In the past, if you wanted to create a will you needed to enlist the help of a lawyer. The cost of hiring a lawyer to draw up a will starts at $300 for the simplest possible document, and can surpass $1,000 if your situation is more complicated.
While some people still choose to go this route, today there are other, less expensive options. The past few years have seen a rise in online will makers, and the growing number of sites is testament to the increasing demand for online wills.
What Is an Online Will Maker?
Online will makers are websites that allow users to create their wills online, by themselves, without the assistance of an attorney.
Online wills are almost always less expensive than hiring a lawyer to create a will for you, and they are also very convenient. No need for appointments or invoices, just pay a flat rate and create your document.
If you use a reputable site, the will you create will be totally legal and valid. Some of these sites offer consultations with attorneys as part of their price package, while others offer a bare-bones template that you simply need to fill in and print.
Depending on your needs, you can choose the online will maker that’s right for you. We reviewed the best online will makers to help you choose.
Our Picks for the Top 5 Best Online Will Makers Services:
- LegalZoom - Best for comprehensive legal advice
- Nolo - Best for a simple, straightforward will
- LawDepot - Best for affordable pricing options
- RocketLawyer - Best for multiple legal services
- Willing - Best for a simple will or estate plan
A Closer Look at Our Top 5 Best Online Will Makers Services - Reviews:
1. LegalZoom
Best for: People who need comprehensive legal advice/documents
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LegalZoom offers self-guided services, attorney consults, and filing of necessary forms. Attorneys are vetted and accessible, and they speak and write in plain English so even those without a legal background can understand.
LegalZoom’s online will takes about 15 minutes to complete and comes with detailed instructions for every step of the way. All services come with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Pricing
LegalZoom is the maker of one of the best will writing software products out there, and its prices reflect the high quality and amount of services available. There are 3 pricing plans for LegalZoom.
1. Basic
Basic plan cost 89$. All the basics of an online will, including a template that has been researched and maintained by attorneys and the ability to download it upon completion.
2. Comprehensive plan
Everything in the Basic package plus a 14-day trial of Legal Advantage Plus, an additional membership that renews at a monthly fee of $14.99.
This membership includes:
- 30-minute phone consults with an attorney on an unlimited number of new legal matters
- Attorney review of completed documents
- Free revisions for the duration of membership
- 10% off future LegalZoom purchases
- Free estate planning app with unlimited cloud storage
3. Bundle
Everything the Comprehensive package offers, with these additions:
- Financial power of attorney ($35 value)
- Advanced Healthcare Directive ($39 value)
- 1 year of free revisions (as opposed to 30 days)
- 1 year of membership to Legal Advantage Plus
Pros
- Offers a standalone online will + estate planning package
- Attorney consults and review of documents available
- 100% satisfaction guarantee
Cons
- Under Basic and Comprehensive plans, will is only available for 30 days for revisions
- Pricier than its competitors
Read the full LegalZoom review
2. Nolo
Best for: People who need a simple, straightforward will
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Nolo has been in the legal business for nearly 50 years, and its specialty is the DIY creation of legal documents. When it comes to creating an online will, it doesn’t get easier than Nolo.
Just follow the clear step-by-step instructions and you can complete your will in a matter of minutes. When you’re ready to finalize it, print it out and follow the instructions for finalization that Nolo provides.
In addition to being one of the best online will makers, Nolo also offers a free legal encyclopedia with articles written by expert attorneys.
The site can also connect you with any of the reputed lawyers in the Nolo network based on location and need.
Pricing
The cost for Nolo’s online will is $59.99 (with coupons available) and once you create your will, you have access to it for a year. During that year you can revise it as much as you like.
Nolo also offers a more comprehensive Will & Trustmaker for $89.99. It includes a customized estate plan, complete with a will, living trust, health care directive, financial power of attorney, and more.
Pros
- 30,000 attorneys in the Nolo network
- Unlimited revisions and 24/7 access
- Competitively priced
- 100% money-back guarantee
Cons
- Changes can only be made for up to 1 year
- Attorney consults not included in cost
3. LawDepot
Best for: People who need a simple, straightforward will
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LawDepot was founded in 2001 and is one of the best online will makers on the market. The company boasts over $10 million users and offers over 150 document templates suitable for use in all 50 states.
Creating LawDepot’s online will is simple and easy, and LawDepot provides helpful explanations and insights as you go along.
Once you finish, you can access it for as long as your membership allows (up to 10 years). LawDepot’s $10,000 legal guarantee offers coverage for any damage suffered due to the site not keeping the will valid and up-to-date.
Pricing
For online wills, LawDepot offers 3 different pricing options:
Pros
- Different pricing options
- $100% quality guarantee + $10,000 legal guarantee
- Free 1-week trial
Cons
- No lawyer consults available
- Only monthly payment plans, no option for a standalone will
4. RocketLawyer
Best for: People who require multiple legal services
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RocketLawyer offers comprehensive online legal assistance, including DIY documents, solutions for businesses, consultations with lawyers, and discounted lawyer services.
One of the ways that RocketLawyer outshines its competitors is that it offers electronic signing, which makes the process of creating an online will easier and more efficient.
It also offers DocumentDefense® protection, an incredible perk in which a lawyer personally reviews your situation and helps enforce your contracts.
Additional membership benefits include access to unlimited legal documents, free answers to legal questions, discounts for legal representation, and the ability to edit and share docs.
Pricing
While you don’t need to be a member of RocketLawyer to avail yourself of its services, the cost for non-members is quite high.
