Best Online Will Makers
The best online will makers help you streamline your estate planning and prepare for the future with excellent customer support, easy-to-create documents, and affordable prices.
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Writing a will is an important part of your estate planning process, but you might be wondering where to start. That’s where online will makers come in. With an online will maker, you’ll be responsible for the bulk of the work of drafting your will, but the system will help to guide you through the process. Many of the best will makers also give you the option to ask an attorney questions if you need extra help. You can create a will and make sure that you’re allotting and managing your finances in the way that you prefer.
Just as you would carefully choose your attorney, it’s important to choose a quality online will maker. That’s why we reviewed and compared some of the best online will makers, highlighted the features that you should look for, and included some tips to help you choose the service that’s right for you. We evaluated each will maker on this list using important factors like price, value, ease of use, customer service quality, and more. Read on to learn about our top picks!
The Top Online Will Making Services
Our Methodology: How We Chose the Best Online Will Making Services
There are many online will making services to choose from, so selecting the best one required a deep dive. We spent 50+ hours researching and comparing options. We used the following criteria to choose the best online will makers:
- Types of documents: We started by reviewing the types of documents that each platform supports. We looked for wills at a minimum, but also chose platforms that offered other documents like power of attorney and living wills.
- Customer service: We evaluated how easily customers could get support through each platform. We looked for services that offered multiple communication options, including phone and email, and looked for prompt customer service responses.
- Attorney access: Our team considered whether each platform gave customers access to an attorney if they needed extra support. We evaluated whether that access was included in the subscription price.
- Ease of use: We looked for platforms that were easy to use and included well-organized designs and user-friendly documents. We also looked for services that published resources, guides, and screening tools to help users choose the right document.
- Important features: We considered the other features offered by each service, including the ability to make revisions, online data storage, document printing, and more.
- Cost and value: Finally, we considered not only the cost of each platform, but also the value offered. For example, some platforms with higher subscription costs actually offered the greatest value, since they included access to attorneys without having to pay an additional fee.
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1. LegalShield - Best Customer Service
View Coverage and Pricing Links to LegalShield
LegalShieldView Coverage and Pricing Links to LegalShieldOverview:LegalShield offers estate planning options and a simple subscription model. Members receive access to a standard will, living will, and durable power of attorney. A provider lawyer prepares these documents, and members enjoy free annual will reviews and updates. We recommend reviewing your documents every year and making any necessary changes, so we appreciate that these reviews are included for free.
LegalShield makes our list because of the quality customer service it provides. The company responds to member emails within 24 hours. Additionally, members can speak with a provider law firm 24/7 in emergency situations, such as if they’re served with a warrant. While LegalShield may provide online will creation services, this extra support stands out from other companies. It isn’t a service we’ve found with many other will makers. This is ideal for anyone who’s looking for an affordable service but who also wants to be able to access extra support when needed.
Pros & Cons:Pros About LegalShield
- Membership includes a standard will, living will, and durable power of attorney prepared by a provider lawyer
- Includes free annual reviews and updates to your will
- Ability to speak with a provider law firm 24/7 in emergency situations
- Responds to emails in 24 hours
- Additional support available for IRS audits, traffic tickets, and trial defense
- Members can get up to 50 percent off at Verizon, Costco, and Amazon
Cons About LegalShield
- Must subscribe to a plan to have a will prepared
- Supplements, like trial defense, aren’t available with the annual subscription
- Guided Will Questionnaire is only available on the LegalShield app
Summary:Available Services and Prices
A LegalShield membership includes multiple estate planning services:
- Standard will prepared by a provider lawyer, as well as annual reviews and updates
- Living will prepared by a provider lawyer for you, your spouse, and eligible dependents, as well as annual reviews and updates
- Durable power of attorney document drafted by your provider firm for you, your spouse, and eligible covered dependents, as well as annual reviews and updates
LegalShield memberships include many other services:
- Protection for you, your spouse or partner, and dependent children
- Support for family law issues, IRS audits, traffic tickets, and residential loans
- 24/7 access to an emergency legal help hotline
- Discounts for additional time with provider lawyers
- Discounts of up to 50 percent at Verizon, Costco, and Amazon
LegalShield offers several plan options for individuals and families. Each plan varies in coverage and in the legal services offered.
