Trust & Will: Simple, Affordable Online Estate Planning

Save 10% Sitewide with Code EXCLUSIVE10
Attorney-Approved Wills from $199 | Trusts from $499 | All 50 States

Protect Your Family’s Future in Just 10 Minutes

Plan Your Legacy with Complete Peace of Mind

Most people know they need a will or trust. The statistics are sobering: according to a 2023 Caring.com survey, nearly 67% of American adults don’t have any estate planning documents in place. The reasons are always the same: it feels overwhelming, attorney fees seem prohibitive, or it simply gets pushed to “someday.”

But here’s the reality: without proper estate planning, your family could face months of legal complications, tens of thousands in probate costs, and the emotional burden of making difficult decisions during an already painful time. State intestacy laws, not your wishes, will determine what happens to everything you’ve worked for.

The question isn’t whether you need estate planning. It’s finding an approach that actually fits your life.

Understanding Your Estate Planning Options in 2026

Before diving into any specific service, it’s helpful to understand what’s available and what each approach offers.

Traditional Attorney-Prepared Documents Working with an estate planning attorney provides personalized legal advice and complex planning for large estates. Attorneys can handle intricate situations involving business ownership, special needs trusts, or tax planning strategies. However, this route typically costs $3,000 to $5,000 or more for standard documents, and the process often requires multiple appointments over several weeks or months.

DIY Estate Planning Kits Pre-printed forms or basic software kits are available at office supply stores or online for $50 to $150. While inexpensive, these generic templates don’t account for state-specific legal requirements, and a single error can render your documents invalid. They also lack legal review or guidance, leaving many people uncertain whether they’ve completed everything correctly.

Online Estate Planning Platforms A newer option combines legal expertise with technology. These platforms provide state-specific, attorney-approved documents through guided questionnaires that can be completed at your own pace. Pricing typically ranges from $159 to $599 depending on document complexity, with the ability to update documents as life changes. The trade-off is less personalized advice for complex situations.

According to the American Bar Association, online estate planning services are appropriate for individuals and families with straightforward situations: those with typical assets (home, vehicles, retirement accounts), minor children needing guardianship designation, or basic healthcare directive needs.

When Online Estate Planning Makes Sense (and When It Does Not)

Online platforms work well for:

• Families with minor children who need to designate guardians
• Individuals with straightforward assets under $1 million
• Those who want to avoid probate through basic trust creation
• People needing healthcare directives and power of attorney
• Anyone whose primary goal is protecting family without complex tax planning

They may not be sufficient for:

• High-net-worth individuals with estates over $1 million requiring tax strategies
• Business owners needing succession planning
• Blended families with complex inheritance wishes
• Special needs trust requirements

The National Institute on Aging recommends that everyone, regardless of age or wealth, should have basic advance directives in place, including a healthcare power of attorney and living will.

Get Started on Your Phone

Scan to visit Trust & Will and check your options

Trust & Will: Attorney-Approved Estate Planning

Trust & Will has emerged as one of the leading online estate planning platforms, serving over 500,000 families since its founding in 2017. The platform was created by estate planning attorneys and legal experts specifically to make essential documents accessible to families who need protection but face barriers with traditional legal services.

How Estate Planning Protects Your Family from Probate and Tax Burden

Estate planning intersects with legal and financial systems that directly affect your family after you pass away. Without proper documents in place, your estate enters probate, a court-supervised process that can cost $2,000 to $6,000 or more, take months to resolve, and become part of the public record. The IRS provides specific guidance on estate and gift taxes that affects how assets transfer to beneficiaries, though most estates fall below federal tax thresholds.

Proper planning goes beyond just a will. A comprehensive estate plan addresses multiple scenarios: minor children needing guardians, incapacity requiring powers of attorney, healthcare decisions through advance directives, and asset distribution that minimizes court involvement. Understanding how these planning elements work together helps families evaluate whether an online platform covers their needs or whether their circumstances require traditional attorney consultation. For families who also need life insurance as part of their financial protection strategy, Ethos offers estate planning alongside no-exam term life insurance through a single platform, which may be worth comparing if you need both.

What Trust & Will Includes: Wills, Trusts, and Advance Directives

The platform provides three core document types:

Last Will and Testament A legally valid will designates beneficiaries for your assets, names guardians for minor children, and appoints an executor to manage your estate. Trust & Will’s guided process asks simple questions about your family situation, assets, and wishes, then generates state-specific documents that comply with your jurisdiction’s legal requirements.

Living Trust A revocable living trust allows assets to pass directly to beneficiaries without probate court involvement, saving time and money for your family. The process of setting up a trust through Trust & Will mirrors will creation but includes additional asset transfer guidance. Trusts are particularly valuable for real estate, investment accounts, and anyone wanting to maintain privacy (probate is public record).

Healthcare and Financial Powers of Attorney These advance directives allow you to designate trusted individuals to make medical or financial decisions if you become incapacitated. Trust & Will includes healthcare proxy, living will, and HIPAA authorization forms specific to your state’s requirements.

The Platform Experience

Trust & Will operates entirely online. After creating an account, you’ll answer a series of straightforward questions about your family structure, assets, and wishes. The platform provides clear explanations and examples for each section, and you can save progress and return anytime.

