Easy online wills are available now through online will programs developed with estate planning attorneys to ensure that everyone has access to creating a will. These programs take intimidating estate planning terminology and turn it into simple questions, clear explanations, and an easy-to-follow process.
What makes an easy online will truly easy is not simply that it is online. It is the simplicity of navigating the program and understanding what you are being asked. You should not need to understand complicated legal language to make decisions about your own will.
For people with straightforward estates, an online will can provide a comfortable and affordable way to put important wishes in writing.
The best online will programs make estate planning feel understandable rather than intimidating.
Terms such as executor, beneficiary, probate, and self-proving affidavit may be unfamiliar to someone creating a will for the first time. A good program explains these terms when necessary and uses everyday language whenever possible.
Instead of confronting you with complicated legal wording, it asks understandable questions such as:
The legal provisions can appear in the completed will. The person creating the will should not have to speak legal language to get there.
An easy online will should also have simple navigation. You should know what you are being asked, why the information is needed, and what comes next.
Look for a program that provides:
Easy should mean understandable, not rushed.
For years, some people postponed creating a will because estate planning seemed complicated, expensive, or unnecessary unless they had substantial assets.
Online will programs have helped change that.
You can create a will from home, consider each question at your own pace, and make important decisions without sitting in front of pages of unfamiliar legal terminology.
You also do not need to be wealthy to benefit from a will.
A will can state who should receive your property, who should handle your estate, who should receive important personal possessions, and who you nominate as guardian for minor children.
By simplifying the process, online will programs have made basic estate planning accessible to more people.
Yes. An online will does not necessarily have to replace an estate planning attorney.
Some people choose to create their will online first and then take the completed document to an attorney for review.
This allows you to think through important decisions before the appointment. You may already know who you want as beneficiaries, who should serve as executor, and how you want your property distributed.
An attorney can then review the document based on your individual circumstances and advise you about whether it meets your needs.
This approach can potentially save time and legal fees while still providing the reassurance of an attorney’s review.
Several established companies provide online wills and estate planning documents.
Rocket Lawyer offers online legal documents, including wills and other estate planning documents.
LegalZoom also offers online wills and related estate planning services.
The U.S. Will Registry provides an easy online will at no cost for people with straightforward estate planning needs.
Programs vary in price, features, updates, and additional services. Therefore, compare more than price. Consider how easily you can navigate the program, whether you understand the questions, what happens after you finish, and whether you can make changes later.
The U.S. Will Registry combines an easy online will program with another important estate planning service.
Both the online will and will registration are free.
The online program guides users through the decisions needed to create a will using understandable questions and explanations. Users can also make updates when circumstances change.
Will registration addresses a different concern: Will your family be able to find your will when they need it?
People move. Attorneys retire. Law firms close. Documents get relocated. Family members may not know where a will was stored or which attorney prepared it.
The U.S. Will Registry allows a person to register information about the location of a will without giving the Registry possession of the original document.
You can also register a will created elsewhere. A will prepared by an attorney or another online will program can be registered.
The process is simple:
Create your will → Sign it properly → Store it safely → Register its location
CREATE YOUR WILL TODAYIT’S FREE!The U.S. Will Registry▶ START YOUR FREE WILL
Yes. The importance of preventing wills from becoming lost has been addressed within the legal profession.
The U.S. Will Registry and digital will registration were featured in the March/April 2020 issue of the American Bar Association’s Probate & Property magazine in the article “Digital Registries Can Make Lost Wills a Problem of the Past.”
The article discussed the problems families and attorneys can face when wills cannot be located and addressed will registration as a way to help prevent testamentary documents from becoming lost.
For consumers, the message is straightforward: creating your will is important, but making sure it can be found is important too.
An online will can be legally valid when the completed document meets the requirements of applicable state law.
Creating the document online, however, may not complete the process. You still need to follow the appropriate instructions for signing and witnessing the will.
A good easy online will program should clearly explain what you need to do after creating the document.
If your estate is complicated, or you are uncertain whether an online will meets your needs, consult an estate planning attorney.
Online wills are generally designed for people with straightforward estate planning needs.
Consider working directly with an estate planning attorney if you have a complicated or high-value estate, significant business interests, a blended family with complex inheritance concerns, a beneficiary with special needs, complicated trusts, significant tax issues, or concerns about a future will contest.
The goal of an online will is to simplify basic estate planning. It should not make a complicated estate appear simpler than it really is.
Start with simplicity.
The best easy online will should make you comfortable with the decisions you are making. The website should be easy to navigate, the questions should be understandable, and unfamiliar terminology should be explained.
Then consider cost, the ability to make updates, signing instructions, and what happens to your will after you create it.
Rocket Lawyer and LegalZoom are established online options. The U.S. Will Registry provides another choice for people seeking a free easy online will, with the additional benefit of free will registration.
For people who want additional reassurance, creating a will online and then having an estate planning attorney review it can provide another option.
Ultimately, creating a will online should not feel like completing a complicated legal document. The legal language belongs in the will. The process of creating it should be simple.
Creating a will online is the easiest way to get started.
It takes minutes and helps protect your family.
This article provides general educational information and is not legal advice. Will requirements vary by state. Consult a qualified estate planning attorney if you have questions about your individual circumstances.
This article was prepared by estate planning researchers and reviewed by S. Miller and staff. With more than 25 years of experience in estate planning documentation and probate processes, our editorial oversight ensures clarity and accuracy. This content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
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