How to Make a Will Online: Legal Rules, Costs, and Risks

Are Online Wills Legal?

Yes. A will you create online is valid when it meets your state's requirements for a will. The website you used to write it does not matter to the court. What matters is who you are, what the document says, and how it was signed.

In most states, a will must be in writing, signed by you, and signed by at least two witnesses. Under the Uniform Probate Code, which Utah follows, you must also be at least 18 and of sound mind. Louisiana is stricter: its standard will must be signed in front of a notary and two witnesses, and a will that misses those formalities is null. See how to make a will for the full signing rules.

The software writes the document. You still have to sign it the right way. That signing step is where online wills most often fail.

How an Online Will Works

Most online will services follow the same pattern:

1. You answer questions about your family, your executor, your guardian choices, and who should receive your property.
2. The service fills in a will template written for your state.
3. You review the document and make changes.
4. You print it and sign it in front of the witnesses your state requires, usually two adults who are not beneficiaries.
5. You store the signed original and tell your executor where it is.

Some services also offer a self-proving affidavit, a sworn statement signed before a notary that can make probate easier. Read does a will have to be notarized? to see whether you need one.

Online Service, Free State Form, or Attorney?

You have three practical ways to make a simple will. The costs are typical ranges.

Guided online services such as Trust & Will ask questions about your family and assets, then produce a will written for your state. They cost far less than an attorney, but they do not replace advice for a complicated estate.

We may earn a commission if you use a service linked above, at no added cost to you — see our affiliate disclosure.

Free statutory will forms

A few states publish an official will form that anyone can use at no cost. California, Maine, and Michigan are examples. You fill in the blanks and cannot change the wording. California's form warns against using it if your estate is over $600,000, you own a business, you own property in another state, or you want to disinherit a family member. It also states that it does not avoid probate.

Attorney-assisted online services

Some online providers add attorney review or support for an extra fee. That can be a middle path if you want a professional to check your answers without a full engagement. Compare what the review actually covers before you pay.

What to Look for in an Online Will Service

Prices and features change often, so judge a service by what it does for you, not by its marketing. Use this checklist:

• A will written for your state. Signing rules differ, so the service should ask where you live.
• Clear signing instructions. Look for step-by-step guidance on witnesses and the notary.
• Backup choices. It should let you name a backup executor and guardian, and include a residuary clause for everything not listed.
• Plain pricing. Check whether updates cost extra or require a subscription.
• Human help. Find out whether you can reach a person, or an attorney, with questions.
• Copies and storage. Make sure you can download your documents and that you are not locked in.
• Privacy. Read how the company stores and shares your family and financial details.

Many online services also offer living trusts. If you may want one later, see will vs. living trust before you choose.

Can You Sign a Will Electronically?

In most places, the safe answer is to print the will and sign it in person. An electronic will is a separate legal category, and it is valid only where state law allows it.

A growing number of states have passed e-will laws. Some adopted the Uniform Electronic Wills Act, including Utah, Colorado, North Dakota, and Washington. Others, such as Florida, wrote their own rules. The rules differ in important ways:

• Florida allows an electronic signature, and witnesses can join by audio-video link, but only under the supervision of a notary using Florida's online notarization process.
• Washington lets witnesses sign in electronic presence, but an electronic will counts as self-proving only if a qualified third-party custodian holds it. Saving a PDF on your own computer does not meet that rule.

If your state has no e-will law, a will signed only online or on a video call may be rejected. Do not assume the "sign electronically" button in an app is legally enough. Print, sign, and witness it in person unless your state clearly says otherwise.

When an Online Will Is Not Enough

An online will works best for a straightforward situation. Talk to an estate planning attorney if any of these apply:

• You have a blended family, or you plan to leave a child or spouse less than they might expect.
• You own property in more than one state, or a business.
• A beneficiary has special needs or receives government benefits.
• You want to use a trust to avoid probate. See how to set up a living trust.
• You expect a family dispute. Read can you contest a will?
• You are married and want to understand your spouse's legal rights. See surviving spouse rights.

An attorney can also tell you which of your assets a will actually controls. Accounts with a named beneficiary pass outside the will, so a perfect will can still leave a gap if those forms are out of date.

How to Make a Will Online: Step by Step

1. Gather your information. Write down your executor and backup, your guardian and backup for minor children, your beneficiaries, and a list of your major assets.
2. Check that your situation is simple. If the list above applies to you, start with an attorney.
3. Choose a service or form. Use the checklist above, or the free statutory form if your state offers one.
4. Answer the questions and review the draft. Read every line. Check names, relationships, and who receives what.
5. Print the will. Print every page, and do not sign or mark it yet.
6. Sign with witnesses. Gather two adult witnesses who are not beneficiaries, and sign together. Add a notarized self-proving affidavit if your state allows it.
7. Store it and tell your executor. Keep the original in a safe, reachable place. Record its location on your emergency information list.
8. Update your beneficiary forms. Retirement accounts and life insurance follow their own forms, not your will.

Common Online Will Mistakes

Signing without witnesses

A printed will that nobody witnessed is the most common failure. Treat the signing as a step you plan, not a formality.

Using a beneficiary as a witness

In some states, a witness who also receives a gift may lose it. Choose neutral adults.

Relying on a digital signature

Unless your state allows electronic wills, a PDF signed online may not count.

Forgetting to update the will

After a marriage, divorce, birth, or move, review it. Nothing updates itself.

Losing the original

Families searching for a missing will face extra delays. Our guide on how to find a will after someone dies shows what that search involves.

Frequently Asked Questions