Online will and trust creation

If you want to create a will and a trust online, I’d focus on digital estate-planning services that let you prepare both documents, name beneficiaries and a guardian if needed, and organize instructions for what happens to your assets.

The biggest distinction is whether you need a revocable living trust to help manage assets and potentially avoid probate, or just a will. A trust usually involves additional steps, especially transferring ownership of assets into the trust. The right service depends on your state, the complexity of your estate, and whether you want attorney support.

My top 3 online estate-planning services

• 

1. Trust & Will

(Best overall starting point)

Published starting prices: $199 will plan; $499 trust plan

A streamlined online service for creating state-specific estate documents. Offers DIY plans, attorney-guided planning, or a service where an attorney prepares the plan for you. The trust plan is the more relevant option if you want both a living trust and a will.trustandwill.com+1

Visit Trust & Will

---

• 

2. LegalZoom

Published prices: $399 basic trust; $549 premium trust

A good option if you want a broad package. Its basic trust plan includes a living trust, pour-over will, financial power of attorney, healthcare directive, and other supporting documents. The premium option adds attorney consultations and an annual estate-planning review.www.legalzoom.com+1

Compare LegalZoom plans

---

• 

3. Will.com

Free core documents; optional $29/year subscription

A budget-friendly option that provides a will, living trust, healthcare directive, and durable power of attorney. Its website lists state availability exclusions, so confirm that your state is supported before starting. It does not provide legal advice.will.com

Visit Will.com

Prices are published starting prices or plan prices found during this search; verify checkout totals, renewal terms, and the exact documents included before purchasing.

Which service is right for you?

My initial recommendation is Trust & Will if you want a guided, relatively straightforward online process. Choose LegalZoom if attorney access and a broader package matter more. Consider Will.com if minimizing cost is your priority and your situation is uncomplicated.

Whichever you choose, remember that creating a trust is not the final step: you generally need to transfer eligible assets into it for the trust to work as intended. You'll also need to sign and witness or notarize the documents as required by your state's law.

Let me narrow it down for you

Two quick questions will help me recommend the best fit.

1. Which state will your estate plan be based in?

Maryland

Another U.S. state

Outside the U.S.

---

2. Which best describes your needs?

A will only

A will and living trust; I own a home or other assets

A plan for me and my spouse or partner

A more complex estate, business, or blended family

---

Preferred level of legal help

Do it myself online

Online, with optional attorney review

Attorney-guided or attorney-prepared

Budget for the complete plan

Under $200

Under $500

$500–$1,000

Flexible if legal support is worthwhile

[Find my best option]

If you want to draft your own will and trust documents online, several digital platforms offer guided questionnaires, state-specific templates, and downloadable legal documents. Some also offer attorney review if you want an extra layer of confidence.

For someone in the United States, I'd start by comparing Trust & Will, Nolo Quicken WillMaker & Trust, LegalZoom, and Rocket Lawyer. These are among the established options for DIY estate planning, although they differ in price, trust features, and access to legal help.www.cnbc.com+1

Best digital platforms for wills and trusts

• 

1. Trust & Will

Best for a guided, easy-to-use experience

Offers guided creation of wills, revocable living trusts, powers of attorney, and health care directives. It's designed to help you complete your documents without having to draft all the legal language yourself.

Indicative pricing: $199 for an individual will; $499 for an individual trust, according to a 2026 comparison.

Visit Trust & Will ·www.cnbc.com+3

---

• 

2. Quicken WillMaker & Trust

Best for comprehensive DIY documents

Provides estate planning software for creating wills, living trusts, financial powers of attorney, and health care directives. A good option if you prefer software and want to prepare documents for multiple family members.

Indicative pricing: Approximately $109–$219, depending on the edition.

Visit Quicken WillMaker ·www.cnbc.com+1

---

• 

3. LegalZoom

Best for optional legal assistance

Offers online wills and living trusts, with additional estate planning services and options for attorney assistance. Worth comparing if you want to prepare your own documents but have the option of professional guidance.