For example, making an online will costs $39.99, whereas 1 month’s membership is also $39.99. If a will is all you need, it may be worthwhile to pay the 1-time fee.
However, if you anticipate needing other legal documents for estate planning, or if you want to consult with a lawyer, membership is a good option.
Membership costs $39.99 per month, after a 7-day free trial.
Pros
- Unlimited revisions and copies
- Free 7-day trial
- Free 30-minute consultation on each new matter
- Electronic signatures
Cons
- High prices for non-members
- Can edit only up to 1 year or until membership expires
Read the full Rocket Lawyer review
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5. Willing
Best for: People who need a simple will or estate plan
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Unlike some of the other best will software companies that offer many types of legal services, Willing focuses exclusively on estate planning.
As you fill out the document, you can read helpful information on the side so you can be sure you’re including everything that is meant to be included.
Pricing
Willing offers 3 price bundles: Individual, Homeowners, and Ultimate Care. For individuals, the price is comparable to other online will makers, but for homeowners or people who want a more comprehensive package, the cost skyrockets.
Pros
- Specializes in estate planning
- Easy, straightforward form
- Includes Help Center with informational articles
Cons
- Pricey for homeowners
- Doesn’t include information about the attorneys backing it
- Revisions for only 6 months
What is the difference between a will and a trust?
A will is a document that specifies how your assets should be distributed after your death. It goes into effect only upon your death. A trust, on the other hand, can be used to begin distributing assets before death, at death, or afterwards.
Wills and trusts are both crucial tools for estate planning, but they serve different purposes and are governed by different rules.
Why do I need a will or trust?
Having a will or trust ensures that your assets are distributed according to your wishes after you pass away. Without these documents, state laws determine how your assets are divided, which may not align with your preferences.
They also allow you to appoint guardians for minor children and make arrangements for dependents with special needs.
How do I choose between a will and a trust?
Choosing between a will and a trust depends on your personal circumstances, including the size and complexity of your estate, your privacy concerns, and your financial goals.
Consulting with a legal expert can help you decide which option best suits your needs, taking into account factors like cost, the probate process, and tax implications.
Are online wills legitimate?
Online wills are completely legitimate, as long as they are made with the correct template that includes all the necessary components of a legal will.
This means that not every online will maker, and certainly not free will maker software, should be trusted. When choosing which company you want to create your online will, make sure that:
- The template is attorney-reviewed
- The components are customized by state
- The site has good reviews
- Bonus: Some sort of satisfaction guarantee.
Bear in mind that even if you use the most-trusted, highly-recommended online will maker, your will will not be valid unless you complete the following steps:
- Print the will and sign it in front of 2 witnesses
- Notarize, if necessary. Notarization is not required for a will to be valid, but it is required if you include a “self-proving affidavit” as part of your will.
- Make sure that your witnesses meet the criteria of your state. Different states have different laws regarding the number of witnesses and their relationship to you.
What should be included in an estate planning checklist?
An estate planning checklist should include creating or updating your will, setting up trusts if necessary, choosing an executor for your estate, nominating guardians for minor children, specifying power of attorney and healthcare directives, and reviewing beneficiary designations on accounts that pass outside of a will or trust, among other items.
What should you never put in your will?
While your last will and testament is a way to pass on your belongings after you die, there are certain things that your will does not cover, and therefore, should not be included. These things include:
- Any property or account that has designated beneficiaries - Such as property held in a living trust, property held in joint tenancy, life insurance, retirement funds, and any other financial accounts that have a designated beneficiary. A will will not supersede these things.
- Contingency gifts - Leaving assets to a beneficiary based on the performance of a duty or certain condition (getting married, taking over the family business, etc.) These things are usually illegal and will not be enforced by a court of law.
- Provisions for someone with special needs - If you want to make sure someone with special needs is taken care of, creating a special needs trust is a better option than including instructions in your will.
- Provisions for pets - Pets cannot legally own or inherit property or money, so if you’d like to leave something for your pet, it’s best to do so through a pet trust fund.
- Funeral instructions - Wills are not always read before funerals, so it’s best to create a document with your funeral/burial wishes and send it to your loved ones separately (or tell them).
How often should I update my will or trust?
You should review and possibly update your will or trust after major life events such as marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, significant changes in your financial situation, or changes in estate law.
It's generally recommended to review these documents every three to five years to ensure they accurately reflect your current wishes and circumstances.
How much does planning a will online cost? Is there any free software?
Creating an online will can cost as little as $69 and can go up to a few hundred dollars. The exact cost depends on the website you choose and on the services you need.
Standalone wills, of course, are less expensive than complete estate planning packages, which include additional documents like a living trust, health care directive, financial power of attorney, and others.
There are also free will makers available, but the caveat with any free service is always the same: Sometimes, you get what you pay for.
While free will maker software doesn’t necessarily mean you will won’t invalid, they are not usually backed by the same professionalism and guarantees that for-pay sites come with.
How to Decide Which Online Will Maker is Best For You?
With so many free and relatively inexpensive options for creating an online will, it can be hard to decide which one is best for you.
Choosing the least-expensive option can be pretty tempting, but before you do, make sure to carefully review your needs and what the site offers.
If being able to consult with a lawyer is important to you, it can be worth paying a little more. The same goes for being able to access your will for a longer period of time or getting a comprehensive estate planning package. Ultimately, only you can determine your needs and whether the cost is worthwhile.
One thing is certain though: The convenience and cost of online will makers, when compared to traditional lawyers, cannot be beat.
