Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Will Online

Introduction: Making Estate Planning Simple and Accessible

Writing a will sounds complicated, expensive, and stressful. Many people put it off until it’s too late. But making a will is easier than you think: you can use affordable online services to create a valid will, which ensures your wishes are carried out and your loved ones are protected.

In this guide, we will walk you through, step-by-step, how to create a legally valid will online and mistakes to avoid along the way.

Why You Need a Will (Even if You Think You Don’t)

Wills sound fancy, and complicated, and stressful. A lot of people end up thinking they don’t need a will, or they don’t need one until later. But wills aren’t only for the wealthy. It manages crucial things such as:

• Who gains guardianship over any minor children
• What happens if you become incapacitated (e.g. fall into a coma)
• Who inherits your property and assets
• Who handles your estate and affairs
• Clearing up things to prevent disputes

And more. Having a will means you have much more control over what happens to you, your belongings, and loved ones. Regardless of your age or wealth, everyone is recommended to have a will.

The good news is that wills are easier to make than ever with online will platforms.

The Rise of Online Will Platforms

Traditionally, estate planning has been done in person with attorneys and witnesses. With the rise of digital estate planning services, you’re able to create wills (and trusts) online, with or without an attorney. LegalZoom and Trust & Will are two of the biggest trusted online will platforms, letting you create customized, state-specific wills.

It used to cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars just hiring attorneys and drafting estate plans. Now, you can spend less than $200 to create a valid will. Plus, these websites are user-friendly, offering guided prompts and personalized questions depending on your goals and location.

Benefits of online will creation

• Fast (you could finish everything under an hour)
• Convenient (write your will from your bed!)
• Accessible anywhere, anytime
• Secure and legally compliant (when done correctly)

So online will creation is perfect for people who have straightforward estates, dependents, or just the desire to get the will done now.

If you’re still feeling unsure, this is the place to be. Read on for our step-by-step guide on How to Create a Will Online.

Step 1: Choose a Reputable Platform

Look for trusted, legally recognized services like LegalZoom. They ensure state compliance and can even offer optional attorney support, which is useful if you have any questions and don’t want to spend extra time seeking out attorneys in person.

LegalZoom is our preferred will creation platform because it is affordable and trustworthy. Your documents are conveniently placed together and can be accessed easily.

When choosing what online will creation service, check for:

• Data encryption and security
• State-specific templates (state laws greatly affect estate planning requirements)
• Customer support or optional legal review services

Step 2: Gather Key Information

Personal details

You will need to give your personal details, such as your full legal name, address, and date of birth. Also ensure you have your beneficiary, dependents, and family details input correctly, otherwise there may be delays or disputes with your will later down the line.

Assets

Before you can distribute your assets through your will, you need to actually know what you own. Assets that should be named include:

• Property and real estate
• Bank accounts
• Digital assets (e.g. cryptocurrency or social media accounts)
• Valuable assets and collectibles
• Sentimental assets

You can list different beneficiaries for each important asset.

Contingent beneficiaries are the backups who will inherit in case the primary beneficiary cannot. This is particularly important for major inheritances, such as the house or car.

Debts and obligations

Account for all your debts and financial obligations so you get a better idea of how they will impact you. Common debts and obligations include:

• Mortgages or rent
• Loans (e.g. co-signed personal loans)
• Business needs
• Other liabilities

Step 3: Choose Your Beneficiaries

Asset distribution is essentially the inheritance portion of your will. You can use a will to decide who inherits specific assets or percentages of your estate.

You can name individuals, charities, or organizations as your beneficiary.

What happens if you do not have a will?

Without a will, the public process of probate court gets to decide what happens to your belongings. They may go to relatives you hate, or they may be sold off to pay off estate debts or taxes.

(In some cases, you may want to use a trust instead of a will.)

Tip: Be as specific as possible for major assets to avoid disputes. Use full legal names.

Step 4: Appoint an Executor

The executor of your estate is the person who ensures your wishes are carried out. They manage your estate by paying off debts, going through asset distribution, and anything else that needs to be done.

Remember to choose someone organized, trustworthy, and financially responsible. You may need to choose a professional if nobody you trust is a suitable executor, since executors do need to deal with finances, debts, taxes, and other complex matters like distributing assets to other beneficiaries.

Also name an alternate in case your first choice can’t serve. Contingency plans are important when it comes to estate plans.

Step 5: Name Guardians for Minor Children or Dependents

One of the most important decisions in your will is who you appoint to be guardians for any minor children or dependents you have. If you fail to name a guardian (or secondary guardian), the court would have to decide who gets guardianship if you become incapacitated. Your children may not be cared for by someone you trust. Again, we reiterate, you must name guardians in your will for any minor children or dependents you have.

When designating who would get guardianship, try to choose someone trustworthy who shares your values and can also provide long-term stability. If you know your chosen guardian cannot financially support your children, consider Ethos life insurance or another policy to protect them.