The questionnaire typically takes 10 to 20 minutes for a will, or 20 to 30 minutes for a trust. Once completed, Trust & Will generates your documents in PDF format with signing instructions specific to your state. Most states require witness signatures or notarization, and the platform provides detailed guidance for proper execution.

Documents can be updated anytime as your life circumstances change (marriage, divorce, new children, asset changes), and updates are included with your subscription.

Legal Validity and Attorney Involvement

Trust & Will’s documents are created by licensed estate planning attorneys and updated regularly to reflect changes in state law. The platform holds legal licenses in all 50 states and is backed by a team of legal professionals who review document templates.

While Trust & Will provides legally valid documents, the service does not constitute legal advice. The platform clearly states that users with complex estates or unusual circumstances should consult with a licensed attorney in their jurisdiction.

Security and Privacy

Estate planning documents contain sensitive personal and financial information. Trust & Will uses bank-level 256-bit encryption for data storage and transmission. The company is SOC 2 Type II certified, meaning independent auditors have verified their security controls and practices.

Documents are stored securely in your online account, accessible only to you, and you can share access with designated family members or executors when appropriate.

Pricing Structure

Trust & Will offers several tiers:

• Individual Will: $199 for a single person’s will and advance directives
• Couple’s Will: $299 for both partners’ wills and advance directives
• Trust-Based Estate Plan: $499 for an individual or $599 for couples, including living trust, will, and advance directives

All plans include customer support and free updates for the first 30 days. After that, maintaining access to update your documents costs $19 per year for will plans or $39 per year for trust plans. Your documents remain legally valid even if you cancel the subscription, but you will need an active subscription to make changes through the platform. The platform occasionally offers promotional discounts.

Memorial Merits readers can save 10% sitewide using code EXCLUSIVE10 at checkout.

Common Situations Where Trust & Will Fits Well

Trust & Will serves over 500,000 families, and certain situations come up repeatedly where the platform provides the most value.

Parents with minor children often start here because designating guardianship is the single most urgent estate planning task for young families. A will through Trust & Will names who raises your children if something happens to both parents, and the process takes less than 20 minutes. Without this documentation, a court decides guardianship based on state law, not your preferences.

Couples approaching retirement frequently use the trust-based plan to protect real estate and investment accounts from probate. A living trust allows assets to pass directly to beneficiaries without court involvement, saving families an estimated $2,000 to $12,000 in probate costs depending on the state and estate size. For couples who own a home and have retirement accounts, the $599 couples trust often pays for itself many times over.

Busy professionals who have been putting off estate planning for years choose Trust & Will because the entire process can be completed from a laptop in one sitting, with no attorney appointments to schedule around work obligations. The ability to save progress and return later removes the pressure of finishing everything at once.

Making Your Decision

Estate planning is deeply personal. The right approach depends on your specific situation, asset complexity, and comfort level with different service models.

For families with straightforward estates, online platforms like Trust & Will provide legally valid, attorney-approved documents without the cost and time investment of traditional legal services. The platform works particularly well when the primary goals are protecting minor children, avoiding probate, and ensuring wishes are documented.

Families needing life insurance alongside their estate plan may benefit from Ethos, which combines estate planning with no-exam term life insurance through a single platform. Those with more complex estates involving business interests, significant real estate holdings, or special circumstances should consult with an estate planning attorney directly.

The most important step is taking action. According to the National Institute on Aging, every adult should have basic advance directives in place regardless of age or wealth. Every day without proper planning puts your family at risk of unnecessary legal complications and financial burden during an already difficult time.

Prefer to Get Started on Your Phone?

Scan to visit Trust & Will and start your estate plan.
Use code EXCLUSIVE10 for 10% off.

Who Trust & Will Is For and Who Should Look Elsewhere

Trust & Will is a strong fit if you:

• Have a straightforward estate (home, retirement accounts, savings, vehicles) and want legal documents completed this week, not next quarter
• Are parents who need to designate guardianship for minor children and have been putting it off
• Want to avoid probate by creating a living trust without paying an attorney $3,000 to $5,000
• Need healthcare directives and powers of attorney included with your estate plan, not billed separately
• Prefer completing everything online at your own pace with the ability to save and return
• Have been quoted $3,000 or more by a local attorney for documents that do not require complex legal strategy

You should look elsewhere if you:

• Own a business that requires succession planning or buy-sell agreements
• Have assets over $1 million that require tax minimization strategies beyond basic trust structure
• Have a blended family with complex inheritance wishes involving stepchildren, ex-spouses, or multiple marriages
• Need a special needs trust for a dependent with disabilities (these require specialized legal drafting)
• Have significant real estate holdings across multiple states requiring coordinated planning
• Want ongoing attorney relationship for estate administration, not just document creation

If your situation falls into the “look elsewhere” category, consult a licensed estate planning attorney in your state. The American Bar Association provides a lawyer referral directory, and many estate planning attorneys offer free initial consultations. For families who need both estate planning and affordable life insurance, our comparison guide covers options that work alongside any estate plan.

Trust & Will Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Take Action Today

Estate planning protects the people you love most. While it’s tempting to postpone this task, the reality is that life is unpredictable. Having legally valid documents in place provides peace of mind and spares your family from unnecessary legal complications during an already difficult time.

Trust & Will offers a secure, affordable way to create attorney-approved estate planning documents in minutes, not months.