Online wills: what they cover and what they leave out
The short answer
An online will can be perfectly valid if you sign it the way your state requires. It handles the basic document well and costs from nothing to a few hundred dollars. What it leaves out is advice, the signing itself, assets that pass outside a will, and anyone to actually carry it out.
An online will is tempting, and for good reason. You can do it at the kitchen table, in an afternoon, for much less than a lawyer charges. The real question is whether it's enough for you.
This page explains what an online will covers, what it leaves out, and how to make sure it actually works. It is part of our guide to estate planning documents, which shows how a will fits with the other papers in a plan.
What an online will service does
An online service asks you questions: who should receive what, who should settle the estate, who should care for the dog. Your answers fill in a document written for your state. You print it, sign it and keep it safe.
Here is what three services offered when we checked in October 2026.
| Service | Price for one person | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| FreeWill | $0 | Will, health care directive and durable financial power of attorney; a trust only for California residents |
| LegalZoom | $129 Basic, $149 Pro, $299 top tier | Basic is only the will; the $149 and $299 packages add a health care directive, powers of attorney and attorney calls for a set period |
| Trust & Will | Will Plan from $199 | Will, living will, power of attorney and HIPAA authorization; attorney support is a $299 add-on |
Sources: FreeWill, LegalZoom will packages and Trust & Will pricing, all checked October 2026. FreeWill says on its site that nonprofits support it, which is how it stays free.
For a fuller side-by-side, including trust plans, see our honest comparison of Trust & Will, LegalZoom and Kinly.
Is an online will legally valid?
Yes, it can be. A will is valid because of how it is signed, not where it was written. Each state sets its own signing rules.
In Washington, a will must be in writing, signed by you and signed by two or more competent witnesses (RCW 11.12.020). That same law allows signing and witnessing through "electronic presence," meaning a live audio-video connection.
Washington also recognizes fully electronic wills. The law says "an electronic will is a will for all purposes of the law of this state" (RCW 11.12.420). Other states have different rules, so check yours before you sign.
What online wills leave out
An online will does the document part well. These are the gaps to know about.
Advice about your situation
The services are clear that they are not your lawyer. FreeWill's site says it "is not a law firm" (FreeWill). LegalZoom says it is not a law firm and does not give legal advice, except where authorized through its subsidiary law firm (LegalZoom).
Some packages include limited attorney calls. LegalZoom's Pro package includes 30 days of calls, then renews at $25 a month unless you cancel (LegalZoom). If your situation has a twist, that may not be enough.
The signing itself
The service hands you a document; the signing is up to you. You need to find witnesses who meet your state's rules, and get them together with you. Trust & Will tells customers to "sign and notarize the documents upon receiving or downloading" (Trust & Will).
A will that never gets signed properly does nothing. It helps to book the signing the same week you finish the document.
Everything that passes outside the will
A will only controls property that goes through probate. Retirement accounts and life insurance follow their beneficiary forms. Joint accounts with survivorship and payable-on-death accounts pass directly too.
If those forms are out of date, the will can't fix them. When you finish an online will, check every beneficiary form as well.
Passwords, photos and accounts
Most online wills say little about your digital life: email, photos, online banking. Our post on digital estate planning covers how to leave access and instructions.
Someone to carry it out
This is the gap people notice last. The will names an executor to settle your estate, and your other documents name agents to act if you can't. None of the three services says on its pricing page that it will serve in those roles.
So an online will is only as strong as the people in it. Our guide to the four roles explains each job, and who should be your executor helps you choose.
When an online will is probably enough, and when it isn't
| Your situation | An online will is likely | Consider a lawyer instead |
|---|---|---|
| Simple assets in one state | Enough | |
| You want to leave things to a charity, a friend or a pet's caretaker | Enough, if the questions fit | If gifts come with conditions |
| A blended family, or someone who may challenge the will | Yes | |
| Property in more than one state | Yes, or a trust | |
| A beneficiary with a disability who receives public benefits | Yes | |
| Planning that touches Medicaid | Yes, an elder law attorney | |
| You'd like to avoid probate | Consider an online trust plan | Or a lawyer's trust plan |
Our posts on what a will costs and estate planning attorney cost compare the prices on each route.
A checklist for finishing an online will well
- Choose your executor and a backup, and ask them first.
- Answer the questions honestly, including what happens to the dog.
- Print the will and sign it with witnesses who meet your state's rules.
- Check every beneficiary form on accounts and insurance.
- Add a financial power of attorney and a health care directive if your package didn't.
- Tell your executor where the original is kept.
- Review it after any big change: a move, a death, a new home.
If the hard part for you is step one, you're far from unusual. Kinly was built for that gap. The membership writes the documents and names a trust company that can serve as executor, trustee or agent, first or as backup. Our guide to choosing professional help lays out every option, including people you already know.
Common questions
Are online wills legal?
They can be. A will is valid if it is signed the way your state requires. In Washington that means in writing, signed by you and by two competent witnesses, under RCW 11.12.020. Washington also recognizes electronic wills.
What's the best free online will?
We don't rank services. FreeWill was free when we checked in October 2026 and offered a will, a health care directive and a financial power of attorney. It says nonprofits keep it free, and that it is not a law firm.
Does an online will need to be notarized?
Washington's will statute, RCW 11.12.020, requires two competent witnesses and does not list a notary among its requirements. Some services suggest notarizing anyway. Other states set their own rules, so follow the instructions for yours.
Can an online will avoid probate?
No. A will goes through probate; that is its job. To pass assets outside probate, people use a living trust, beneficiary forms or payable-on-death accounts. Some online services sell trust plans as well.
Sources
- FreeWill: home page (checked October 2026)
- LegalZoom: Will packages (checked October 2026)
- LegalZoom: Estate planning (checked October 2026)
- Trust & Will: Pricing (checked October 2026)
- RCW 11.12.020: Requisites of wills (Washington State Legislature)
- RCW 11.12.420: Electronic wills, applicable law (Washington State Legislature)
This page is general information, not legal or financial advice. Laws vary by state.