DIY investing, DIY PC-building, DIY campervans... It seems as though the pandemic has induced a self-sustaining appetite into us - or we just enjoy saving money. However, one place we didn't expect to see a DIY attitude take its hold was with will creation. But why not? Wills are simple legal documents, and many lawyers are creating templates for an easy DIY creation. This article will cover the best will makers by OWM.com.

Top 5 online will makers

Nolo

Nolo is one of the oldest will makers on this list, having been started in 1971. Given that they predate the internet as we know it, we can rest assured they're not yet another tech startup pretending to be legal experts. 

Pricing:

• Last will and testament - $59.99
• Living will - N/A
• Living trust -N/A
• Package 1 - $99 (includes the above 3 products + medical and financial power of attorney)

Advantages:

Nolo is an experienced and credible provider of DIY wills. They offer a tonne of instructions, great documents, and even update regularly as per law changes. 

Disadvantages:

A major disadvantage of Nolo is that it requires dedicated software. This means you cannot simply access it via the web from your mobile, meaning it's less accessible.

LawDepot

LawDepot is a legal services company founded in 2001. LawDepot offers over 150 legal documents, making them a very comprehensive law firm with an A+ rating on the Better Business Bureau. 

Pricing:

• Last will and testament - $49.95
• Living will - $29
• Living trust -$39

Advantages:

LawDepot offers many products that can be individually bought, which saves money as you don't need to buy a large package. The process is extremely clear, user-friendly, and even offers great customer support which is rare.

Disadvantages:

Whilst it's good that the firm offers a 7-day free trial, payment info is required for this trial. Furthermore, many customers get caught out with the trial ending and being charged.

eForms

eForms was founded in 2015, and as you may have guessed, it isn't a law firm full of legal experts. So, why trust them? Their documents are proven to be effective and reliable and come at a reasonable price - just remember this is super DIY with very little support.

Pricing:

• Last will and testament - $45
• Living will - $45
• Living trust - $45
• Annual Plan - $199/year

Advantages:

eForms have a beautifully simple pricing structure, with each document being $45, or accessed on a $39/month plan. There is a 7-day free trial with state-specific documents, along with being incredibly easy and fast to use.

Disadvantages:

Whilst there is good customer support, they don't offer any legal advice or expertise. Furthermore, free trial and monthly subscriptions can be forgotten about for one-time users, so make sure to pick carefully.

US Legal Wills

US Legal Wills have niched down and specialized as an online will maker since 2000. The firm operates in all 50 states and has very high customer ratings online.

Pricing:

• Last will and testament - $39.95
• Living will - $19.95
• Financial Power of Attorney - $29.95

Advantages:

US Legal Wills is one of the cheapest DIY will makers on the market. For a one-time fee, you gain permanent access to a customizable template that's very fast (~20 minutes) and carefully crafted.

Disadvantages:

US Legal Wills fail to offer trusts and fail to offer an all-in-one package for those that need multiple documents for a cut cost.

Trust&Will

Having been founded in 2017, Trust&Will is only four years old. Two entrepreneurs (not legal experts) founded the firm and have since grown to a large size despite a small workforce.

Pricing:

• Package 1 - $89 (last will & testament, living will, medical & financial power of attorney)
• Package 2 - £399 (all of the above + living trust)

Advantages:

Being a tech startup, there's certainly an advantage in having an incredibly smooth and responsive website. The great user experience is also extended to the will creation, being fast and easy to use.

Disadvantages:

Whilst there is a live chat, very little support exists. Because of this, they cannot accommodate complicated situations or attend to nuanced issues - nor do they have the legal credibility to.

Summary

We can divide our options for the best online will maker into two categories: low cost and extremely comprehensive. For a low-cost DIY maker, the tech startups seem to perform well. US Legal Wills is perhaps the best performing low-cost firm, as they have great pricing options and a great product. For more support and legal expertise, LawDepot is arguably the best value as they still retain a low pricing structure despite offering a tonne of support. However, Nolo is highly reliable and credible, making it a great option too.