The 10 Best Online Will Makers (Including Free Options)

Are you wondering how to make a will without a lawyer? Online will makers could be the solution you need. Most people think making a will is expensive or time-consuming.

Online will makers let you draft your last will and testament or provide you with other necessary legal documents. Sometimes, you can even do it for free! Your online will can be legally binding, just like one drafted by a local lawyer.

Most Popular Online Will Makers

Most households can make an online will in less than 15 minutes. You can appoint guardians for your children and choose an executor.

While anyone can get an online will, complex estates should consider using a local legal professional to ensure their legal documents are valid. Some examples include owning a business or having property in multiple states.

1. FreeWill

You can use FreeWill to create a will at no cost. Their power of attorney and living will forms are also free. California residents can make free, revocable living trusts.

Although it costs money, FreeWill can pair its forms with an attorney if you need expert legal documents and advice. The FreeWill lawyer service may still be cheaper than that of a local lawyer. Comparing costs can be worth your time.

FreeWill is free to use because it encourages charitable giving. Nonprofits partner with FreeWill to cover the expense of making online wills.

Key Features

Free to use
Can pair with an attorney (for an extra cost)

Cost: Free

2. Fabric

Fabric is a life insurance company that offers a free online will maker. You start by answering several questions to personalize your will, which you can revise at any time.

It’s even possible to add these features to your will:

Child guardians
The executor of the will
Beneficiaries
Final arrangements
Mirror wills (identical wills for spouses)

You can store your online will and bank account information in the Fabric Vault, a free cloud storage tool. This is an easy way to reduce the stress that a widow or family member faces when trying to transfer your accounts into their name.

Fabric offers term life insurance, as well. You are never required to purchase life insurance through Fabric to make an online will.

But if you need a policy, you might qualify for a no-medical-exam life insurance policy in as little as 10 minutes.

Key Features

It lets you create a free online will
Can store your online will and personal information in their data vault
Term life insurance is available

Cost: Free

3. Rocket Lawyer

You can create a living will, a financial power of attorney, and more with Rocket Lawyer. It’s free to try Rocket Lawyer for seven days.

After that, you pay $39.99 per legal document, plus fees for legal support, such as consulting a lawyer. The total is $ 239.99 if billed annually.

Becoming a premium member costs $39.99 a month and includes these benefits:

Access to all printable legal documents
Ask legal questions to a lawyer
Review disputes with an attorney
30-minute phone consultation with an attorney
Discounts on hiring a Rocket Lawyer attorney

The one-time fee for these non-member options ranges from $9.99 to $59.99. If you only want to create a document once, Rocket Lawyer can cost less than other online willmakers.

The one-time attorney service fees are affordable if you don’t want to become a monthly member.

Key Features

One-time or ongoing fee to make an online will
Attorney assistance is available
Can create documents for other events, like buying a rental property

Cost: Free

4. US Legal Wills

Many of the best online will makers only provide service to residents of the 50 U.S. states. US Legal Wills offers wills for expatriates who live outside the United States.

You can also get a will if you have assets in Canada or the United Kingdom.

The following documents are also available for U.S. residents:

Last will and testament
Power of attorney
Living will

For expats, the cost is $49.95. Adding a spouse brings the total cost to $79.95. Wills cost $19.95 for individuals and $29.95 for couples—30-day money-back guarantee.

For the first year, you can make unlimited revisions to every document. After that, you pay $11.95 annually to continue storing your documents in the US Legal Wills vault and have unlimited revisions.

Purchasing a multi-year storage plan is a great way to save money. For instance, a lifetime plan only costs $129.95. It is better to keep your will with US Legal Wills for more than 10 years.

For extra peace of mind, you can pay $69 for their legal support team to review any legal document that needs additional attention.

Key Features

Expatriate wills available
Lifetime unlimited revisions and vault storage
40% discount for spouses
Lawyers can review your documents

Cost: Starts at $49.95

5. TotalLegal

If you want a low-cost online will-making service, TotalLegal is an excellent option. Their estate planning documents include a living will, power of attorney, and more.

Each document costs $19.95 without a paid membership.