Indicative pricing: Will plans start around $99–$129 in published 2026 comparisons; trust plans cost more.

Visit LegalZoom ·www.cnbc.com+1

---

• 

4. Rocket Lawyer

Best for ongoing legal document needs

Offers guided legal documents and access to legal professionals through its membership services. Consider it if you may also need other legal documents beyond your estate plan.

Pricing: Typically membership-based, so check the current plan cost and whether the specific trust documents you need are included.

Visit Rocket Lawyer ·www.cnbc.com+1

---

• 

5. FreeWill

Best free starting point

Offers free online will creation. It is worth considering if you want a straightforward will, but don't assume it can create the living trust you need; verify its current document options before starting.

Price: Free for its online will-making service.

Visit FreeWill ·www.cnbc.com+3

Which platform should you choose?

These are starting recommendations, not a guarantee that every platform will suit your particular estate. Confirm the current price and that your state is supported before purchasing.www.cnbc.com+1

Important: a will and a trust do different jobs

• Last will and testament: Names beneficiaries, appoints an executor, and can nominate guardians for minor children.
• Revocable living trust: Can hold assets during your lifetime and specify how they are managed and distributed. Assets generally must be transferred into the trust for it to work as intended.
• Pour-over will: Often accompanies a living trust to direct certain assets left outside the trust into it through the estate process.
• Financial and health care powers of attorney: Address who can make financial or medical decisions for you while you're alive if you cannot make them yourself.

A platform that generates documents doesn't necessarily complete the whole estate plan. You may also need to retitle property, update beneficiary designations, and follow your state's signing and witnessing requirements.

If you're in Michigan, the state's consumer protection guidance specifically cautions people to check that a living trust fits their circumstances and to verify any attorney's Michigan license.www.michigan.gov+1

Let me narrow this down for you

I can help you choose the most appropriate platform based on what you want to accomplish.

1. Which state will govern your estate documents?

Michigan

Another U.S. state

Outside the United States

---

2. Which documents do you want to prepare?

A will only

Both a will and a living trust

A complete estate plan, including powers of attorney

---

3. How complicated is your estate?

Straightforward: home, savings, and ordinary beneficiaries

Blended family or minor children

Business, multiple properties, or a beneficiary with special needs

---

4. What's your budget?

Free

Under $200

$200–$600

Willing to pay more for attorney review

[Compare the best options for me]

The leading digital estate planning platforms for creating a will and a trust online are Trust & Will (starting at $199 for wills and $499 for trusts) and FreeWill (which offers a free will and limited trust options), alongside alternative providers like LegalZoom and Nolo.cnbc.com+2

Choosing the right online service depends on your budget, where you live, and how complex your financial portfolio or family structure happens to be.

Comparison of Online Estate Planning Services

Available Online Providers

• Trust & Will : This platform uses an easy question-and-answer format to build legally binding documents, assign guardians, and manage property transfer. You can review a deeper breakdown of features on the CNBC Online Will Guide . It handles trusts in every U.S. state except Louisiana.trustandwill.com+1
• FreeWill : This tool provides completely free creation for last wills, living wills, and financial powers of attorney. It makes money through charitable bequests rather than selling user data, though its revocable living trust builder is currently limited to California.freewill.com
• LegalZoom : A long-standing online legal document provider that pairs guided software with tiered packages, allowing you to pay extra for professional attorney reviews or phone consultations.smartasset.com
• Nolo's WillMaker : A software and online suite that offers comprehensive estate planning tools at a lower fixed cost, suitable for people who prefer to download and complete software packages locally or via guided web interviews.ncoa.org

Important Next Steps After Generation

Online platforms generate the legal text, but the documents are not valid until properly executed. You must print the final paperwork, sign it in the presence of required witnesses, and often sign before a notary public depending on your state's laws. For a living trust, you must also actively transfer ("fund") your real estate and financial accounts into the name of the trust.ncoa.org

If you'd like to narrow down the choices, tell me:

• Which state you live in
• Whether you have minor children or real estate
• If you need attorney support included in the package

I can help you select the most suitable platform for your needs.