I need to make a will. Is an online will service just as good as hiring a lawyer?

Named in 34% of answers

Consider a lawyer if you have minor children, a blended family, significant assets, a business, real estate in multiple states, a beneficiary with special needs, or potential family disputes.

If your situation is straightforward, an online will can be reasonable—provided you follow your state’s signing/witness requirements exactly.consumerreports.org

If you tell me your state and whether your situation is simple or has complications, I can explain which route makes sense.

I'd strongly consider a lawyer if

• You have minor children and need guardianship/trust provisions.
• You're in a second marriage or have children from different relationships.
• You own significant real estate or a business.
• You have substantial wealth or complicated investments.
• You want to leave assets to a disabled beneficiary.
• You want to disinherit someone who might contest the will.
• You have a blended family or complicated beneficiary arrangements.
• You want a trust, tax planning, or coordinated estate plan.
• You're unsure whether your beneficiary designations, jointly owned property, and will all work together.

One important point: a will doesn't necessarily control everything you own. Life insurance, retirement accounts, payable-on-death accounts, and some jointly owned property can pass outside the will. A lawyer can review the whole picture rather than simply generating a document.

Also, Tennessee's estate laws have changed recently—the General Assembly enacted 2026 legislation affecting trusts and estates—so I'd want any service you're considering to be specifically current for Tennessee law.Tennessee General Assembly

A practical middle ground: use an online service to prepare a straightforward will, but pay a Tennessee estate-planning lawyer for a one-time review and proper execution. That can give you much of the convenience of online preparation while having a lawyer catch problems specific to your circumstances.

If you tell me (1) whether you're married, (2) whether you have children and their ages, (3) roughly what assets you have, and (4) whether you're in Tennessee, I can tell you what issues I'd specifically want addressed before you decide between online and a lawyer.

FindLaw CNBC### What an online will service does well

• Gives you a guided process instead of starting from a blank page.
• Produces documents based on your answers and state requirements.
• Costs much less than many attorney engagements.
• Can be a big improvement over having no will at all.Nolo

What you are missing without a lawyer

A lawyer is not just typing your wishes into a document. They can:

• Spot problems you may not realize exist.
• Suggest whether you need a trust, power of attorney, healthcare documents, or other planning.
• Draft around unusual family situations.
• Help make sure the signing process follows your state’s rules.SuperLawyers.com+1

A practical middle option

Many people do well with a hybrid approach:

1. Use an online service to create a draft.
2. Pay an estate lawyer for a review if you want extra confidence.

That can cost less than having a lawyer build everything from scratch while still giving you professional feedback.

If you tell me:

• your state,
• whether you’re married,
• whether you have children (especially minors),
• whether you own a home/business,
• and roughly whether your estate is simple or complicated,

I can help you decide which route is likely appropriate.

Comparing Online Will Services and Lawyers

When an Online Will Service is Usually Enough

• You have a straightforward asset portfolio (standard bank accounts, a modest home, personal property).
• You want to leave everything to a surviving spouse or straightforward primary beneficiaries.
• You have a clear, uncontroversial choice for minor children's guardians.
• Your budget is tight, and a basic document is better than having no will at all.prosperitylawfirmsd.com+2

When You Should Hire a Lawyer

• You own a business or hold complex real estate investments across multiple states.
• You are in a blended family with stepchildren or specific provisions for ex-spouses.
• You have a child or dependent with special needs requiring a specialized trust (like a Special Needs Trust).
• Your estate is large enough to face potential estate taxes or complicated distribution rules.
• You are worried that family members might contest the will after you pass away.heritagelegal.com+2

To help narrow down which route fits best, tell me:

• Do you have minor children or a blended family?
• Do you own a business or real estate in multiple states?
• What is your estimated complexity of assets?

Since you appear to be in Wisconsin, there are a few Wisconsin-specific considerations worth knowing. The State Bar of Wisconsin specifically recommends considering a lawyer when preparing a will, noting that DIY materials may not account for individual circumstances or changes in state law.WisBar

An online service is probably reasonable if:

• You're married and your wishes are relatively simple.
• You want your assets to go to your spouse and/or children in straightforward shares.
• You don't own a business.
• You don't have a blended family, disabled beneficiary, or complicated family situation.
• You don't have substantial assets, multiple properties, or significant out-of-state property.
• You mainly need a basic will naming beneficiaries and an executor.

The key is proper execution. Wisconsin now has procedures allowing remote notarization for estate-planning documents, including wills, provided the statutory requirements are followed.WisBar+1

I'd strongly consider a lawyer if:

• You have minor children and want to establish guardianship or a more sophisticated inheritance plan.
• You're remarried, have stepchildren, or have children from different relationships.
• You want to leave assets to someone with a disability or special needs.
• You own a business, rental property, farm, or substantial real estate.
• You have significant retirement accounts, life insurance, or other assets where beneficiary designations interact with the will.
• You want to create a trust.
• You anticipate family conflict over your estate.
• You have substantial wealth or potential estate-tax issues.
• You or your spouse have a complicated financial situation.