The plans can be paid for monthly or annually:
- Basic: $26.95 a month or $323.46 annually
- Advanced: $35.95 a month or $431.46 annually
- Premium: $53.95 a month or $647.46 annually
We appreciate that LegalShield offers different payment types and plan levels to suit various budgets. We’ve found that LegalShield’s comprehensive services make their plans an excellent choice for individuals, spouses, and families. Plus, the ability to prepare a standard will, a living will, and a durable power of attorney can help ensure that you’re legally prepared and maximize the value of this plan. We also like that legal representation during tax audits is included in the Premium level plan, LegalShield’s most comprehensive plan offering.
Pro Tip: A living will outline your end-of-life medical care wishes. Learn more in our guide to making a living will.
LegalShield stands out because of its customer service. Customers have access to the company’s 24/7 emergency legal help hotline for assistance in child custody emergencies, vehicle accidents resulting in injury, and if they’re detained by authorities or served with a warrant. This extra support is a valuable feature, and even if you never use the hotline, knowing that it’s available offers reassurance. Plus, LegalShield is highly responsive to customer needs. LegalShield promises to respond to emails within 24 hours, and you can also contact the company by phone or by using the live chat function. This can be particularly reassuring if you’re navigating will and estate planning for the first time, and it’s great for customers who would like some extra support.
While LegalShield offers comprehensive will planning services, it doesn’t specialize in trust writing. If you’re exploring the idea of creating a trust, we’d recommend a company like LegalZoom.
Feedback and Reviews
LegalShield has an overall positive rating. Many reviewers describe being connected with lawyers who were professional and who promptly answered their questions. Customers who used LegalShield for estate planning describe the process as being highly automated, and many reviewers state that they believe that working with LegalShield helped them save money compared to the cost of hiring a lawyer.
» Dive Deeper: LegalShield Review
There are few trends described in the negative reviews, and most negative feedback seems to be describing unique issues. One negative reviewer expressed frustration at getting an updated copy of her will. Another was having trouble canceling her account.
Our Experience
We found the LegalShield website to be clear and well-organized. The subscription plans are simple. And, since there are just two plans, you won’t be overwhelmed by choices. LegalShield uses graphics to help you understand what’s included, and the explanations are clear. We felt like we were familiar with the services after just a few minutes on the website.
Reviewing LegalShield's services. Photo credit: LegalShield
While LegalShield offers a Guided Will Questionnaire, it’s only available to members through the app. You’ll want to consider whether you’re comfortable using an app when planning your will. Unfortunately there’s no way to preview the questionnaire before signing up.
LegalShield will planner mobile app. Photo Credit: LegalShield
Overall, LegalShield’s website is very helpful. If you still have questions, the company prominently displays its chat, email, and phone contact information at the bottom of the site.
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2. Duckpins - Best Personalized Service for Washington State Residents
Overview:Duckpins is an online estate-planning document company available to seniors in Washington state. This makes them less accessible than LegalShield, Nolo Quicken WillMaker, and LegalZoom, which offer services throughout the entire country. However, Duckpins plans to expand their services to more states soon.
» Learn More: 2025 Duckpins Review
Even simple documents like wills must adhere to the laws and regulations of the holder’s state of residence. Despite being accessible only online, Duckpins provides comprehensive and personalized estate planning document generation for Washington state residents.
We found that using Duckpins is easy and affordable. Each step of the process includes explainers that help guide seniors toward creating the most appropriate documents for their needs. Duckpins is also extremely comprehensive. This makes using Duckpins a legally safe option for people with limited knowledge about the types of documents they need to keep themselves, their families, and their property well taken care of.
Creating our Power of Attorney document with Duckpins
Duckpins is sure to expand their services to other states within the next several months. If you like what they have to offer, keep your eyes on their website to see if your state gets added to their roster of services.
Pros & Cons:Pros About Duckpins
- Personalized service is overseen by professionals
- Creating documents on the Duckpins website is fast, easy, and comprehensive
- Each document is legally validated, witnessed, and notarized electronically
- Documents can be updated as needed
- Relatively affordable
Cons About Duckpins
- Currently only available in Washington state
- If you move out of Washington, your documents will need to be reviewed for legal accuracy in your new state of residence
Summary:Available Services and Prices
Unlike LegalZoom, Duckpins doesn’t offer differing packages for wills and trusts. If you’re not sure which you need, Duckpins will supply you with a list of questions that will help you determine which document type is best for you. No matter which one you choose, your cost will be the same.
Duckpins makes it easy to decide if you need a will or trust.
