FreeWill and The U.S. Will Registry both offer free, user-friendly online will makers for people with straightforward estate planning needs. The key difference is that The U.S. Will Registry also provides free will registration, helping loved ones locate information about a will after death. Both services can also help users organize their wishes before meeting with an estate planning attorney.
Both programs make creating a will easier and more accessible. However, choosing between them depends on whether you simply want to create a will or also want to help ensure your family can find it when it is needed.
Here is a quick comparison of the two free will-making services:
| Feature | FreeWill | The U.S. Will Registry |
|---|---|---|
| Free online will | Yes | Yes |
| User-friendly guided process | Yes | Yes |
| Attorney-developed/reviewed documents | Yes | Yes |
| Suitable for straightforward estates | Yes | Yes |
| Pour-over will option | Yes, in connection with its trust offering | Yes |
| Free will registration | Not a core feature | Yes |
| Helps family search for registered will information | Not a core feature | Yes |
Both services provide a practical way to create a will without starting with an attorney. However, people with complex estates should consider having an estate planning attorney review their individual circumstances.
FreeWill is a free online estate planning platform that guides users through creating a last will and testament.
The program asks questions about beneficiaries, executors, guardians, property, and other estate decisions. Users can then print the completed will and execute it according to their state’s requirements.
FreeWill is particularly useful for people who want a straightforward way to create basic estate planning documents at no cost.
The U.S. Will Registry provides a free online will maker along with services designed to help families locate wills after someone dies.
Its free online will maker guides users through important estate decisions and produces a will that can be printed and properly executed.
The U.S. Will Registry has also helped families and estate professionals search for information about registered wills since 1997. This addresses an important estate planning problem: a will cannot provide much guidance if your loved ones cannot find it when you are gone.
This is where The U.S. Will Registry stands apart.
After creating a will, users can register their will for free.
Registration does not mean The U.S. Will Registry takes possession of your original will. Instead, registration creates a record of the will’s existence and location so that it may be located when needed.
That can become extremely important years later.
After someone dies, family members may desperately search through filing cabinets, safes, personal papers, computer files, and attorney records trying to answer two basic questions:
Did my loved one have a will, and where is it?
A registered will provides another way for the family to search for that information.
Locating the will can also reduce uncertainty about the deceased person’s wishes and help the family move forward with settling the estate. While registration cannot prevent every family disagreement, knowing that a will exists and where it is located may help prevent disputes caused simply because nobody can find the document.
A person with a revocable living trust may also need a pour-over will.
A pour-over will generally directs certain assets remaining outside the trust at death into the trust through the estate administration process.
The U.S. Will Registry offers a pour-over will option for people who need a will to accompany their trust.
FreeWill also provides a pour-over will in connection with its revocable living trust offering.
Therefore, the availability of a pour-over will alone should not determine which service you choose.
Both FreeWill and The U.S. Will Registry can be good choices for someone with a relatively straightforward estate who knows how they want their property distributed.
They can also be valuable for someone who intends to consult an attorney.
Completing a will template beforehand can help you think through important decisions, including:
You can then bring those decisions and documents to an attorney for further guidance if necessary.
People with complicated estates, blended families, business interests, special-needs beneficiaries, significant tax concerns, or anticipated family disputes should consider individualized legal advice.
Both are excellent free online will-making options. FreeWill provides an established, easy-to-use platform for creating estate planning documents. The U.S. Will Registry provides a similarly accessible way to create a will, but adds an important benefit: free will registration.
For someone concerned about what will happen years from now, that distinction may matter.
Creating a will tells your family what you want.
Registering the will helps give them a way to find it when they need it most.
For families trying to settle an estate after a death, knowing that a will exists and where it is located can provide valuable direction at a time when uncertainty can otherwise lead to delays and disagreements.
Both offer free online will-making options. The U.S. Will Registry also offers free will registration, allowing users to record information about the existence and location of their will.
No. The U.S. Will Registry records information concerning the existence and location of a registered will. It does not take possession of or store the original will.
Will registration helps create a way for loved ones to locate information about your will after your death. This can be especially important when many years have passed and family members do not know where the original document was kept.
Yes. An online will maker can help you organize your beneficiaries, executor choices, gifts, and other wishes before meeting with an attorney. For complicated estates or family situations, obtaining individualized legal advice is particularly important.
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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