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Estate Planning & Wills Services | Affordable Legal Document Solutions

Reviewed & Updated: June 2026 by Gabriel Killian
Estate planning and wills services - hands signing legal documents with fountain pen

Protecting your family’s future starts with a comprehensive estate plan. Whether you need a simple will, a living trust, or complete legal document preparation, these trusted services make estate planning accessible and affordable. Compare attorney-approved solutions, DIY platforms, and guided estate planning tools that help you create legally valid documents, protect your assets, and ensure your wishes are honored – all without the stress and high costs of traditional legal services.

New to this? Start with the Legacy Planning overview, see the full Legacy & Estate Planning Services directory, or download free estate planning worksheets and checklists to organize before you choose.

By the Numbers

Only 32% of U.S. adults have a will, and most don’t create one until their 70s.

Source: 2025 Pew Research Center survey

In Short

Estate planning services help you put three things in place: a will that names who receives what, a living trust that can keep your estate out of probate, and powers of attorney that let someone act for you if you cannot. You can build these documents online for a fraction of attorney pricing, often free to around $500 depending on whether you need a simple will or a full trust-based plan. Online wills and trusts are legally valid in every U.S. state when signed and witnessed under your state’s rules. The services compared below are grouped by what families actually need, so you can match a plan to your situation without overpaying.

How We Vet These Services

Every service on this page is checked by hand for honest pricing, real document quality, and no predatory upsells. A service earns a spot only where it genuinely fits a real need, and only if it is something we would put in front of our own families.

Complete Estate Planning Solutions

One provider covers the whole plan: a will, a living trust, and the powers of attorney that go with them, with guided steps and document delivery.

LVED logo - digital vault and estate planning platform combining legal documents, secure storage, and personal legacy messaging

The Only Estate Plan That Executes Itself ⭐

LVED brings together everything a complete estate plan requires: legally valid documents, a secure 25GB vault for financial accounts and digital assets, and automated beneficiary notification when the time comes. It is built for families whose lives are still changing and who need a plan that keeps up. Use code YFY63MX8 for 33% off, the lowest price available for LVED anywhere online.

Trust & Will logo - online estate planning and will creation service

Trust & Will Estate Planning ⭐

Estate planning made simple, secure, and affordable.

Trust & Will offers an easy, attorney-approved way to protect your family, outline your wishes, and safeguard your legacy – all from the comfort of your home. Complete legally valid wills, trusts, and powers of attorney in just 20 minutes with no appointments needed. Over 600,000 families protected with packages ranging from $0-200, including lifetime updates and no subscriptions. Attorney-built documents without the enlarged attorney price tag.

Smiling father holding his young daughter, with text "Take care of your family with an estate plan" and LegalZoom logo

LegalZoom Estate Planning

Trusted estate planning for every stage of life.

With millions of legal documents created nationwide, LegalZoom makes it simple to protect your loved ones and secure your legacy. Create comprehensive wills, living trusts, and power of attorney documents with step-by-step guidance and optional attorney review. Whether you need basic estate planning or a complete package, LegalZoom combines attorney expertise with an easy online process for confidence and peace of mind.

Living Trustify logo - online estate planning service for living trusts, wills, and power of attorney documents

Living Trustify – Affordable Trust and Will Package ⭐

Full estate plan with incapacity documents included – living trust, POA, and healthcare proxy for $349.

Living Trustify combines death planning and incapacity planning into one affordable package. The $349 trust option includes six essential documents most competitors charge separately for, with a guided questionnaire that takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. Special needs trust provisions included at no additional cost.

Ethos Estate Planning logo - affordable attorney-quality wills and trusts

Ethos Estate Planning

Attorney-built estate planning without the attorney price tag.

Skip the $3,000 attorney fees and get professionally drafted estate documents for just $0-200, completed in as little as 20 minutes from your home. Ethos delivers the same attorney-quality wills, trusts, and powers of attorney that law firms charge thousands for, protecting over 600,000 families. If you have a qualifying life insurance policy, your estate plan is completely free.

Quicken WillMaker & Trust logo - America's #1 best-selling estate planning software

Quicken WillMaker & Trust

America’s #1 best-selling estate planning software.