Duckpins provides clients with the option of purchasing a Saver Bundle of Documents for $449. During our research we noted that the Saver Bundle was being offered at a discount for $349. The Saver Bundle includes the following:
- Will or Trust
- General Durable Power of Attorney
- Advance Health Care Directive
- Release Authorization for Medical Records
Creating and ratifying documents costs a one-time charge of $275 and $75, respectively. Managing and sharing documents costs $99 annually. You will also pay an automatic $99 annual renewal fee for document storage and management.
Feedback and Reviews
Duckpins is a new company that has not yet accrued a body of either positive or negative reviews. They are not accredited with the Better Business Bureau.
Our Experience
We used Duckpins and found it very easy to use and comprehensive. Based on our experience, we think Duckpins would be an excellent choice for seniors who live in Washington state.
Duckpins is a “soup to nuts” service which enables seniors to create, file, and ratify important documents from the comfort of their own home. We especially like the online meetings that are provided with a notary and witness. This removes much of the stress and hassle from document generation.
Meeting with a notary and witness to finalize our documents with Duckpins
We also like the prompting questions that are built into the document generation process. These help clarify the types of documents needed, as well as important details you might not think about documenting, such as the posthumous allocation of sentimental heirlooms, arrangements for pet care, and funeral and burial arrangements.
All in all, Duckpins provides a very comprehensive service at a price point that is comparable or in some instances lower than their competitors. Duckpins is slightly less expensive than comparable services from LegalShield, and falls right in the middle of LegalZoom’s package prices.
One thing to note is that Duckpins is not accessible via phone prior to becoming a client. This makes them less accessible than the other will makers on our list.
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3. LegalZoom - Best Attorney Support
Overview:LegalZoom offers basic and premium will and trust plan packages for individuals and couples, making this service a viable option for multiple budgets and needs. If you have straightforward planning needs and want to save money, we recommend one of the Basic plans, which don’t include attorney support. If you need more guidance or are working with a more complicated situation, the Premium plans cost just $150 more and include a year of attorney support. We think the extra cost is worth the peace of mind that attorney support offers.
Learn More: Trusts are ideal for many situations, including if you have a large estate, if you have multiple heirs, and if you have heirs with a large amount of debt. Read our guide to trusts to learn if a trust is right for you.
LegalZoom stands out for other reasons, too. All of the plans include the printing and shipping of your first set of documents. They’re comprehensive, including options like medical and financial power of attorney and a living will. Additionally, LegalZoom customer support is available on both weekdays and weekends, so chances are that when you’re working on your will, you can get help if you need it. Many companies only offer support on weekdays, so we appreciate these extended hours.
While LegalZoom offers decent customer support, the website only lists the support phone number. If you want to reach support by email or fax, a company like LegalShield might be a better fit. You can learn more from our full LegalZoom review.
Pros & Cons:Pros About LegalZoom
- Offers both will and trust writing services and support
- All plans include unlimited chat, phone, and email support
- All plans include the first set of document printing and shipping
- Wills are accepted in all 50 states
- Plans available for individuals or couples
- Customer support available on weekdays and weekends
Cons About LegalZoom
- Lawyer support only available with the Premium plans
- Basic plans only include 30 days of document revision
- A more expensive option than some other services
Summary:Available Services and Prices
LegalZoom offers multiple estate plan packages:
- Basic Will Individual: This plan includes one last will and testament, one health care directive, one financial power of attorney, one HIPAA authorization, 30 days of free revisions, and printing and shipping of one set of documents. It costs $99.
- Basic Will Couple: This plan provides two of everything that the Basic Will Individual plan contains. It costs $199.
- Premium Will (for individuals and couples): This plan includes everything the Basic plan contains, plus attorney review of your documents, unlimited 30-minute calls with an attorney for one year, attorney advice for your family, and one year of free revisions. It costs $249 for individuals and $349 for couples.
- Basic Trust Individual: This plan includes one living trust, one pour-over will, one health care directive, one financial power of attorney, one HIPAA authorization, one certificate of trust, one schedule of assets, one bill of transfer, 30 days of free revisions, and printing and shipping of one set of documents. It costs $399.
