How to Make a Will Without an Attorney (or Attorney Fees!)

Preparing a Will doesn’t have to be stressful and overwhelming – and you can make a Will all by yourself in the comfort of your own home without an attorney with GeauxPlans. A Last Will and Testament, known plainly as a Will, is one of the core parts of an estate plan. Each state has its own requirements for how a Will must be written and signed. While having a lawyer is helpful for advanced-level estate planning, you can really make a Will without a lawyer.

Decide Between an Online Will or Handwritten Will

When you are creating a Will, you can choose from multiple formats that have their own set of state requirements. You can prepare a handwritten will without an attorney. A Handwritten Will must be entirely in the testator’s writing, dated, and signed at the end, but does not need to be notarized. Handwritten wills are more prone to dispute, so use these with discretion and generally only in a crisis situation, such as a medical emergency with no ability to execute any other type of Will.

Not sure where to start?

Tell us about yourself and we'll match you with the right plan!

#1 Choose Your State

If you spend time in more than one state, use the state where you are registered to vote, or maintain a driver's license, or intend to return if you are temporarily residing in another state.

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District Of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Proceed

GeauxPlans is only for Louisiana residents. Please utilize a different estate planning website, or contact GeauxPlans for a referral.

#2 Are you married?

Yes No

Proceed

#3 Do you want to plan for what happens when you die?

You get to decide who's in control after you die, who gets your assets, and when, as well as who cares for children, etc.

Yes No

Proceed

#4 Do you own any real estate in the state of Louisiana?

Yes No

Proceed

#5 OK, so probate will be required in Louisiana. It's a bit more work, but do you want to avoid the probate process by transferring your assets to a Living Trust?

GeauxPlans can walk you through the process - step by step.

Yes No

Proceed

#5 Do you own probate assets worth more than $125,000?

Probate assets include property that passes by beneficiary designation or that isn't already in a trust. Put another way, probate assets do not include life insurance or annuity proceeds (unless your estate is the beneficiary), retirement assets, usufruct or life estate property, and other assets with named beneficiaries, such pay on death accounts.

Yes No

Proceed

#6 Do you have any minor children?

Include both biological and legally adopted children.

Yes No

Proceed

Great news! We've got you covered

Based on your responses, this may be a good solution for you:

Loading form...

Great news! We've got you covered

Based on your responses, this may be a good solution for you:

Loading form...

Great news! We've got you covered

Based on your responses, this may be a good solution for you:

Loading form...

#4 If you lose capacity, do you want someone you trust to make financial or healthcare decisions for you?

Incapacity can result from any of the following:

• Accidents
• Injuries
• Medical conditions

• Degenerative diseases
• Anything that can cause you from acting on your own behalf, whether temporarily or permanently

If something happens to you, someone should be able to make medical and financial decisions for you, like taking care of bills and other financial obligations, consenting to medical procedures, making care arrangements, and accessing proctected health information.

Yes No

Proceed

Great news! We've got you covered

Based on your responses, this may be a good solution for you:

Loading form...

#5 Do you need authority to make financial or medical decisions for another person?

For example, a college student who is no longer a minor, or an elderly person (perhaps a parent) may need assistance with financial or medical decisions.

Yes No

Proceed

#6 Do you seek privacy or improved control of your assets during life?

For example, do you wish to:

• Minimize or avoid any public record or information about personal assets?
• Shield any public information from creditors or predators?
• Keep assets segregated as separate property in the event of a second marriage?

Yes No

Proceed

#7 It sounds like you need some advice.

GeauxPlans is owned and administered by an estate planning law firm. If you have questions or would like a complimentary consultation, please submit your inquiry.

Submit Your Inquiry

Follow Instructions Carefully for Online Wills

You can prepare an Online Will without a lawyer quite simply and easily. There are many websites that will allow you to create an Online Will form, so you have to be careful. Selecting a bad Online Will form will render your Will legally invalid.

If you choose to create a will online without an attorney, make sure to follow all the requirements set by state law. The following image is an Online Will obtained from a reputable source that wasn’t signed on the bottom of each separate page rendering the Online Will legally invalid in the State of the applicable jurisdiction.

Unlike other estate planning websites, GeauxPlans is supported and maintained by an estate planning law firm with attorney support available at all times to minimize the chances of any operator error.

Identify Your Assets

Make a list of your assets. This includes cash, property, vehicles, life insurance accounts, and personal possessions. You do not need to specify any assets in your Will unless you wish to make a specific bequest, but having a complete list of assets will make the probate process much easier.

Other Legal Documents You Can Prepare Without A Lawyer

Getting your affairs in order requires two things: (1) a device such as a Will or a Trust; and (2) a set of fiduciary documents authorizing someone you trust to make legal decisions if you are unable to do so. We call these “fiduciary documents” because the person you appoint to make decisions for you will owe you “fiduciary duties,” which means they must act prudently and in your best interest at all times. These documents include a Financial Power of Attorney, Healthcare (Medical) Power of Attorney, HIPAA Release, and Living Will (a/k/a Advance Healthcare Directive). You can prepare all of these fiduciary documents without an attorney with GeauxPlans.

Review Will Laws

Wills are governed according to each state, so the requirements for a valid will are not all the same. Both online and printed wills are acceptable if in proper form. To learn more about the state law requirements for creating a will, you may contact an experienced estate planning lawyer. However, you can create a Will without an attorney through GeauxPlans.

Writing A Will Without An Attorney

Writing your own Will without an attorney and without the benefit of a reliable online will form is not recommended. However, if you choose to do so, it is crucial that you write your will with clear and concise language. Include full legal names of every person mentioned in your Will. You may also mention that you are in a sound state of mind at the moment you are writing a Will. Thoroughly review the language in your will so that it effectively communicates your values and goals. If your Will is ambiguous at all, it may invite a dispute.

Watch Our Webinar About How to Make A Will Without An Attorney

Unlike other estate planning websites, GeauxPlans is maintained and supported by an actual estate planning law firm. We’ve got your back! If you would like to learn step-by-step how to prepare your own will online without an attorney (or attorney fees), watch our webinar hosted by a licensed and practicing estate planning attorney.