Top Online Trust Makers for Your Estate Planning: A Comprehensive Guide to Digital Estate Solutions

When it comes to managing your assets and ensuring your loved ones are protected, selecting the right best online trust maker is a critical decision. Digital estate planning platforms have revolutionized how individuals create legally binding trusts, wills, and other essential documents without the need for expensive attorney consultations. Whether you’re building comprehensive trust documents or creating a backup will, this guide walks you through the leading providers and helps you choose the solution that aligns with your specific needs.

Understanding Your Trust and Estate Planning Needs

Before diving into specific trust maker platforms, it’s important to understand when professional digital tools make sense for your situation. Estate planning isn’t just for the wealthy—it’s a fundamental responsibility for anyone with assets, dependents, or specific wishes about their medical care.

When Professional Trust Setup Becomes Essential

According to data from Caring.com, while approximately 32% of surveyed individuals have a will in place, 40% of those without estate plans believe they don’t have enough assets to warrant the effort. Remarkably, more than one in three respondents across all age groups indicated that adults should establish estate documents before reaching age 35.

Trusts and wills serve different but complementary purposes. A trust allows a third party (called a trustee) to manage and distribute your assets on behalf of your beneficiaries, and it offers significant advantages such as bypassing probate entirely. Once established, trusts keep your beneficiaries from paying court fees and estate taxes, while your property remains protected from creditors.

Who Truly Benefits From Professional Trust Documents

Not everyone needs a complex trust structure. However, professionals recommend considering trust and estate planning if you:

• Own real estate or significant assets
• Have minor children who require guardianship decisions
• Possess non-retirement and non-life insurance assets totaling $75,000 to $150,000 or more
• Want your medical and financial decisions made by someone you trust if you become incapacitated
• Wish to avoid the lengthy probate process (which can take 1-2 years in states like California and cost tens of thousands of dollars)

The probate process itself can be a compelling reason to establish a trust. When an estate goes through probate—a court process that validates your will and distributes assets—assets are frozen until the process concludes. According to the American Bar Association, probate typically lasts 6 to 9 months for an average estate, and according to AARP, costs can reach approximately $1,500, though contested wills may be significantly more expensive.

Comparing the Best Online Trust and Will Services

The online trust maker landscape has expanded dramatically, offering consumers multiple approaches to estate planning. These digital platforms provide state-specific trust documents, living wills, healthcare directives, and financial powers of attorney at a fraction of traditional attorney rates. Most importantly, when executed correctly, online-prepared trust documents carry the same legal weight as attorney-drafted ones.

LawDepot: Flexible Digital Trust Solutions

LawDepot functions as an accessible online platform for reviewing and filing customized legal documents tailored to your business or personal estate planning requirements without requiring a lawyer’s involvement. The service stands out for its flexible pricing model and comprehensive document library.

Pricing Structure: Free trial (7 days), monthly subscriptions ($35-$49), annual licenses ($107.88-$155.88), or pay-per-document options ($7.50-$119). The annual licenses renew automatically unless canceled, with no penalties for early termination.

Estate Planning Features: The platform provides wills, trusts, guardianship documents, medical powers of attorney, and various business documents—all customized to your state’s requirements. LawDepot’s blog and educational resources, curated by lawyer teams, help users understand each document type and make informed decisions.

Customer Support: Assistance is available via phone (weekdays 8 am to 7 pm ET), email, and live chat. A distinctive security feature sets LawDepot apart: the company offers $10,000 in coverage for any customer suffering legal damages from company errors on prepared documents.

LegalZoom: Attorney-Backed Trust and Estate Planning

LegalZoom operates with a network of independent attorneys licensed in all 50 states, ensuring that your trust documents comply with your state’s specific laws. The platform combines self-guided document preparation with optional attorney review and consultations.

Pricing Structure: Services range from $35 to $279. Specific offerings include last wills and testaments starting at $99, financial powers of attorney at $39, living wills (advanced healthcare directives) at $39, and living trusts at $399. The company emphasizes transparent, flat-fee pricing with no hidden charges. Attorney review and phone consultations are available for an additional fee.

Estate Planning Features: Beyond trust and will documents, LegalZoom offers business formation assistance (naming, licensing, business structure selection), intellectual property services (trademark and copyright registration, design patents), and personalized legal support through LZ Legal Services, which pairs users with local attorneys for co-counseling.

Additional Services: LegalZoom extends beyond estate planning to offer legal advice for creative professionals, musicians, writers, and entrepreneurs launching new ventures.

Nolo: All-in-One Trust and Estate Software

For individuals seeking a comprehensive DIY estate planning solution, Nolo delivers downloadable software for Windows and Mac that generates customized trusts, living wills, healthcare directives, financial powers of attorney, and other essential planning documents.

Pricing and Packages: Three pricing tiers accommodate different needs:

• Starter Plan ($109): Includes your will, health directives, and final expense planning
• Plus Plan ($149): Comprehensive estate planning with powers of attorney, living trusts, letters to survivors, and PC/Mac versions
• All Access Plan ($149): All Plus features plus a one-year Everplans subscription (a digital tool for organizing and storing documents)

Resources and Support: Beyond software, Nolo maintains one of the web’s largest consumer-friendly legal resources. The platform also provides a free attorney matching service with access to 30,000+ lawyers in its directory. Users typically receive attorney contact within 1-2 hours of submitting their legal issue description.

Trust & Will: Streamlined State-Specific Trust Documents

Trust & Will specializes in preparing state-specific trust, will, and guardianship documents at accessible rates. Each document is built by legal teams to conform exactly to your state’s requirements.