- Basic Trust Couple: This plan includes one living trust, two pour-over wills, two health care directives, two financial powers of attorney, two HIPAA authorizations, one certificate of trust, one schedule of assets, one bill of transfer, 30 days of free revisions, and printing and shipping of one set of documents. It costs $499
- Premium Trust (for individuals and couples): This plan includes everything the Basic Trust plan contains, plus attorney review of your documents, unlimited 30-minute calls with an attorney for one year, attorney advice for your family, and one year of free revisions. It costs $549 for individuals and $649 for couples.
Want to create estate planning documents for you and your spouse? Plans for couples cost just $100 more than the prices listed above. Not bad!
We’ve found that the estate plan packages include comprehensive services. The Basic plans only include 30 days of document revision, whereas the Premium plans include a year of document revisions. Since the Premium plans are just $150 more than the Basic plans and include more document revisions and attorney support, we think they’re well worth the extra cost. In contrast, the Basic plans can help you save some money if your planning needs are straightforward and if you can navigate the process yourself.
» Related Reading: A Guide to Estate Planning Attorneys
We do wish LegalZoom offered monthly payment options like LegalShield does for those on a tight budget. Still, the company’s variety of services may be worth the up-front cost.
Feedback and Reviews
LegalZoom has overall positive reviews. Many reviewers described positive interactions with attorneys. Reviewers frequently stated that the attorneys were highly informative and answered their questions.
The negative reviews we found don’t focus specifically on will preparation. Many reviewers were frustrated by the fact that LegalZoom’s plans were automatically renewed. Several reviews described situations where they were billed twice or seemed to have been mistakenly billed for multiple services. This is important to note, so make sure to keep an eye on your billing statements. If you don’t want to renew your service, set a reminder on your phone or calendar to cancel service.
Our Experience
With four plans to choose from, we’ve found that LegalZoom is a slightly more complicated option than other companies, like LegalShield. However, LegalZoom’s website does a good job of laying out the components of each plan in a chart. The chart makes it relatively easy to see what’s included and decide which plan is best for you.
Comparing LegalZoom's plans online. Photo credit: LegalZoom
We were also impressed by the educational content included on the site. LegalZoom has an excellent FAQ section outlining questions around different types of documents and how to create wills and trusts. This information helps make the website more user-friendly, which is ideal for anyone who’s just starting to explore the will-making process.
Reading through LegalZoom's FAQs. Photo credit: LegalZoom
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4. Nolo Quicken WillMaker - Most Comprehensive Option
Overview:Nolo Quicken WillMaker is an online will-making service with more comprehensive options than the other services we’ve reviewed. It offers three plans. The Starter Plan limits you to will, health care directive, and final arrangement documents. However, upgrading to the Plus plan includes a fantastic selection of documents:
- Wills
- Health care directives
- Final arrangements
- Durable power of attorney
- Letters to survivors
- Living trust
- Transfer on death deed
- Limited power of attorney
- Promissory note
- Temporary guardianship authorization
These same documents are also included in the All Access plan, which features secure digital storage.
These document options go far beyond what we’ve seen from other services. In addition to planning your will, you can select other documents to help with estate and trust planning. These documents help to ensure that you’re protected and prepared. Being able to complete them all in one place is not only convenient, but can save you money over the cost of subscribing to multiple services or hiring a lawyer.
While other services feature options for attorney support, Nolo Quicken WillMaker doesn’t have that option. We were disappointed to see this, as the extra support is a feature we love. As a result, this service is best for anyone who has relatively straightforward planning needs and who doesn’t need legal support. If you’d like attorney support as you plan your will, consider a service like LegalZoom.
Pros & Cons:Pros About Nolo Quicken WillMaker
- Three plan options available for different budgets and needs
- Discount available if you choose to renew your annual plan
- Retain lifetime access to your documents, even if your subscription lapses
- Option to create and revise documents at any time during your membership
- Plus Plan includes access to many document options
- Vault storage available to create a digital archive for easy sharing
Cons About Nolo Quicken WillMaker
- Starter Plan includes limited document access
- Estate planning documents aren’t valid in certain areas, like Louisiana, U.S. Territories, and Canada
- No attorney support available
Summary:Available Services and Prices
Nolo Quicken WillMaker offers three plans:
- The Starter Plan: Includes wills, health care directives, and final arrangements. It costs $109 per year.
- The Plus Plan: Includes wills, health care directives, final arrangements, durable power of attorney, letters to survivors, living trust, transfer on death deed, and more. It costs $149 per year.
- The All Access Plan: Includes everything in the Plus Plan, as well as a digital storage vault to help keep your documents organized and accessible. It costs $219 per year.
