When you're choosing a service to help create your will or trust, the stakes are high. The documents need to be legally sound, the platform needs to be trustworthy, and the price needs to make sense. EstatePlanWise independently evaluates every service we feature so you don't have to guess.
What We Evaluate
We focus on three categories of online estate planning services:
- Will-making platforms — DIY tools that walk you through creating a legally valid will, often at a fraction of an attorney's cost.
- Trust services — Platforms that help you establish a living trust, including document creation and guidance on funding the trust.
- Attorney-matching platforms — Services that connect you with licensed estate planning attorneys for a more personalized, full-service experience.
Each category requires a somewhat different evaluation lens, but our core criteria apply consistently across all of them.
Our Rating Criteria
Every service receives a score in five weighted categories. Together they produce the overall rating you see in our reviews.
| Criterion | Weight | What we look at |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of Use | 25% | How intuitive is the platform for someone with no legal background? Can you complete documents without getting confused or lost? Is the guidance clear at each step? |
| Document Quality | 25% | Are the generated documents legally sound and comprehensive? Do they cover the right scenarios? We consult with estate planning attorneys to evaluate document quality in depth. |
| Pricing & Value | 20% | How does the cost compare to alternatives — both competing platforms and working with a local attorney? Are there hidden fees or recurring charges worth knowing about? |
| Customer Support | 15% | What help is available when you get stuck? We evaluate the availability, responsiveness, and quality of live chat, phone, and email support. |
| Features & Flexibility | 15% | What documents does the platform offer beyond a basic will? How well does it handle state-specific requirements? Can you update documents later if your situation changes? |
Our Review Process
We don't just read marketing copy and write summaries. Every review we publish is based on firsthand experience with the service.
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We sign up as real users We create an actual account and go through the signup process just as any first-time user would, without special access or vendor briefings.
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We create real documents We complete the core document types the service offers — typically a will, healthcare directive, and financial power of attorney — and evaluate the entire experience from start to finish.
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We test support channels We contact customer support with realistic questions to evaluate response time, helpfulness, and the quality of guidance provided.
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We research third-party reviews We read a broad sample of customer reviews across independent platforms to identify patterns — both praise and recurring complaints — that go beyond our own experience.
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We get attorney input on document quality For document quality specifically, we consult with licensed estate planning attorneys to assess whether the generated documents are legally sound, complete, and appropriate for real-world use.
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We re-evaluate annually Services change — pricing, features, and document quality can shift significantly over time. We revisit every review at least once a year and update ratings when our assessment changes.
What We Don't Do
Our editorial commitment
We do not accept payment for reviews, sponsored placements, or favorable coverage of any kind. We do not allow affiliate relationships to influence our ratings — a service we earn a commission from receives exactly the same scrutiny as one we don't. If a platform has serious flaws, our review says so, clearly and specifically. Our readers are making important decisions; they deserve our honest assessment, not a promotional summary.
For more on how we handle affiliate relationships, see our Affiliate Disclosure. For our broader content standards, see our Editorial Guidelines.