Quicken WillMaker & Trust provides a complete suite of tools to create wills, living trusts, health care directives, and other essential documents – all from home with no subscriptions. Built on decades of trusted legal expertise and updated annually for current laws, this easy-to-use software guides you step-by-step through each decision with one-time pricing that saves thousands compared to traditional attorneys.

Create a will, trust, or single legal document yourself, at your own pace, with one-time pricing and no subscription. Best for straightforward estates or one document done right.

Family with young children playing on the beach, with text "Protect Your Loved Ones With a Will" and FastWill logo

FastWill Will Writing & Creation

Quick, affordable will creation – without the hassle.

FastWill makes it simple to protect your loved ones with a legally valid will in under 15 minutes. Perfect for busy individuals who want peace of mind without the cost and complexity of traditional estate planning, FastWill offers transparent pricing and a streamlined process designed for straightforward estates. Create your will today and know your family is protected.

LegalTemplates logo – blue and white icon of layered document pages

From wills and power of attorney forms to real estate and business contracts, LegalTemplates gives you instant access to professional, attorney-drafted documents you can personalize online. Download and customize immediately with affordable one-time costs – a simple, cost-effective way to handle wills, trusts, POA, and other important legal matters without hiring a lawyer.

LegalShield logo - affordable probate help and legal services with real attorneys

LegalShield Probate Help

Dealing with probate can be stressful, time-consuming, and costly. LegalShield connects you with real attorneys for a fraction of the usual price, providing expert guidance through probate, estate disputes, and other complex legal matters. With an affordable monthly fee and no hourly billing or surprise costs, you get the legal support you need during difficult times.

For what a document alone does not cover: ongoing attorney access for probate and disputes, and guaranteed lifetime income that protects a surviving spouse.

Annuity.org logo featuring green arrow with keyhole icon - free retirement income consultation and annuity guidance service

Annuity.org | Guaranteed Income for Surviving Spouses ⭐

Include lifetime income protection in your estate plan

Estate planning isn’t just about assets after death. It’s ensuring your spouse has reliable income for life. Annuity.org’s licensed specialists help you understand annuity options that guarantee monthly payments no matter how long your beneficiary lives. Free guidance with no obligation.

Document Storage & Family Organization

A plan only works if your family can find it. Keep finished documents secure and your accounts, passwords, and final wishes organized in one place.

Your Digital Vault official logo featuring gold shield with lock icon and tagline Organize Plan Protect for secure estate document storage

Protect Your Estate Documents with Encrypted Cloud Storage

Your will only works if your executor can find it

Your Digital Vault ensures the documents you’ve worked to create remain organized, secure, and accessible to the right people. Military-grade encryption protects your information while delegate access puts critical files in trusted hands during emergencies or estate settlement.

Nokbox complete estate organization system with color-coded folders and checklists for family legacy and document planning

The Nokbox – Complete Estate Organization System

Stop leaving a scavenger hunt. Organize your entire life in one secure system.

If something happened to you tomorrow, would your family know where to find everything? The Nokbox is a revolutionary organization system featuring 66 color-coded folders, step-by-step checklists, and document protection that helps you organize every aspect of your life – from bank accounts to final wishes. Available in Original ($158), Lite ($58), and Fireproof ($198) versions to fit your needs.

Compare These Services and Find Your Fit

Service Best for
LVEDYour will, passwords, and crypto in one digital vault, delivered to your family automatically.
Trust & WillA recognized brand name with optional attorney support.
LegalZoomA big-name, one-stop option for estate and business needs.
Living TrustifyThe lowest-priced real living trust, special needs trust included.
Ethos Estate PlanningA free attorney-built will when you have an eligible life policy.
Quicken WillMaker & TrustOne-time desktop software you own, no subscription.
FastWillThe fastest, lowest-cost path to a basic will.
LegalTemplatesA DIY library of attorney-drafted documents.
LegalShieldOngoing attorney access and probate help for a monthly fee.
Annuity.orgGuaranteed lifetime income to protect a surviving spouse.
Your Digital VaultSecurely storing and delivering documents you already have.
The NokboxA physical, organized binder of your entire life.

LVED carries an MM-exclusive 33% discount with code YFY63MX8. And if you need life insurance anyway, an eligible Ethos policy can include an attorney-built will at no extra cost.

Will, Trust, or Power of Attorney: What You Actually Need

Most estate plans come down to three documents that each do a different job. Here is how a will, a living trust, and a power of attorney compare, and when each one actually matters.

