Writing a Will Made Easy

Editor's note: This post was originally published April 14, 2023, and has been updated for accuracy, comprehensiveness and freshness on July 18, 2024.‍

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Estate planning. Writing a Will. End-of-life decisions. Most people don’t want to think about these serious topics. But we will all have to face them at some point, so it is better to consider them sooner than later!How do you feel when you think about drafting your Will? If you feel stressed, irritated, or even depressed by the idea of Will preparation, you are not alone.

The number of people who pass away without an updated Will—or even without a Will at all—tells you that many ignore this important task until it is too late.You think it sounds complicated. Maybe you want to make or update your Will, but paying a lawyer’s hefty hourly fees for advice is out of the question. Fortunately, you have another option to help you take care of this important paperwork!

Create your Will online

Ever wondered where to write a Will? Writing a Will online is the way to go! Through the intuitive, user-friendly LegalShield app, you can arrange a consult, upload documents, and have your Will prepared from the comfort of your own home. We’ve made Will preparation convenient and portable, using technology at your fingertips.

Access our Guided Will Questionnaire on our LegalShield app and enjoy these benefits:

• Complete the Will Questionnaire on your own schedule. Start and stop whenever you need! Progress is saved as you go.
• Enjoy the freedom and flexibility to work from any device.
• Clearly understand what needs to be in your Will.
• See definitions and simple explanations for legal terms in the Will Questionnaire.

Your LegalShield Family Plan Membership will give you access to an experienced LegalShield provider law firm. You can speak with your provider law firm if you have questions about the Will preparation process. You can also get a knowledgeable LegalShield provider lawyer’s help reviewing documents.

What’s the cost of creating a Will?

Creating a Will can cost anywhere from a couple hundred dollars to a thousand dollars or more. It depends on how complicated your Will is. Your choice of lawyer is also critical, as many attorneys charge hundreds of dollars an hour just for a consultation with them! That’s why LegalShield is worth the investment: You pay an affordable monthly fee and get the benefit of a provider law firm to prepare your Will at a fraction of other lawyers’ hourly rates.

Not sure it’s worthwhile to pay for legal help with Will preparation? It's totally your decision, but be aware of the potential pitfalls that can result from a Will that contains errors. If your wording isn’t clear, your loved ones could end up arguing, suing one another, or even getting disinherited due to misunderstandings. At the very least, a badly worded Will leaves grieving family members responsible for figuring out what to do after your passing.

Life changes suddenly. Make sure your Will changes too.

Life events can be big or small, but they could mean your Will needs to be updated. As always, we strive to make the legal side of life easy. Our LegalShield app prompts you to create a Will or update your current Will on the app, from the comfort of your armchair.

When should you update your Will?

Think about all the ways your life can change at a moment’s notice:

• Marriage or divorce
• Major purchase such as a house or car
• New children in the family through birth or adoption
• A change in your intended heirs
• Loss of a loved one
• Change in state laws regarding taxes (possible advantage of state-specific adjustments to minimize taxes owed on your estate after your passing)
• You start a new business.
• Charity donations
• Provision and care for new pets

LegalShield makes it easy to adjust your Will according to life events like these! We send notices for you to update your Will one year after your last Will request was closed. When updating, you can attach your current Will for additional review. We provide simple guided questions to consider what you wish to add as you go through your Will.

Hesitating to make a Will because you’re not sure if you need it?

LegalShield’s Guided Will Questionnaire makes having a Will created simple. Plus, the creation of a standard Will is included in a personal LegalShield Membership at no extra cost.What are your own perceptions about writing a Will? End-of-life planning is not something many of us really want to contemplate. But we promise, it’s the best thing that you can do for your family members, loved ones, and your estate. Make sure you determine what will happen to the treasures you cherish! So now that the process is convenient, customizable, and accessible through your phone with our app, why wait?

Take the next step!

• Get access to a Provider Law Firm to complete your Last Will and Testament.
• Find the LegalShield personal plan that works for you.
• Participate in an estate planning webinar.