cost |
|---|---|---|
Nolo’s Quicken WillMaker | Users who want an all-inclusive experience. |
|
Trust & Will | Ease of use. |
|
Rocket Lawyer | Customer service. |
|
LegalZoom | State-specific legal advice. |
|
Do Your Own Will | Free will software. |
|
Fabric by Gerber Life | Young families. |
|
Nolo’s Quicken WillMaker: Best all-inclusive
Cost
$99 per year for Starter plan, $139 per year for Plus plan or $209 per year for All Access plan.
What it looks like
Pros
Straightforward, user-friendly process.
One year of free updates to your documents.
Access to over 35 estate planning documents depending on plan.
Cons
Software download available with only Windows 8.1/10/11 or macOS 10.13 and higher.
Documents aren’t valid in Louisiana or U.S. territories.
No access to attorney support.
Why we like it
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.
Trust & Will: Best for ease of use
Cost
One-time fee of $159 per individual or $259 for couples, then $19 annual membership fee.
What it looks like
Pros
Simple and straightforward process for an online will.
Unlimited updates with an annual membership.
Add a year of attorney support for $200.
Cons
Not great for complex family or financial situations.
Why we like it
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: Best customer service
Cost
Free will template; $39.99 monthly access fee for changes and legal support.
What it looks like
Pros
Free seven-day membership trial.
30-minute phone consultation with a lawyer included with membership.
Built-in chat feature to ask a lawyer questions.
Cons
Membership can be costly.
Must have membership to make changes after the trial period expires.
Why we like it
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: Best state-specific legal advice
Cost
$89 for Basic will plan, $99 for Comprehensive will plan, $249 for Estate Plan Bundle.
What it looks like
Pros
Attorneys available for consultation in all 50 states.
Flat-fee pricing.
Cons
Documents have to be vetted before you can access and print them.
Access to legal advice is $25 per month for Comprehensive plan and $199 per year for Estate Plan Bundle.
Why we like it
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: Best free will software
Cost
Free.
What it looks like
Pros
Free documents, including living will and power of attorney.
No account or credit card information needed.
Cons
You’ll need to check state laws to make sure your will complies.
No legal support available.
Why we like it
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: Best online will maker for young families
Cost
Free.
What it looks like
Pros
Free online will template.
Option to buy life insurance through the website.
Specifically made for families with young children.
Cons
No attorney access available.
Wills aren’t state-specific.
Why we like it
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.
Are online wills legit?
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.
Other ways to write an online will
Download a template
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.
Hire an attorney or estate tax professional
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.
Hybrid approach
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.
