Getting your estate in order shouldn't require a law degree—but choosing the wrong software can leave your documents incomplete, legally invalid, or frustratingly hard to update. The best estate planning software gives you legally sound templates, intuitive guidance, and enough flexibility to handle everything from a simple will to a revocable living trust. Here's what to look for and which options are worth your time.
What Good Estate Planning Software Actually Does
At minimum, quality software should help you create a last will and testament, durable power of attorney, healthcare directive, and beneficiary designations. Better platforms add trust creation, digital asset planning, and document storage. The key difference between a $20 one-time download and a $200/year subscription is usually ongoing legal updates—state laws change, and your documents need to reflect that.
Top Options for DIY Users
Trust & Will is one of the most polished consumer-facing platforms available. Plans start around $199 for a will-based plan or $499 for a trust-based plan (with couples pricing available). It's state-specific, walks you through each section with plain-language explanations, and stores documents in a secure vault. It's a strong pick if you want hand-holding without hiring an attorney.
Willmaker by Nolo has been around for decades and remains a reliable choice for straightforward estates. A one-time purchase runs roughly $99–$139 and covers wills, healthcare directives, and financial powers of attorney for all 50 states. It's desktop software, which some users prefer for privacy, though it lacks the cloud sync and update model of subscription competitors.
Tomorrow (now part of Trust & Will) was known for its free basic will—worth checking if budget is the primary constraint, though the free tier is limited.
LegalZoom sits in the middle ground between DIY and professional help. Estate planning packages range from $89 to $279, and you can add attorney review sessions, which is useful if your situation involves minor children, blended families, or business interests.
Best Options for Legal Professionals
If you're an estate planning attorney or paralegal, you need something more robust than consumer software.
Wealth Docx (by WealthCounsel) is the gold standard for drafting complex trusts and estate documents. It's subscription-based (typically $2,000–$5,000+/year depending on firm size) and generates attorney-quality documents with clause-level customization. It integrates with practice management tools and keeps document templates updated as laws evolve.
HotDocs is a document automation platform widely used by estate planning firms to create custom interview-driven templates. It requires more setup but offers powerful automation for high-volume practices.
Smokeball and Clio are broader legal practice management platforms that include estate planning document workflows and are worth considering if you want billing, client management, and document drafting in one system.
Key Features to Compare Before You Buy
Not all platforms are created equal. Before committing, check for:
- State-specific legal compliance — generic templates can miss critical state requirements
- Trust creation support — many budget tools only offer wills and directives
- Document storage and sharing — can you grant access to an executor or attorney?
- Update policy — are documents refreshed when state laws change?
- Attorney access — is professional review available as an add-on?
- Pricing model — one-time purchase vs. annual subscription affects long-term cost
- Mobile access — useful for reviewing or updating documents on the go
When Software Isn't Enough
DIY estate planning software works well for straightforward situations: a single person or married couple with clear beneficiaries, no business ownership, and no contested assets. Once you introduce blended families, special needs beneficiaries, significant real estate holdings across multiple states, or estate tax concerns (federal threshold is currently $13.61 million per individual, but state thresholds vary), software alone won't cut it. In those cases, use it as a starting point and pair it with a licensed estate planning attorney.
How to Choose the Right Fit
Start by writing down exactly what you need to create: will only, or a full trust package? Do you need one document or a complete estate plan for a couple? What's your budget—one-time or subscription? Do you want an attorney review option built in?
Once you know your requirements, pricing and feature comparisons become much easier. Mercoly makes that process faster by letting you compare and find trusted estate planning software providers all in one place, so you're not bouncing between a dozen separate websites to price things out.
The right software protects your family without unnecessary complexity—start your comparison today and get your estate plan in place before you need it.