Best online will makers for simple, low-cost estate planning

Dear Savvy Senior,

Can you recommend some good online resources for writing a simple will? I’m 70 and divorced and want to get my affairs organized, but I hate paying a high-priced attorney fee if I can do it myself.

Don’t Have Much

Dear Don’t,

Having a last will and testament is an important document to have because it ensures your money and property will be distributed to the people you want to receive it after your death. Currently, fewer than one-third of American adults have prepared a will.

If you die without a will, your estate will be settled in accordance with state law. Details vary by state, but assets typically are distributed using a hierarchy of survivors. Assets go first to a spouse, then to children, then your siblings and so on.

You also need to be aware certain accounts take precedence over a will. If you jointly own a home or a bank account, for example, the house and the funds in the account will go to the joint holder, even if your will directs otherwise. Similarly, retirement accounts and life insurance policies are distributed to the beneficiaries you designate, so it is important to keep them up to date too.

Online will makers

If you have a simple, straightforward estate and an uncomplicated family situation, writing your own will — with the help of a good online will-making program — is a viable alternative to hiring an attorney and much cheaper. Like tax software, these online tools will guide you through a series of questions and will insert your answers into a will for you, and it usually takes less than 30 minutes from start to finish.

Some of the highest-rated do-it-yourself options include the Quicken WillMaker & Trust 2025 downloadable software (www.WillMaker.com), which starts at $109 and is valid in every state except Louisiana; Trust & Will (www.TrustandWill.com), which charges $199 for an individual will-based estate plan; and LegalZoom (www.LegalZoom.com), which offers will-based estate plans for $129 or $149 if you’d like assistance from an independent attorney.

Or if that’s more than you’re able or willing to pay, two good options that will let you make your will for free are www.FreeWill.com or www.DoYourOwnWill.com.

When to hire a lawyer

If you have considerable financial assets or a complex family situation, like a blended family or a child with special needs, it would be smart for you to seek professional advice. An experienced lawyer can make sure you cover all your bases, which can help avoid family confusion and squabbles after you’re gone.

The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (www.NAELA.org) and the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils (www.NAEPC.org) websites are good resources that have directories to help you find someone in your area.

Costs will vary depending on your location and the complexity of your situation, but you can expect to pay somewhere between $200 and $1,000 to get your will made. To help you save, shop around and get price quotes from several different firms. And before you meet with an attorney, make a detailed list of your assets and accounts to help make your visit more efficient.

Where to store it

Once your will is written, the best place to keep it is either in a fireproof safe or file cabinet at home, in a safe deposit box in your bank, or online. But make sure your executor knows where it is and has access to it. Or if a professional prepares your will, keep the original document at your lawyer’s office. Also, be sure to update your will if your family or financial circumstances change or if you move to another state.

Send your questions or comments to questions@savvysenior.org or to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.