Of these plans, the Plus Plan offers the greatest value. It includes access to all of the document types, including options like limited power of attorney and temporary guardianship authorization. At $149 per year, it’s only slightly more expensive than the Starter Plan, but it gives you much more access. Unless you’re working with a very nuanced situation, the Plus Plan will likely give you all of the documents you need. Upgrading to the All Access Plan gives you secure digital storage, but doesn’t offer any other value. Chances are the Plus Plan will work best for most while giving you the most bang for your buck.
Nolo Quicken WillMaker promotes a “deep discounted membership extension” available after one year, but doesn’t specify what that discount is. That membership extension is optional, and the company advertises a no-hassle refund policy.
» Related Reading: Senior discounts and savings
Feedback and Reviews
Nolo Quicken WillMaker has excellent reviews on Trustpilot. Many positive reviewers describe the software as being thorough and easy to use, and several reviewers state that they promptly received customer service when needed.
The negative reviews are minimal, and often comment on the limited customization options. For example, one notes that there’s no option to include a future heir, such as a future grandchild, in a will without updating the document. If you have more complex needs or just want the option to customize your documents, we’d recommend considering other companies like LegalShield.
Our Experience
The Nolo Quicken WillMaker website is well-organized and makes it easy to find important information. It uses graphics and brief descriptions to help you explore and understand the different documents available. Reviewing the information about the documents makes it easy to determine which ones you need, and it highlights the value that each service offers.
Nolo Quicken Willmaker's documents are clearly outlined and explained. Photo credit: Nolo Quicken Willmaker
The website also features a handy tool that helps you to identify which plan is best for you, based on life services. It uses factors like whether or not you’re married or whether you have young children to guide you to the best plan for your needs. If your circumstances are more involved, it prompts you to choose a higher plan. We used the tool to view recommended plans and loved how simple it made the decision-making process. The tool lists out each plan side by side, highlighting everything that’s offered for each so you can easily compare them.
Using WillMaker's tool to find the right plan. Photo credit: Nolo Quicken WillMaker
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5. Fabric by Gerber Life - Best Free Will Maker
Overview:Fabric by Gerber Life is an online will maker that’s available for free. You don’t have to worry about choosing a plan or paying for add-ons. If you only need a will and no other documents, you can create it with this platform without paying a dime. Free is our favorite price!
» You Might Like: 13 Things That Are Free for Seniors
The simplicity of this free will maker can be a benefit in itself. If you’ve been putting off making your will because of how overwhelming the process is, this will maker features a minimalist design that’s less likely to overwhelm you. According to Gerber Life, you can complete the will in about five minutes.
However, since this will template only includes space to list one beneficiary, it’s not an ideal option for those with multiple beneficiaries. A service like LegalZoom or Nolo Quicken WillMaker might be a better, more adaptable fit.
Pros & Cons:Pros About Fabric by Gerber Life
- Service is completely free
- A simple, user-friendly will maker
- The will-creation process takes about five minutes
- Option to easily share your will from the app
- No need to create an account
- Ability to save your data and come back anytime to complete the will
Cons About Fabric by Gerber Life
- No attorney support
- Will is somewhat simple
- Will only has space to add one beneficiary
Summary:Available Services and Prices
Fabric by Gerber Life offers a free online will maker. There’s no subscription required, and there are no add-ons or hidden fees. Once you create your will, you’ll receive instructions on how to make it legally binding by printing the document and having two witnesses at its signing.
The service is free, but it also has limitations. There are no options for documents like health care directives and final arrangements. Since there’s no lawyer support available, if you have questions, you’ll need to consult with an attorney on your own. We do wish this service had more features and documents to meet all of your estate planning needs in one place.
However, the ability to create a will completely for free can be a great value — if it’s right for you. If you have your affairs well-organized and are confident you can complete a will on your own, this service is a valuable choice in our book.
Feedback and Reviews
Fabric by Gerber Life has an excellent rating on Trustpilot. Many reviewers praise the service for its simplicity. Several explain that creating a will was faster and easier than they’d anticipated. There are a few negative reviews, and they often highlight the fact that there’s only space to add one beneficiary on the will, so this may not be a good solution for those with multiple beneficiaries.
Our Experience
Much like WillMaker, the Fabric by Gerber Life website is simple and user-friendly. It clearly outlines the benefits of creating a will, as well as what you can expect when using the service. First, we used the Fabric online tool to determine if we needed to create a will.
