What is Trust & Will?
Trust & Will is an online estate planning service that stands out for its straightforward, user-friendly will maker. For a one-time fee, you’ll get a state-specific will plus any additional documents you need, such as a living will and power of attorney, shipped free.
For extra assistance, the website has educational content to help users understand the estate planning process, or they can add a year of attorney support for an extra fee. Overall, Trust & Will’s customizable documents and highly rated customer service make it a top choice for an online will maker.
Deciding factors
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One-time fees:
Recurring fees:
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Last will and testament |
Included in Will plan; also included in Trust plan as a pour-over will. |
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Living will |
Included in Will plan and Trust plan. |
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Power of attorney |
Included in Will plan and Trust plan. |
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Revocable living trust |
Included in Trust plan. |
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Access to live attorney |
Add a year of attorney support starting at $200 in 17 states. |
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Customer service |
Customer support is available via phone and chat from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific time Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. PT on Saturday. Support receives 4.7 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot. |
What Trust & Will looks like
Trust & Will has a streamlined interface and an interview-like process to help users create their documents.
Trust & Will benefits
Simple process
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Simple and straightforward process for creating an online will.
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First-time users can download or get documents shipped free with state-specific notarization instructions.
Unlimited updates (with membership)
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You can make an unlimited number of changes to your documents if you maintain an annual membership.
Health directives
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HIPAA authorization is included, which lets you give loved ones access to your health information.
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Power of attorney lets you authorize someone to manage your finances and medical needs if you become incapacitated.
Trust & Will drawbacks
For simpler wills
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Not great for complex family or financial situations or for those who want to write in specific caveats or requests.
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Those with complex assets or complex beneficiaries may prefer to consult an attorney.
No free attorney access
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Other online will makers offer attorney support for a lower fee or for free.
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Attorney access is available only in Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas and the District of Columbia.
Alternatives to Trust & Will
Nolo’s Quicken WillMaker: Best all-inclusive
One-time fees:
Recurring fees:
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$99 per year for Starter plan.
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$139 per year for Plus plan.
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$209 per year for All Access plan.
Why we like it: Nolo’s Quicken WillMaker offers more than 35 estate planning documents, depending on which plan you choose, including wills, trusts, transfer on death deeds, health care directives and other financial management documents. The product is available online or as downloadable software. All three annual plans help you craft a will with a straightforward questionnaire. The service doesn’t provide documents valid in Louisiana or U.S. territories, and there’s no access to live attorney support.
Rocket Lawyer: Best customer service
One-time fees:
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$0. Free will template.
Recurring fees:
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$39.99 per month for legal support and the ability to make changes to your documents.
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$239.99 if billed annually.
Why we like it: Rocket Lawyer’s will maker service prioritizes access to legal assistance (lawyers can be contacted via phone, email or online chat). You get access to a 30-minute lawyer consultation, though you’ll need to continue paying the monthly membership fee to make changes to your documents later.
Fabric by Gerber Life: Best for young families
One-time fees:
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$0. Free online will template.
Recurring fees:
Why we like it: Fabric by Gerber Life offers a free will-maker service with a similar user-friendly appearance to Trust & Will. It’s specifically designed for families with young children to make their first will, with options to appoint guardians and beneficiaries and sign up for life insurance through the platform. The will template isn’t state-specific, but the website has instructions for validating your will in your state.
This post was originally published on Nerd Wallet
