Get A Will Online: 3 Fast, Cheap Services To Try
Draft a legally binding will online quickly and affordably without needing an expensive attorney. Protect your assets and loved ones today.
How to Get a Will Online Fast and Cheap
Creating a last will and testament doesn’t require hiring an expensive attorney or navigating complex legal jargon. Online will makers allow you to draft a legally binding document from home, often for less than $200, saving time and money while ensuring your assets go to the right people.
Estate planning can feel overwhelming with requirements for witnesses, notarization, and state-specific rules. However, modern online services simplify the process with guided questionnaires, attorney-reviewed templates, and compliance checks tailored to your location. This approach is ideal for most people with straightforward estates, helping avoid probate costs that can exceed thousands without a will.
What Are Online Will Makers?
Online will makers are digital platforms that generate customized legal documents based on your answers to simple questions. Unlike traditional methods requiring in-person attorney consultations—which can cost $500 to $2,000—these services produce state-compliant wills for a fraction of the price.
These tools handle essentials like naming beneficiaries, appointing executors, guardians for minors, and specifying asset distribution. They also often bundle related documents such as living wills, powers of attorney, and HIPAA authorizations. The result is a downloadable PDF ready for signing, witnessing, and notarization per your state’s laws.
Experts emphasize that while convenient, online wills must meet legal standards. ‘Make sure you do all the things the state requires for a will to be binding, such as notarizations or witnesses,’ advises Bob Chitrathorn, CPFA® and CFO at Simplified Wealth Management.
3 Tips for Getting a Will Online
While online will makers are user-friendly, following these tips ensures your document is valid, secure, and effective.
1. Make It Legal
A handwritten ‘holographic’ will might seem simple, but it’s risky. Courts can invalidate or amend them if contested, leading to disputes among heirs. Most states require a typed will signed by you in front of two disinterested witnesses (not beneficiaries). About half also mandate notarization for ‘self-proving’ affidavits that speed up probate.
- Check state laws: Use your state’s bar association website or the service’s compliance tools to confirm requirements. Only a few states allow oral (nuncupative) wills, typically for soldiers or in emergencies.
- Sign properly: Print the will, sign it with witnesses present, and notarize if needed. Store originals safely and give copies to your executor.
- Update regularly: Review every 3-5 years or after life events like marriage, divorce, births, or deaths.
2. Choose a Secure Provider
Will creation involves sensitive data: names, dates of birth, account details, and beneficiary info. A data breach could expose you to identity theft. Select services with bank-level encryption (256-bit SSL), privacy policies compliant with GDPR/CCPA, and no-history data deletion after download.
- Verify security: Look for trust badges, third-party audits, and user reviews on sites like Trustpilot.
- Avoid free traps: ‘Free’ trials often require card details; opt for one-time fees to minimize exposure.
- Accuracy matters: ‘The end product is based on your answers… If your answers are wrong, you will probably get a result that isn’t correct,’ notes Chitrathorn.
3. Know When to Get Help
Online wills suit simple estates (under $100K-$200K, no complex assets like businesses or trusts). For blended families, special needs beneficiaries, or high-value estates, consult an attorney to avoid challenges. Hybrid services offering attorney reviews add peace of mind for $50-$200 extra.
3 Online Will Makers
Here are three reputable services, compared for cost, features, and ease of use. All produce state-specific documents reviewed by attorneys.
| Service | Price | Key Features | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocket Lawyer | $0 trial + $39.99 one-time or $39.99/mo | Template-based; attorney Q&A with sub; unlimited docs | Budget users needing flexibility |
| Trust & Will | $159 flat (will + extras) | Step-by-step quiz; support chat/phone; living will bundle | Guided experience, couples |
| Quicken WillMaker | $99-$149/year | State-specific; unlimited updates; Nolo attorney team | Frequent revisers, comprehensive plans |
1. Rocket Lawyer
Rocket Lawyer offers a free will template during a 7-day trial—cancel anytime or pay $39.99 one-time to download without subscription. It’s template-driven rather than fully interactive, so read instructions carefully. Premium members ($39.99/mo) get unlimited attorney consultations via phone or chat, ideal for clarifications.
Pros: Affordable entry, broad legal library. Cons: Less hand-holding than competitors. Rating: 4.5/5 on ease for simple wills.
2. Trust & Will
Trust & Will shines with its intuitive questionnaire that asks about family, assets, and wishes, generating a complete package: will, living will, power of attorney, and HIPAA release for $159 (individual) or $299 (couples). Multi-channel support includes email, chat, and phone.
Pros: User-friendly, bundles extras. Cons: No free option. Perfect for those wanting a polished, all-in-one plan without DIY hassle.
3. Quicken WillMaker
From legal publisher Nolo, Quicken WillMaker & Trust starts at $99/year, providing unlimited documents and revisions. It auto-tailors to your state via attorney-updated laws, covering wills, trusts, and more. Download anytime during membership.
Pros: Comprehensive, state-compliant. Cons: Annual fee. Best for ongoing estate needs or multiple documents.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Is an online will legally binding?
A: Yes, if it meets your state’s requirements for signing, witnesses, and notarization. Services ensure templates comply, but you handle execution.
Q: How long does it take to make a will online?
A: 20-60 minutes for the questionnaire, plus time for printing and signing. Revisions are quick.
Q: Do I need a lawyer for a simple will?
A: No, for uncomplicated estates. Attorneys are recommended for complexity to prevent errors costing more later.
Q: What if I have no assets or kids?
A: Still beneficial—designate a beneficiary for any future assets and name a proxy for decisions.
Q: Can I make a will for free?
A: Basic templates exist, but paid services offer better guidance and compliance. FreeWill.com provides nonprofit options.
Q: What’s the difference between a will and a living will?
A: A last will handles asset distribution after death; a living will specifies medical wishes if incapacitated.
Next Steps After Creating Your Will
Print multiple copies: original for safe storage (fireproof safe or safety deposit box), copies for executor, attorney, and family. Register with services like the U.S. Will Registry if desired. Discuss with loved ones to avoid surprises.
Pair with other plans: Consider a living will for healthcare directives, durable power of attorney for finances, and digital estate inventory for online accounts.
Without a will, state intestacy laws decide distribution, often unfavorably (e.g., excluding stepchildren). Online tools make planning accessible, potentially saving heirs thousands in probate.
References
- How to Make a Living Will for Free in 4 Easy Steps — The Penny Hoarder. 2023. https://www.thepennyhoarder.com/retirement/how-to-make-a-living-will/
- How to Get a Will Online Fast and Cheap — The Penny Hoarder. 2023. https://www.thepennyhoarder.com/save-money/how-to-get-a-will-online/
- How Digital Estate Planning Protects Your Online Legacy — The Penny Hoarder. 2023. https://www.thepennyhoarder.com/retirement/digital-estate-planning/
- 5 Estate Planning Moves to Make for Under $100 — The Penny Hoarder. 2023. https://www.thepennyhoarder.com/retirement/estate-planning/
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