The TotalLegal Plan membership costs $9.95 monthly or $89 yearly ($7.49 monthly). The fee allows you to make unlimited documents and access attorney services. Premium members can print or store their legal forms in TotalLegal’s online vault.

Membership is available at most locations in the US. Check their site to make sure your state is included.

Key Features

Low monthly or annual fee
Can make most estate planning documents
Attorney services are available to premium members

Cost: $19.95

6. Trust and Will

You can nominate guardians, make a will, or create a trust at Trust and Will. Plans start at $199, and you can make unlimited updates for free for the first 30 days.

Although Trust and Will isn’t free, getting legal support with this company is cheaper than hiring a lawyer, who can easily cost $300.

For instance, list your retirement plan beneficiaries and final arrangements to decide who inherits your assets. Living wills can also be made to express your medical care wishes.

If you have pets, you must choose this plan to nominate their guardians. After the first year, you can make all document revisions for $19 annually.

Key Features

Can make a basic or complex estate plan
Avoid probate by creating a trust
Money-back guarantee with every plan
Provides other legal documents

Cost: $199

Learn More: Trust & Will Review: Is It Worth It?

7. WillMaker.com

WillMaker.com offers a subscription service to help you create a suite of estate planning documents. There are three levels to map out your estate plans:

Starter. The Starter bundle is $109 per year. With it, you can make wills, health care directives, and final arrangements.
Plus. The Plus bundle is $149 per year. With this download, you can make wills, health care directives, final arrangements, durable power of attorney, letters to survivors, and living trusts.
All Access. The All Access bundle is $219 per year and allows you to create wills, health care directives, final arrangements, durable power of attorney, letters to survivors, and living trusts. It also includes a one-year subscription to “Everplans” to help you organize and securely store important documents.

You pay a one-time fee to access the product and can optionally pay $39.99 to make updates after the first year; the updates will last for a whole year. You can log into the platform to make changes as necessary. The Plus and All Access options allow you to download the software to your PC or Mac for drafting documents.

Key Features

Can store documents in a secure place and share them with trusted advisors
A relatively painless way to create essential documents
Knock out several important documents with one software

Cost: $109 to $219

8. US Legal Forms

US Legal Forms offers an ongoing subscription to the platform, which includes estate planning documents. With the papers laid out, you can fill in the specifics of your situation. If you opt for the document packages, prices vary by state.

Throughout the process, you can use the detailed document descriptions to guide your inputs. The platform promises up-to-date documents. You can find support through US Legal Forms if you run into technical issues.

If you have questions about the documents, Premium members can contact expert help through the platform.

US Legal Forms offers two subscription levels. The Basic option, with access to 85,000 forms, is $8 per month. The Premium option is $15 per month and includes access to expert document help.

Key Features

Fair costs for living wills and power of attorney forms
Easy-to-use online PDF editor
Offers help to complete the documents for Premium members

Cost: Starts at $8 per month

9. LegalZoom

LegalZoom is one of the best online will makers, with pricing starting at $39. You get a state-specific will and can make free revisions for the first 30 days.

If a court finds your online will invalid solely because it was created online, LegalZoom will pay you $50,000. Upgrading to the Last Will and Testament bundle costs $179. This bundle includes free revisions for the first year, financial power of attorney, and a will.

Bundling also gives you access to LegalZoom’s Legal Advantage Plus service for additional legal support. You can have 30-minute phone consultations to get personalized legal advice.

Plus, membership includes a free attorney review of LegalZoom documents and unlimited revisions. This legal access is free for the first year and costs $119.88 per year thereafter.

Key Features

Access to independent attorneys
$50,000 Peace of Mind guarantee
Free digital download for all plans
4.53/5 from Better Business Bureau

Cost: Starts at $99

10. LawDepot

LawDepot gives you free access to all documents for the first week. You can print your documents during the free trial.

After the free trial ends, a license costs $35 per month or $107.88 per year. Either membership option provides full access to the LawDepot document library. Another option is to pay a flat fee of $7.50 to $119 to access a single document.

There are a variety of documents you can create, such as:

Last will and testament
Living will
Financial power of attorney
Revocable living trust
Gift deed

After deciding which documents you need, you can choose the best membership plan. For example, you can use other LawDepot documents if you start your own business.