A particularly important point: a will doesn't control everything you own. Jointly owned property, life insurance, IRAs, 401(k)s, and similar accounts can pass outside the will depending on how they're titled and who you've named as beneficiaries.WisBar

The option I'd recommend for many people

If cost is the reason you're considering an online service, there's a middle ground:

Pay a Wisconsin estate-planning lawyer for a one-time consultation and have them review your online-generated will.

That can give you much of the cost savings of DIY while giving you a professional check on the things an online questionnaire might miss.

Wisconsin's State Bar Lawyer Referral Service can also connect you with a lawyer, and referred attorneys agree to charge no more than $20 for the first 30-minute consultation.WisBar

If you tell me (1) whether you're married, (2) whether you have children, (3) roughly whether your estate is under $500k / $500k–$2M / over $2M, and (4) whether you own a house or business, I can tell you whether I'd lean online will vs. lawyer in your particular situation.

Hiring an Estate Planning Lawyer

• Cost : Significantly more expensive, often ranging from several hundred to over a thousand dollars depending on the complexity of the documents drafted.
• Customization and Advice : Provides tailored legal counsel, strategic planning for minimizing estate taxes, and guidance on complex scenarios like blended families, minor beneficiaries, or business ownership.
• Issue Spotting : An attorney evaluates your overall situation to catch hidden complications, such as how specific beneficiary designations interact with state laws or how to protect assets from creditors or future divorces.
• Best Suited For : High-net-worth estates, business owners, blended families with children from prior relationships, individuals with special-needs dependents, or anyone with complex or conditional gifting wishes.youtube.com+3

To help narrow down which route fits best, tell me a bit more about your situation:

• Do you have minor children or a blended family?
• Do you own a business or real estate in multiple states?
• What is your general comfort level with handling legal forms yourself?

I'd strongly consider a lawyer if...

• You have children from different relationships.
• You're married but want to leave substantial assets to someone other than your spouse.
• You own a business, investment property, or significant real estate.
• You have substantial assets, including assets in multiple states.
• You want to create a trust rather than simply distribute assets outright.
• You have a beneficiary with special needs or someone who isn't good at managing money.
• You anticipate family conflict or a possible will contest.
• You want to minimize estate/inheritance taxes or protect assets.
• You aren't sure how your retirement accounts, life insurance, jointly owned property, or beneficiary designations interact with the will.

One especially important point: a will doesn't control everything you own. For example, assets with beneficiary designations or certain jointly owned assets can pass outside the will. That's one area where a lawyer's review can be particularly valuable.

A good middle ground

You don't necessarily have to choose between spending hundreds/thousands on a lawyer and doing everything yourself.

A sensible approach is:

1. Use a reputable online service to prepare a basic will.
2. Have a Maryland estate-planning lawyer review it before you sign it.
3. Have the lawyer confirm the execution/witnessing process and review your beneficiary designations and other documents.

That can give you much of the value of professional advice without paying a lawyer to build every document from scratch.

If you tell me roughly what your situation looks like—for example, married/single, children or no children, homeowner or renter, approximate size of estate, and whether you have a business—I can tell you whether I'd lean online will, lawyer, or the hybrid approach in your particular case.

If you tell me roughly what your situation looks like—for example, married/single, children or no children, homeowner or renter, approximate size of estate, and whether you have a business—I can tell you whether I'd lean online will, lawyer, or the hybrid approach in your particular case.

Hiring an Estate Planning Attorney

• Cost: Higher ($300 to $1,500+ depending on complexity).
• Best for: Blended families, minor children (setting up complex trusts), business owners, high-net-worth estates, or anyone with specific, complicated wishes.youtube.com+2
• Pros: Personalized legal advice, proactive identification of hidden traps, proper witnessing/notarization supervision, and comprehensive planning (which often includes financial powers of attorney and healthcare directives).youtube.com+2
• Cons: Significantly more expensive and requires scheduling appointments.

When an Online Will Is Fine

• You have a modest estate (mostly standard bank accounts, a primary home, personal property).
• You have a straightforward distribution plan (e.g., "everything split equally among my children").
• You don't have a blended family, a child with special needs, or a family business.youtube.com+2

When You Definitely Need a Lawyer

• Blended families: If you have stepchildren or want to ensure children from a prior marriage are provided for while still protecting a current spouse.
• Minor children: If you need to set up a long-term trust for how money is managed for young kids, rather than handing them a lump sum at age 18.
• Special needs beneficiaries: Leaving money directly to a disabled relative can accidentally disqualify them from government assistance; a lawyer can set up a special needs trust.
• Business ownership: If you own a stake in an LLC, partnership, or corporation that needs a proper succession plan.
• High net worth / Estate taxes: If your assets approach federal or state estate tax thresholds.youtube.com+3

Note: Whichever route you choose, a will is only as good as its execution. Online services will give you a document, but you are entirely responsible for printing it, signing it in front of the exact number of legal witnesses required by your state, and often getting it notarized. Failing to follow these exact steps voids the document.youtube.com+1

If you'd like to share a bit more about your situation, tell me:

• Do you have minor children or a blended family?
• Do you own any real estate or a business?

I can help you decide whether an online service or an attorney makes the most sense for your peace of mind.