Fabric by Gerber Life offers a tool to help you make sure a will is right for you. Source: Fabric by Gerber Life
Once we were ready to get started, we could proceed to the will builder without creating an account. (If you choose, you can create an account to save your responses and complete the will later.) We found that the actual will-builder tool was simple and straightforward, and there were helpful tips to guide us through the process.
Getting started with Fabric by Gerber Life. Source: Fabric by Gerber Life
While this will maker is free, we found that it’s not for everyone. If you have a complicated estate, need attorney support, or want multiple beneficiaries, you may want to choose a more detailed service that offers support, like LegalZoom.
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6. Rocket Lawyer - Most Affordable Paid-For Service
Overview:Rocket Lawyer offers a simple way to complete many legal documents, such as a will, a living will, and medical power of attorney. The service offers a seven-day free trial, so you can get a sense of the platform and explore different documents. To download a document, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid subscription.
Pro Tip: There are several power of attorney types, and each is best for a certain situation. Check out our guide to power of attorney to learn more about these options and determine which one is right for you.
Rocket Lawyer made our list for its affordable subscription options. The Rocket Legal subscription is $39.99 per month, while the Rocket Legal+ plan is just $19.99 per month, billed annually.
While Rocket Lawyer is an affordable option, it doesn’t have the built-in attorney support that you’ll find with other platforms like LegalZoom. You can hire an attorney, but you’ll pay extra for that option with either plan. As a result, Rocket Lawyer is a good choice for someone with relatively straightforward estate planning needs who likely won’t need attorney help.
Pros & Cons:Pros About Rocket Lawyer
- Documents include a will, living will, medical power of attorney, and more
- Includes unlimited revisions and copies
- Get legal answers within one business day
- Customer support available by phone, email, or chat
- Seven-day free trial available
- Sign documents electronically and print them anytime
Cons About Rocket Lawyer
- Hiring an attorney isn’t included in plan prices
- No phone support available on the weekends
Summary:Available Services and Prices
Rocket Lawyer offers two packages:
- Rocket Legal: Costs $39.99 per month when billed monthly and features a seven-day free trial. It includes access to Rocket Lawyer documents, and you’ll pay $149.99 per 15 minutes to hire a lawyer.
- Rocket Legal+: Costs $19.99 per month billed annually at $239.88. There’s also a seven-day free trial available. Rocket Legal+ includes the same services and documents that Rocket Legal offers. However, hiring a lawyer costs just $74.99 for 15 minutes with this plan. Other services, like tax strategy sessions, are also discounted compared to the Rocket Legal plan.
The Rocket Legal Plus plan offers the greatest value, including significant savings if you need to hire a lawyer through the service. However, Rocket Legal Plus is billed annually, so you’ll need to be sure that you want to commit to the service long-term. The seven-day free trial can help you to get a sense of whether the platform is right for you and whether you want to commit to an annual plan. We’re big fans of the free trial, as this isn’t common for will makers.
Feedback and Reviews
Rocket Lawyer has excellent reviews on Trustpilot. Many reviews describe the documents as being easy to complete, and the process of using Rocket Lawyer as being low-stress. Several reviewers noted that explanations help guide you through the process of writing a will, and that there are no pop-ups to deal with.
Some negative reviews called Rocket Lawyer a scam, explaining that during the seven-day free trial, you can’t download documents without providing your credit card information. Some reviewers felt it was excessively difficult to cancel their subscription.
» Learn More: Credit Cards For Seniors
Our Experience
The Rocket Lawyer website is a bit more complex than others. It took us a few minutes to figure out why the two plans were priced differently, though there is a helpful chart that outlines some of the key pricing differences.
Comparing Rocket Lawyer's different plans. Photo credit: Rocket Lawyer
While a Rocket Lawyer membership gives you access to many documents, they aren’t very well-organized, so it can be difficult to see the value of a membership. We had to hunt around on the website to find different will documents, but once we opened a document page, related document suggestions were displayed on the side. Those suggestions made it easier to find additional documents that could be helpful.
Exploring Rocket Lawyer's suggested documents. Photo credit: Rocket Lawyer
We started a free trial and used Rocket Lawyer to create a will. The process was simple and efficient, though we didn’t realize that you couldn’t download the documents on the free trial. We should’ve read the fine print! As long as you go in knowing this, the free trial is worth it to determine if Rocket Lawyer is the right fit for you.
