LegalZoom Estate Planning vs Trust & Will

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.

Trust & Will is an online platform for creating or updating wills, trusts and other estate planning documents. The Will Plan includes a Last Will & Testament, HIPAA Authorization, Living Will and Power of Attorney. The Trust Plan adds a revocable living trust, pour-over will, schedule of assets and certification of trust. Estate plan creation is available through a free option without ongoing membership; the Will Plan starts at $199 and the Trust Plan starts at $499. Optional Attorney Support costs $299 as a flat fee for one year of phone access to a licensed estate planning attorney, with some state exclusions. Members can review documents and track assets in the iOS and Android app, but document editing and plan updates take place on the website. The company says its plans are state-specific and must be signed and notarized after receipt or download to be legally binding. Trust & Will says it is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice; its forms are not a substitute for an attorney.