You can create a will online for free with The U.S. Will Registry’s free online will maker. It walks you through choosing beneficiaries, naming an executor, and selecting guardians for minor children, then produces a finished will you print and sign. Once you sign it according to your state’s rules, it is legally valid, and you can register it for free so your family knows where to find it.
A free will maker is an online program that builds your will from your answers to simple questions. Instead of interpreting legal language yourself, you answer one question at a time, and the program formats a complete document for you.
The U.S. Will Registry’s free will maker covers each of the steps above and costs nothing to use, download, or update.
Many online will services advertise a free will but charge to download, print, or update it. Before you start, check that a program is free at every step, not just the first one. A complete free program should include:
Review Article: Common Mistakes to Avoid When Writing a Will
A free online will template is a fill-in-the-blank form. You download it, type in your information, and print it. A will maker asks you questions and builds the document for you.
| Will Template (Paper Version) | Online Will Maker | |
| How it works | You fill in blanks on a fixed form | You answer guided questions and the will is written for you |
| Risk of missing something | Higher, since nothing prompts you | Lower, since each decision is covered step by step |
| Guardians, pets, specific gifts | Only if the form includes them | Included as part of the questions |
| Updating later | Start a new form | Edit your answers and print again |
Either one can produce a valid will if it is signed correctly. An online will maker is the safer choice for most people because it is harder to leave out an executor, an alternate, or a guardian.
Yes. A will you create online is legally valid when you sign it according to your state’s law. The program creates the document, but the signing is what makes it enforceable.
For more detail, see is an online will legal.
Most people finish in 10 minutes to an hour. If you are single with few assets and no children or pets, expect about 10 minutes. With children, pets, and more property to divide, it can take up to an hour. You can stop and come back at any time, so you don’t have to finish in one sitting.
An online will works well for a straightforward estate. The American Bar Association notes that for a person with modest assets in their name alone who wants to leave them to their closest surviving relative, using an online service may be appropriate and cost-effective. If you have a blended family, a business, significant assets, or complex tax planning needs, consider an estate planning attorney.
| Factor | Online Will | Estate Planning Attorney |
| Best for | Simple estates and straightforward wishes | Business ownership, multiple properties, complex tax planning, blended families |
| Typical cost | Free to low cost | Several hundred to several thousand dollars |
| Time to complete | 10 to 60 minutes | Multiple appointments over weeks |
| Legal validity | Valid once properly signed | Valid once properly signed |
| Updates | Usually free and immediate | Usually billed per revision |
Not sure which applies to you? Start with the difference between a simple and a complex estate, or compare online wills and attorney wills in more detail.
Your beneficiaries are the people or charities who receive your property. Think about savings, real estate, digital assets, and sentimental items, and name an alternate in case a beneficiary dies before you. Get help deciding who should be your beneficiary.
A specific gift leaves a particular item or dollar amount to a named person or charity, such as a piece of jewelry, a family heirloom, or a set amount of cash. Describe each item clearly so there is no confusion later. Learn more about specific bequests.
Everything not given away as a specific gift goes to your residuary beneficiaries. Naming them keeps leftover property from being divided under your state’s default inheritance rules. Read what is a residuary beneficiary.
Your executor pays final bills, files court paperwork, and distributes your property. Choose someone organized and trustworthy, and name an alternate. See how to choose an executor.
Naming a guardian tells the court who you want to raise your children if you can’t. Name a primary and an alternate guardian. Read our guide on choosing a legal guardian for your child.
You can name someone to care for your pets and include care instructions. Learn about assigning a pet guardian.
A will only helps your family if they can find it. Keep the signed original somewhere safe, such as a fireproof box at home or with your attorney, and tell your executor where it is. Avoid keeping the only copy in a place no one else can open.
Registering your will adds a second layer of protection. The U.S. Will Registry, established in 1997, lets you register your will for free. Registration records that your will exists and where it is kept, so your family has a place to search if they can’t find it. See more on where to store your will.
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Avoid these common mistakes when preparing, signing, and storing your will.
Yes. For a simple estate, an online will maker can produce a valid will without an attorney. If you own a business, have a blended family, or need tax planning, an estate planning attorney is a better choice.
Free fill-in-the-blank will templates are available online, but a free will maker is usually a better option. It asks guided questions, so you are less likely to leave out an executor, an alternate beneficiary, or a guardian.
In most states, no. A notarized self-proving affidavit is optional, but it can make probate easier because the court won’t need to track down the people who signed as witnesses.
Yes. With a free will maker, you can update your answers and print a new version whenever your life changes. Sign the new version the same way you signed the first, and destroy the old one so there is no confusion about which is current.
This article was reviewed for legal accuracy by Shawn Patrick Wolf, Esq. Mr. Wolf is Board Certified in Wills, Trusts and Estates and in Tax Law. He serves on the Board of Directors of the East Coast Estate Planning Council and the Palm Beach Tax Institute.