Online Will & Estate Tools
Six honest comparisons of online will services — costs, who they fit, pros, cons.
Why an online will may be enough
If your estate is straightforward — a home, a bank account, a retirement fund, and clear heirs — a reputable online service produces the same document a $1,500 attorney would, for under $200. The catch: the document still needs to be printed, signed in wet ink, and witnessed properly to count in court. The tool handles the writing; you handle the signing ritual.
Trust & Will
Best for: Best overall for most families. Clean interface, attorney-reviewed templates, AARP partner.
Pros
- +Step-by-step questions in plain English.
- +Attorney-approved in all 50 states.
- +Free updates for one year.
- +AARP members get a discount.
Cons
- −Higher price than the bare-bones options.
- −No live attorney chat on the basic plan.
FreeWill
Best for: Budget-conscious folks with a simple estate (one home, one or two heirs, no business).
Pros
- +Truly free — funded by charity partners.
- +Most people finish in 20 minutes.
- +Covers will, healthcare directive, power of attorney.
Cons
- −Less hand-holding than paid tools.
- −No trust option — will only.
- −Asks if you want to leave a charity gift (you can skip).
LegalZoom
Best for: People who want phone support and attorney access bundled in.
Pros
- +Live attorney consultations on premium tier.
- +Big brand — around for 25 years.
- +Covers business documents too.
Cons
- −Subscription auto-renews — read the fine print.
- −Upsells throughout the process.
- −Slower interface than newer competitors.
Signing rules — most wills require wet ink
In nearly every state, your will is not valid until you print it, sign it in pen, and have two adult witnesses sign in front of you. Some states (Nevada, Indiana, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, North Dakota, Utah, Washington) allow electronic wills with notary video sessions, but the rules vary. When unsure: print, pen, two witnesses, notary if your state asks. Store the original in a fireproof box and tell your executor where it is.
When to skip these tools and hire an attorney
- • Estate is over $1 million or you own property in multiple states.
- • You own a business or rental properties.
- • You have a child with special needs (a special needs trust is involved).
- • Blended family with stepchildren and complicated inheritance wishes.
- • You expect family conflict or a contested will.
- • You want a tax-saving trust structure.
In any of those cases, a $1,500 attorney saves your family $50,000 in probate fees later. Worth every dollar.
Related
Quick Tip: tell your executor where the signed original lives. A perfect will hidden in a drawer no one knows about helps no one.