Pricing Structure: Individual pricing starts at $199 for wills and $499 for trusts. Couples pay an additional $100 per document. Annual updates cost $19 for wills and $39 for trusts (first-year updates included). An optional $12 annual fee provides unlimited updates and yearly legal team reviews.

Document Packages: Will packages include customized state-specific documents, HIPAA authorizations, supporting living will documents, and powers of attorney. Trust packages encompass a revocable living trust, asset schedule, pour-over will, HIPAA authorization, living will, power of attorney, and trust certification.

Review Process: After completion, documents are reviewed by Trust & Will’s legal experts and stored online for future access or modifications. The company transparently discloses that it provides legal forms and information but is not a law firm and cannot substitute for attorney advice on complex matters.

Rocket Lawyer: Comprehensive Online Trust Services

Rocket Lawyer delivers online legal services for business, personal, and estate planning, complemented by attorney consultations. The platform includes a mobile app for electronic contract signing and secure document storage.

Subscription Plans: Two pricing tiers exist—Rocket Legal ($39.99 monthly) and Rocket Legal+™ ($19.99 monthly billed annually). The latter includes partner offers and 50% discounts on professional services such as calls with a “Legal Pro,” tax preparation with a “Tax Pro,” business registration, trademarks, and registered agent services.

Features: A self-guided questionnaire directs users to appropriate documents based on their situation. The software emphasizes ease of use and paperless experience. Note that subscriptions auto-renew with automatic payment deduction; users must manage cancellations proactively.

Making Your Decision: What to Consider

Cost Analysis and Long-Term Value

Most traditional attorneys charge hourly rates ranging from $100 to several thousand dollars depending on experience and pricing approach. Online trust maker services employ various models—fixed fees, subscription memberships, or pay-per-document options.

When evaluating long-term costs, consider that subscriptions can accumulate expenses, potentially matching or exceeding attorney consultation costs over time. However, the convenience of updating documents online—especially after major life changes like marriage, children, property purchases, or business ownership—offers value beyond pure cost savings.

Pro Tip from Experts: According to senior attorney Tara Frame, a specialist in Estate Planning, Elder Law, and Probate Law at Frame & Frame, “You should not be paying a yearly fee unless you are in a maintenance program where your plan is being reviewed at least yearly by an attorney who specializes in estate planning.”

Validity and Legal Compliance

Online-prepared trust documents can be just as legally valid as attorney-drafted ones, provided they meet your state’s execution requirements. For an online trust to hold legal weight, it must satisfy these minimum criteria:

• The person creating the trust (settlor) must be of sound mind
• The document requires the settlor’s signature and date
• Notarization is required
• Depending on your state, one or more witnesses must sign

However, as founding attorney Jenna Glassock of Glassock Law APC cautions, “The biggest problem with online offerings is that you may never know if the documents work the way you intended. A poorly drafted estate plan is more likely to lead to family infighting and costly litigation than an estate with no plan in place at all.”

The complexity often lies not in basic documents but in special circumstances—managing assets for children with substance abuse issues, special needs, or irresponsible spending habits. These situations require carefully crafted language that generic templates may not address.

Customer Support and Learning Resources

Effective online trust makers offer robust support across multiple channels—phone, email, chat, and apps. Educational resources such as blogs, guides, and learning centers help users understand estate planning fundamentals and state-specific requirements.

Company Reputation and Security

Evaluate a company by reviewing online testimonials, recent news coverage, and any legal actions. Research whether the company faces class-action lawsuits related to deceptive practices. Also confirm that the company employs strong data security measures to protect sensitive personal information.

Essential Questions About Trusts and Wills

What’s the Difference Between a Trust and a Will?

A will specifies how your assets should be distributed after your death and allows you to name an executor (or administrator) to carry out your wishes and handle final bills. A trust, by contrast, transfers asset management to a trustee during your lifetime and beyond. Trusts bypass probate, reduce estate taxes, shield assets from creditors, and pass directly to named beneficiaries without court involvement.

Can I Create a Valid Will Online?

Yes, in many states. Some jurisdictions recognize “holographic wills” written entirely in your handwriting, though these require witnessing and notarization to prevent contest. Most states now accept electronically prepared wills, making online platforms a viable option for straightforward estates.

How Long Does Probate Take?

The American Bar Association indicates that probate for an average estate takes between 6 to 9 months. Contested wills or complex estates can extend this timeline significantly. This is a primary reason many estate planning attorneys recommend trusts for property owners.

When Should I Update My Trust or Will?

Review and update documents after major life events: marriage, divorce, birth of children, significant property acquisition, or substantial changes to your financial situation. Many online platforms make updates straightforward and affordable compared to attorney revisions.

What Information Will I Need to Provide?

When preparing a trust or will, you’ll need to identify and document:

• All personal assets (real estate deeds, vehicle titles, account statements, stocks, bonds, jewelry, art)
• Current debts and liabilities
• Full names, addresses, phone numbers, social security numbers, and birthdates of intended beneficiaries
• If applicable, guardianship preferences for minor or special-needs dependents

Getting Started With Your Estate Plan

Estate planning experts recommend beginning with a conversation. Ask friends, family, or colleagues about their experiences with estate planning attorneys or online services. Most estate planning attorneys offer free or low-cost consultations to discuss your state’s laws and provide guidance on which documents your situation requires.

If you choose the online trust maker route, reputable services walk you through state-specific requirements to ensure your documents meet legal standards. The key is to move forward—even a basic online estate plan provides significantly more protection and clarity than no plan at all.

The leading online trust and will maker services—LawDepot, LegalZoom, Nolo, Rocket Lawyer, and Trust & Will—each offer distinct advantages depending on your budget, comfort level with DIY documentation, and specific estate planning needs. By understanding your situation and carefully comparing these platforms, you can establish a legally sound estate plan that protects your assets and honors your wishes.