Infographic comparing a will, a living trust, and a power of attorney side by side, showing what each document does and when each one matters in estate planning

Estate Planning and Wills: Common Questions Answered

What is the difference between a will and a living trust?
A will states who inherits your property and names guardians for minor children, but it must pass through probate, the court process that validates it after death. A living trust holds your assets while you are alive and transfers them to your beneficiaries without probate, which is usually faster and private. Many families use both, with a will covering anything left outside the trust.
Are online wills and trusts legally valid?
Yes. An online will or trust is legally valid in every U.S. state as long as it is signed and witnessed according to your state’s requirements, which sometimes include notarization. The platform provides the document and signing instructions; following your state’s execution steps is what makes it binding.
How much does estate planning cost?
Online, a basic will is often free to about $160, and a full trust-based plan typically runs $160 to $500. Hiring an attorney usually costs $300 to $1,000 for a will and $1,500 to $3,000 or more for a trust. The right cost depends on the size and complexity of your estate.
Do I need a lawyer to create a will or trust?
Most people with straightforward estates do not. Online services produce attorney-built documents that are valid when executed correctly. An attorney is worth the added cost for larger estates, blended families, business ownership, or special needs planning, where mistakes are expensive to fix later.
What documents are included in an estate plan?
A complete estate plan usually includes a will, often a living trust, a durable financial power of attorney, a healthcare directive or medical power of attorney, and up-to-date beneficiary designations. Together they cover both what happens after you pass and who can act for you if you become unable to.
What is a power of attorney and do I need one?
A power of attorney authorizes someone you trust to make financial or medical decisions for you if you cannot make them yourself. It is one of the most important parts of a plan, because without it your family may have to go to court to gain that authority. Most complete plans include both a financial and a medical power of attorney.
How do I choose the right estate planning service?
Start with what you need: a simple will, a full trust-based plan, document storage, or ongoing legal help. Then compare price, which documents are included, and whether the service offers attorney support or family delivery. The services on this page are grouped by exactly these needs so you can match a plan to your situation.
What happens if I die without a will?
If you die without a will, your state’s intestacy laws decide who inherits, which may not match your wishes, and a court appoints someone to settle your estate. If you have minor children, a judge, not you, chooses their guardian. Even a basic will prevents these outcomes.
Gabriel Killian, founder of Memorial Merits
About the Author
Gabriel Killian
Founder, Memorial Merits · 12-Year Navy Veteran · Certified Instructor · #1 in Journal Writing on Amazon
Memorial Merits grew out of years of personal loss. Gabriel’s father died unexpectedly while he was deployed at sea with the Navy. He was left to find out through unofficial channels and unable to leave the ship for days. In the years that followed, he experienced firsthand how grieving families face exploitation during the most vulnerable moments of their lives by the very systems meant for their protection. During an injury while serving, complications led to a severe blood clot that left him facing his own mortality. With the realization that he could fall asleep and never wake up, he spent those uncertain moments writing letters to the people he loved and cherished, afraid those words would go unsaid. Those letters became the Legacy Journal series, now #1 in Journal Writing and 5-star rated on Amazon. Everything on this site was built by someone who has been where you are.

Important Disclaimers

Educational Information Only: Memorial Merits provides educational information based on personal experience and research. This content is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, medical, or mental health advice.

Not Professional Services: Memorial Merits is not a law firm, financial advisory service, funeral home, or licensed counseling practice. We do not provide legal advice, financial planning, funeral director services, or mental health therapy. For estate planning, probate matters, or legal questions, consult a licensed attorney. For financial decisions, consult a certified financial planner. For grief counseling or mental health support, consult a licensed therapist or counselor.

Affiliate Disclosure: Some content on Memorial Merits contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, Memorial Merits may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. We only recommend products and services we believe provide genuine value to families navigating loss and end-of-life planning. Our affiliate relationships do not influence the educational information we provide.

No Guarantees: While we strive for accuracy, laws, regulations, and industry practices vary by location and change over time. Memorial Merits makes no guarantees about the completeness, accuracy, or applicability of any information to your specific situation. Always verify information with licensed professionals in your jurisdiction.

Use at Your Own Risk: Your use of information from Memorial Merits is at your own risk. Memorial Merits and its owner are not liable for any decisions made based on information provided on this site.