It’s also a good idea to discuss the decision of guardianship with them beforehand. Not everyone may be capable or willing to become the guardian, and it is best to know this before you name them in your will.

Step 6: Specify Digital Assets

While we have mentioned this earlier, we need to go over digital assets again as its own section. We live in a world where most people have online accounts and assets that can be overlooked when writing a will. Common digital assets of monetary or sentimental value include:

• Social media accounts (e.g. YouTube, Facebook, Reddit)
• Online subscriptions
• Cryptocurrencies
• Assets in cloud storage (e.g. photos)

Provide clear access instructions or designate a digital executor so that your loved ones will be able to access your accounts. You can also choose to delete specific accounts after you pass away or choose to transfer ownership (legacy option).

Make sure you specify your digital assets that you want to be inherited, otherwise your loved ones might not be able to access online financial accounts. They could lose out on huge sources of value and income permanently.

Step 7: Review and Customize Your Wishes

Most platforms let you customize distributions and add special instructions so that your intentions can be understood. For example, you might want to leave special sentimental gifts and messages, pet care instructions, or donations. A letter of intent with your will can be useful in avoiding family disputes.

Step 8: Sign and Witness Your Will

Follow your state’s signature and witness requirements. Usually, you are expected to:

• Formally sign your will
• Have two adult witnesses who are not beneficiaries sign as well

Not all states allow online notarization or e-signatures for wills. Your online will service can tell you what your state’s requirements are.

Step 9: Store Your Will Safely

Your will needs to be safe but accessible. We recommend storing it both physically and digitally so that there are backups if one mode fails.

Printing and storing a physical copy in a secure, fireproof location is a common move.

After deciding on how you will store your will documents, make sure you share copies, account, or storage details with your executor and/or trusted family members.

Many platforms (like LegalZoom) offer secure digital storage and access for executors.

Step 10: Update Your Will Regularly

Make sure you review your estate plan, including but not limited to your will, every 3 to 5 years or after major life changes.

Major live events that can trigger will updates include:

• Marriage or divorce
• Birth or adoption of a child
• Buying or selling major assets
• Moving to a new state
• Major financial or life changes

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Forgetting to sign and witness the will
• Not updating the will after major life events or relationship changes
• Not naming any contingent beneficiaries or executors
• Ignoring state-specific legal requirements for wills
• Assuming your will automatically covers digital assets or joint accounts

Pro tip: Most online tools include a legal checklist to help you avoid making major mistakes when creating a will.

When to Seek Professional Advice

Some situations require legal expertise. If you have a large or complex estate, or international assets, it is highly recommended to seek out professional, individualized counsel. Making suboptimal estate planning choices can be devastating for you and your loved ones otherwise.

People with blended families or multiple marriages can encounter estate planning challenges that benefit from professional advice.

Business ownership or significant investments should also be looked at by an estate planning and financial expert.

Special needs dependents also benefit from special attention. You can start by looking into Special Needs Trusts.

Hybrid approach

A hybrid approach is becoming more and more common. You can start with a DIY platform like LegalZoom for the basic drafting of a will, and then hire an estate attorney to review your documents for accuracy and compliance.

Complementing Your Will with Other Estate Tools

Living Trust

Wills are convenient and cheaper than trusts, but the probate court process that distributes assets can be accessed by the public. Living trusts let you avoid probate and keep the inheritance process private.

Power of Attorney

It’s a good idea to consider giving agents Power of Attorney so that they can be able to manage your finances or make major decisions in case you become incapacitated.

Healthcare Directive

An advanced healthcare directive outlines your medical preferences and lets you appoint a healthcare proxy to make medical decisions on your behalf.

Life Insurance

Life insurance from a trusted insurer like Ethos can provide financial support for your family. The death benefit proceeds can replace lost income for decades, covering significant financial obligations and taxes. No matter your wealth level, life insurance should be considered. It is far more affordable and accessible today.

What you should know: A will is your estate plan’s foundation, and can suffice. But a complete estate plan needs multiple tools that work together to give you control over your legacy and protect your loved ones.

The Benefits of Creating a Will Online Today

Peace of mind

You don’t want your loved ones to be left guessing about your wishes, especially when they’re struck by a period of grief. A will ensures your loved ones can know for sure what it is you want, from medical treatment (or lack thereof) all the way to specific asset distribution choices.

Speed and simplicity

Creating a will online is fantastically convenient. You can finish in under an hour and have a valid will at the end.

Affordability

Basic documents shouldn’t break the bank to draft. Writing an online will through LegalZoom or another platform lets you avoid costly attorney fees for basic documents.

Accessibility

It’s nice to have all your will-related documents stored digitally in the same place and securely. LegalZoom lets you update anytime, anywhere, even as your life evolves.

Conclusion: Online Will Creation Is Fast and Affordable

Don’t leave your loved ones and yourself unprotected. Creating a will online is one of the easiest and most meaningful ways to protect your loved ones, and LegalZoom lets you start now and finish by dinnertime.