A Side-by-Side Comparison of the Best Online Estate Planning Services
| Service name | Price | Types of documents | Access to attorney support | Additional highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LegalShield | $26.99 to $53.95 per month or $323.46 to $647.46 per year | Standard will, living will, and durable power of attorney | Yes | Free annual reviews and updates, support available for IRS audits, traffic tickets, and trial defense |
| Duckpins | $349 to $449 annually | Will, trust, general durable power of attorney, advance health care directive, release authorization for medical records | No | Online notarization of documents that includes the presence of a witness is included in the cost |
| LegalZoom | $99 to $499 per year and up | Will, living will, and medical power of attorney, plus trust documents | Yes | Plans include the first set of document printing and shipping |
| Nolo Quicken WillMaker | $109 to $219 per year | Wills, health care directives, final arrangements, durable power of attorney, letters to survivors, living trust, and more | No | Lifetime access to documents, even when subscription expires |
| Fabric by Gerber Life | Free | Wills | No | Simple will creation takes about five minutes |
| Rocket Lawyer | $19.99 to $39.99 per month | Will, living will, medical power of attorney, and more | Yes, but not included in price | 7-day free trial available |
Are Online Wills a Good Idea?
While hiring a lawyer to prepare a will can cost thousands of dollars, online wills provide a lower cost alternative that makes preparing a will more practical. These online solutions are also easier than working with a lawyer, and the ease of the process might motivate you to prepare your will.
Did You Know? According to a Gallup poll, as of 2021, just 46 percent of Americans have a will in place.1
Online wills offer many advantages, but there are also some downsides that you should be aware of. According to The New York Times, it’s possible that automated online will software might not ask the right questions to identify the nuances of complicated will situations.2 However, these online will makers can be valuable preparation tools when your estate is largely straightforward. You’ll need to determine what’s best for your situation.
If you decide to move ahead with an online will maker, verify that the tool is legitimate. Make sure that the platform offers wills that are specific to your state, and choose a reputable platform with positive reviews. Be sure to pay attention to required witnesses, and take the time to get your will notarized.
» Learn More: How To Make A Will
How to Choose the Best Online Estate Planning Service
As you explore different online estate planning services, look for these qualities to choose the service that’s right for you:
- Option to create multiple documents: Some estate planning services require you to pay per document. Think about your estate planning needs and look for a platform that lets you prepare the number of documents you’ll need.
- Options for couples or families: If you’re going to be preparing a will as a couple, look for a platform that offers membership options for couples or families.
- Attorney support: The ability to ask an attorney questions or get extra support with your will is a major advantage. Review the attorney support available through each planning service, and consider whether you have to pay more to connect with an attorney.
- Available tools: Many estate planners offer online tools to help guide you through estate planning, like detailed questionnaires and guides. Think about the types of tools that are most important to you and look for a service that offers them.
- Customer service: It’s important to be able to easily access customer service when needed. Review each service’s communication methods and customer service hours to ensure you can get help when you need it.
- Unlimited updates to documents: It’s a good idea to revisit your will every year, and you may need to make changes. Consider whether an estate planning service lets you make unlimited changes to your will.
- Additional estate planning services: In addition to a will, you may want to create a living will or power of attorney documents for more comprehensive planning. Look for a planner that supports these different services.
How Much Does an Online Will Cost?
There are free online will makers available, but if you want more customer support, you can expect a basic package to start at around $39.95. A more comprehensive service ranges from $100 to $300. Additionally, complex online estate planning services cost more, sometimes as much as $5,000.3
In comparison, using a lawyer to prepare your will can cost even more. Attorney fees are often hundreds of dollars per hour, and will preparation can take days or weeks. A large, complicated estate could take months to prepare, so you could spend thousands in will-preparation fees. Plus, if you’re on a fixed income or working your way out of debt, paying lawyer fees isn’t practical.
» Related Reading: Elder Law And Senior Legal Matters
Choosing an online will-preparation service can save you money compared to the cost of hiring a lawyer. Creating a will and documents like a power of attorney can help you to prepare for health changes and ultimately ensure your estate is distributed in the way you choose.
Gallup. (2021). How Many Americans Have a Will?
New York Times. (2018). Making Wills Easier and Cheaper With Do-It-Yourself Options.
ncoa. (2023). How to Make a Will Without a Lawyer in 2024.