Making final arrangements can be stressful, but online estate-planning platform Trust & Will guides users through the will-making process with simple question-and-answer prompts.
Unlike some competitors, Trust & Will only focuses on estate planning. It has state-specific instructions for wills and trusts that let you name beneficiaries for your assets and guardians for your children (and pets).
We also like that all of its packages come with power of attorney, HIPAA authorization and a living will, so you can document who you'd like to make financial and medical decisions on your behalf if you're unable.
While Trust & Will is pricier than some alternatives, it's the most thorough and easy-to-use of our top online will-makers.
Trust & Will
Cost
$199 for an individual will, $299 for a joint will; $499 for an individual trust, $599 for a joint trust; $49 per year for membership
Estate planning options available
Wills, living wills, trusts, power of attorney
Access to legal assistance
Yes, for a flat $299 fee
Availability
Trust & Will can prepare wills in all 50 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., and trusts in all states except Louisiana.
Standout Features
Online willmaker Trust & Will offers an easy-to-follow question-and-answer format and access to attorneys who can provide a line-by-line review or advise on estate and tax-planning topics. You can print your documents or have them shipped to you.
Pros
- User-friendly design with clear instructions
- Free updates with basic membership
- Access to attorney support and probate case managers
- Robust customer service is available seven days a week
Cons
- Membership costs $49 per year
- Doesn't offer attorney support in every state
What is Trust & Will?
Founded in 2017, Trust & Will provides digital wills and trusts for both individuals and couples.
The San Diego startup has garnered a standout reputation for top-notch customer service and an easy-to-use interface that takes users through the will-drafting process. You can print out your documents yourself or have them shipped with state-specific notarization instructions.
Trust & Will customer support specialists are available at 866-908-7878, Monday through Friday, from 10 am to 8 pm ET. Emails can be sent to support@trustandwill.com.
Trust & Will pros and cons
- Simple question-and-answer format
- Available in all 50 states (except trusts in Louisiana)
- Offers trusts and reciprocal wills
- Costs can be higher than competitors
- Attorney assistance not available nationwide
Features
Trust & Will offers state-specific trusts and wills for individuals, couples and young adults nationwide. (Trusts are not available in Louisiana.) All plans include a living will, power of attorney, HIPPA authorization and an advance healthcare directive (or "living will") at no additional cost.
Wills
Base price: $199 for individuals, $299 for couples
Updates: Free with the basic membership
Attorney support: $299 one-time fee
Print and ship: $25
Young adults 18 to 26 can make a will, appoint power of attorney and advance health care directives for $69.
Trusts
Unlike a will, a trust allows beneficiaries to quickly receive assets without the expense, exposure or delays associated with the probate process.
In addition to power of attorney and a living will, Trust & Will's trust plan also includes a pour-over will, revocable living trust, a schedule of assets and a certification of trust.
Base price: Starting at $499 for individuals and $599 for couples
Updates: Free with the basic membership
Attorney support: $299 one-time fee
Print and ship: $35
How to use Trust & Will
To get started with Trust & Will, you'll choose your estate plan and create an account by entering basic information, including your state of residence, your relationship status and the names and ages of any children.
The prompts will then ask you about the assets you have and preferences for distribution, as well as guardians for any children or pets. There are also questions about how you want to handle funeral arrangements and health care directives.
Trust & Will's AI assistant can provide details and answer simple questions, but if you need more involved help, you can add attorney support to your plan.
How does Trust & Will compare?
Here's how Trust & Will stacks up to other leading online will-makers.
Trust & Will vs. RocketLawyer
Rocket Lawyer
Cost
$39.99 per month for Rocket Legal subscription, $19.99 per month for Rocket Legal+ subscription (or $239.88 paid annually)
Estate planning options available
Wills, living trust, power of attorney, power of attorney for a child
Access to legal assistance
Included with subscription
Standout Features
Rocket Lawyer has options for dozens of legal situations, including wills and estate planning documents. Attorney assistance and access to documents are available with a subscription, which has a free trial and can be canceled at any time.
Trust & Will and RocketLawyer have similar offerings for will creation but RocketLawyer's interface feels more antiquated and complex. That may be because its focus isn't on estate planning: There's a wide range of legal services, including leases, divorce settlement agreements and child care authorization forms.
RocketLawyer's pricing structure is also more complicated: You can make a basic last will and testament at no cost during a seven-day free trial. If you don't cancel, however, it automatically converts to a $39.99 monthly subscription.
You'll also need a subscription to access legal support and to make changes to your will.
Trust & Will vs. Quicken WillMaker & Trust
Quicken WillMaker & Trust
Cost
$109 to $219 ($39 annually to update after the first year)
Estate planning options
Wills, living trusts, power of attorney, health care directives
Access to legal assistance
No
Availability
Quicken WillMaker & Trust is available nationwide except in Louisiana
Standout Features
Quicken WillMaker & Trust allows users to create wills, health care directives and living trusts, both online and through downloadable software. Its all-access plan includes a digital storage vault through Everplans.
Pros
- Produces variety of documents available, including travel documents and other helpful forms
- Downloadable software for lifetime access
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Not available in Louisiana, U.S. territories or Canada
- Online will maker only allows free changes for the first year
- No access to attorneys
Although Quicken WillMaker & Trust offers a broader range of legal documents, its interface is far less intuitive than Trust & Will's. That could be a dealbreaker if you're choosing an online will to simplify the estate-planning process.
Willmaker is the more affordable option: A basic online will costs $109 and a trust is $149. Trust & Will starts at $199 for wills and $499 for trusts.
Quicken's offering also comes with downloadable software, allowing you to work offline and create as many wills as you need for your household.
Is Trust & Will right for me?
Trust & Will is a great option if you want to create a simple will without a big time commitment or a lot of confusing legal jargon.
If you have a complex estate or specific legal needs, however, you may be better off working with an attorney.
Trust & Will FAQs
Is Trust and Will legit?
Yes, Trust & Will is a legitimate estate planning platform that can help create estate plans. It's helped over 1 million people create trusts and wills since its founding in 2017, and is one of CNBC Select's top picks for online will-makers.
Is Trust and Will available nationwide?
Yes, Trust & Will offers estate-planning services nationwide, with state-specific wills available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Trusts are not available in Louisiana, however, and attorney support is currently unavailable in Alaska, Hawaii, Mississippi, Oregon, Louisiana, South Carolina or Tennessee.
Are online wills legal?
An online will can be just as legally binding as one prepared by an attorney, provided it meets all of your state's requirements and is properly signed and notarized.
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Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every online will-maker review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of life insurance products. To research the best online will-makers, we compiled dozens of data points on more than eight online will-makers. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.
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