EncorEstate Plans vs LegalZoom Estate Planning

EncorEstate Plans combines estate document creation and trust-funding tools with human estate-planner support for financial advisors. It is intended for certified financial advisors with a CRD, not for consumer use, and is available on the web. Documents are tailored for all 50 states, with options including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, health care directives, and custom provisions such as specific gifts, trustee language, or age-based restrictions. Advisors can contact estate planners and paralegals by phone, live chat, or email at no cost, and may request attorney review. The deed service obtains the last recorded deed, prepares new documents where appropriate, and files with the county; deed filing excludes Hawaii, Louisiana, Massachusetts, and North Carolina. The maker says each plan receives a 60-point quality review and every document is reviewed by a person for state-specific compliance. Listed one-time prices range from $100, paid once for Business Assignments to $650, paid once for the Trust-Based Plan. The maker also describes an eLegacy integration for state-specific attorney calls and document reviews, and says it is SOC 2 Type II certified. Advisors can retain access to client plans after ending their partnership with the service.

LegalZoom Estate Planning creates online estate documents from answers to a questionnaire. Every estate plan includes either a last will or living trust, plus a financial power of attorney, healthcare directive, and HIPAA authorization. A will can name asset recipients and guardians for minor children. Trust plans add documents such as a pour-over will, certificate of trust, schedule of assets, and bill of transfer; LegalZoom says a living trust can help a family avoid probate court. Customers view documents in their LegalZoom account, review them alone or with a lawyer on a call, then print and sign. Premium Will and Premium Trust include attorney document review and unlimited 30-minute attorney calls for one year. LegalZoom says its last wills have been accepted in all 50 states. The service is web-based, paid, and has no free plan. Basic Will costs $99, paid once; Premium Will $249, paid once; Basic Trust $399, paid once; Premium Trust $549, paid once.