Key Features

Offers a free trial so you can test out the service
Not just for wills

Cost: Free to start

Are Online Wills Valid?

Online wills can be legally binding once you print them and have several signatures. The first signature is the person (the testator) who makes the will. So if the will is for you, then you must sign it as the testator. Your spouse will need to sign their will.

More importantly, two people not involved in the will must sign it, and their signatures must be notarized. Your bank may offer free notary services.

You will also need to see which services each online will maker offers. For example, you might only be able to legally assign guardians for your children but not your pets.

Also, a last will and testament that isn’t a trust must go through a probate court. The court will legally decide who receives your property and gains custody of your children under the age of 18.

Finally, none of the statements in this article is formal legal advice. Check your local laws and ask your attorney for personalized assistance.

Do You Need More Than an Online Will Maker?

You should consider hiring a lawyer if you have a complex estate plan or anticipate legal disputes among the heirs. They can also provide personalized advice that online platforms may not offer.

For example, lawyers specializing in estate planning can help heirs receive their inheritance or pension benefits sooner.

A lawyer can also make it easier for your will executor to correctly follow your intentions, even if you have a simple will. The executor may not feel comfortable handling your estate plan if they don’t have a legal background or are a first-time executor.

Finally, a local lawyer can help complete your other documents, such as:

Funeral wishes
Power of attorney
Health care directives
Living trust

While hiring a lawyer costs more money than an online willmaker, you may appreciate the extra peace of mind if you have a sizable estate or complicated financial and family conditions.

When Should I Get an Attorney Involved with Estate Planning?

Hiring an estate lawyer can be worthwhile when you need personalized advice or help to finalize a complex estate plan.

Some of the sensible situations include:

You don’t feel comfortable making your own will
Review the plan for overlooked topics or potential surprises
Verify legal compliance with current laws
Help develop a living will and accompanying documents
Build a plan for taxes, wealth transfers, charity donations, and debt payoffs
Appoint legal guardians for your children

Essentially, if you have heirs and survivors or plenty of wealth, a lawyer can be worth hiring. However, you may still decide to build your own plan first, and your attorney can put on the finishing touches.

What is a Living Trust, and Should I Use One Instead?

A living trust is similar to a will in that it is a written plan for distributing personal property and liquid assets to heirs.

Here are the primary differences between living trusts and wills:

Court involvement: A living trust has a simpler legal process, as you appoint a trustee and don’t have to follow court-ordered probate. Wills have an executor and must go through court (probate) to close the estate, which can be time-consuming.
Appointing guardians for surviving children: Living trusts don’t let you appoint guardians for children under age 18. If you’re a parent with minor children, you will need a will to appoint guardians.
Costs: Living trusts can be more expensive to set up and maintain than a last will and testament.

A living trust might be the only document you need to transfer property to your heirs. If so, consider this option to minimize the legal process so the survivors can receive their inheritance sooner.

For more complicated estates, an attorney may recommend having a living trust and a will.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you are still unsure whether an online will maker is right for you, these questions might help clear up any hesitations.

Can you make a will online for free?

Yes, you can use a free online will maker for simple estate plans. You will still need to follow the protocols to make your free will legally binding, such as notary services.

Can I write my own will?

It’s possible to write a will on your own. It can be recognized by the courts if you satisfy your state’s legal requirements.

However, using an online will-maker service or hiring an attorney can make the process easier and help ensure you don’t overlook any details.

How do I write a will without a lawyer?

The easiest option is to use an online will maker that walks you through each step. These services can be free or paid and are cheaper than a lawyer. If you’re comfortable doing everything yourself, you can also find a template.

What makes a will valid?

Your will must meet these three traits to be considered valid and legal:

You’re at least 18 years old and have a sound mind
Qualified witnesses sign your will
It is notarized

Your state and court system may have additional guidelines for determining whether your will is valid.

Summary

An online will maker can be the easiest way to get a legally binding will. Using one of the best online will makers instead of hiring a local lawyer helps you save money.

Whether you can make a will for free or even pay extra for an attorney’s service, having the necessary estate planning documents in place will protect your future.

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