Online will makers are a service that can change American society a great deal. According to data from the AARP, about 60% of adults in the US do not have a will. But the growing level of digitalization means this can change soon. Similar to how digital currencies offer multiple benefits so do online wills. They are cheaper and easier to make, and also they highlight how outdated “traditional” legal services are. These types of wills may not be perfect yet, but they are improving as the interest in the service grows.
Why Online Will Makers Are a Necessity Today?
Online will makers are a reasonably new service, but it’s getting increasingly popular. Surveys of older Americans (those over 55) show some very contradictory facts. On one hand, the majority of them believe that they should leave a legacy. On the other hand, over half of them do not have a will, let alone a well-planned estate.
In a way, this isn’t a surprise. Those who want to plan their estate and prepare a will might not have an opportunity to do this. It’s because this kind of service performed by a BAR lawyer costs up to $1000. The cost might arise depending on your estate. But at the very least, you should count on an average of $300.
Over 60% of Americans don’t have enough funds to cover a $1000 emergency. Therefore, the sheer cost of making a will is an issue. You would pay less if you draft it and make most of the estate preparation by yourself. However, the average person has little idea of how to do this. And online guides aren’t much help if you want your estate to avoid being tied up in probate.
Today, there is a digital service that offers a solution to this issue. Online will makers take care of most of the estate work and help you create a will quickly. Most importantly, you won’t have to pay a small fortune for doing it.
These services only require filling out a few short forms online. As long as you have a computer and an Internet connection, you will be able to use the best of them with ease.
Top 3 Online Will Makers in 2020
Nolo Quicken WillMaker
Nolo is a reputed legal resource that’s dating back all the way to 1971. Therefore, it’s not surprising that as far as legal apps go, it’s the most trustworthy today. According to a Nolo Quicken WillMaker review, it’s the most legit and comprehensive solution of this type available today. It’s also up-to-date on all the laws and is updated whenever any changes occur.
The app itself is very easy to use and it allows you to manage not only wills but trusts as well. As far as online will makers go, Nolo’s solution is one of the easiest to understand because it includes a comprehensive Help guide. It explains not only the app but also the laws related to will-making in detail. The language of the guide is not burdened with the legalese, so everyone can understand it.
The downside of this service is that it’s one of the most expensive right now. It does offer great value for money, but still, the software package will cost you no less than $89.99. The app is also unavailable for mobile. You’ll have to download the software to your PS in order to use it. The solution is quite demanding in terms of hardware as well.
Tomorrow
According to the GeekWire report, the use of Tomorrow will making app have increased by 200% since the start of the pandemic. The Seattle-based startup was focused on simplifying the will-making process since 2016. The solution might not be as complicated and full of legal explanations as Nolo, but it’s fully legit.
This is a solution of online will makers that are backed by a network of 52 licensed attorneys all across America. The app is developed to conform to the laws of the state the user is in. This solution is available for Android and iOS. Therefore, you can easily craft a legal will in minutes using only your smartphone. Making your legal will is also free.
Tomorrow is not only an online will making solution. It’s also a fully-licensed national insurance broker. The company is dedicated to making sure families have a way to plan for their future easily and with minimal extra costs.
US LegalWills
LegalWills is one of the biggest online will makers in the world. It offers legal (and licensed) estate planning services in the US, Canada, and the UK. It has also seen a surge of new customers in recent months and according to a press release, it’s now offering free will and living will service to all eligible educational workers.
This solution is definitely a good choice for ex-pats because it’s not limited to the US legal base only. However, note that the website is hard to navigate and the signup process is rather complicated.
But LegalWills offers one of the most cost-friendly services of this caliber. It also offers you free updates for a year and discounts for your other family members. But note that this is one of the online will makers that do not offer living trust coverage.
Is the Future Digital for Every Service?
The world as a whole has been rapidly going digital for years now. The COVID-19 pandemic has also pushed it further down this road. The ascent of online will makers is definitely proof of that. Their use has increased greatly over the last few months, and it will continue to grow now.
The most important thing that changed recently is a great jump in awareness of all things digital. Consumers have been forced to research what services are available online to handle the tasks they would usually manage in real life. And it turns out that almost every aspect of the social, professional, and legal lives has been digitalized.
Considering the convenience of these services, it’s safe to say that people won’t be going back to outdated ways. Therefore, we might be entering a truly digital era.
