An online will is one of the most popular types of wills. As the name says, we’re talking about a will that can be written entirely using a digital format. That means no in-person visits to a lawyer. How great is that? More people every day are choosing to make their wills on the web because it means one less time sink—and it also saves you a pretty penny.

For some situations—such as large or complex estates—the smartest approach will be to work with an estate planning attorney to ensure you’ve got all your bases covered. But for most people, an online will is perfectly suited for all their estate needs.

To really understand the advantages of a digital will, let’s look at how it works and how it compares to a will you’d get by working with a lawyer.

How Does an Online Will Work?

Digital wills do the same job as wills written by an attorney: Both give detailed instructions about what happens to the things you own and the people you’re responsible for after you die. Those details make the probate process much easier and less costly. But yeah, a digital will is created online, so the steps are a little different.

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First, instead of hoofing it to a lawyer’s office and paying them for every minute they spend helping you draw up a will, you head to the website of a digital will service. You’ll plug in information about where you live and whether you’re married—and then fill out an electronic version of a last will and testament created for the laws of your state.

From there, the process will depend on what state you live in. Some states, like New Hampshire and Oregon, don’t allow digital wills. This means that once you’ve created your online will in these states, you have to print it out and sign a physical copy with witnesses. In other states, you can have witnesses sign online. While only Louisiana requires you by law to get your will notarized, we recommend that everybody do so anyway to reinforce its validity.

And that’s it—you’ve created your will online! Just be sure to tell people where to find your will. After that, simply update your will as your life changes (you enter wedded bliss, you have a baby, a beneficiary dies, etc.).

What Are the Legal Requirements for an Online Will?

Even though making an online will is cheaper and more convenient than working with a lawyer, both must follow the same legal requirements:

• The person filling out the online will form (presumably you) must be 18 years of age or older and of sound mind.
• After filling out the online will form, you’ll need to sign and date the printed form in front of witnesses, and they must also be at least 18 years of age.
• You know the people you’re leaving things to (sometimes known as the beneficiaries)? Those folks can’t serve as witnesses to the signing. Neutral parties only.

Who Should Get an Online Will?

For folks with a simple estate, creating a will online through a digital will service is a great way to do your estate planning affordably. But what does simple mean? Let’s get more specific. Here’s a chart with examples of who a simple online will works for and who needs a more detailed estate plan:

How Much Time Will I Need to Do an Online Will?

Got time to listen to a Smart Money Happy Hour episode? It shouldn’t even take you that long to get through the actual form-filling part (probably only about 20 minutes). But you’ll also need to set aside some time beforehand to either think through everything or make decisions with your spouse if you’re married. We also recommend telling everyone involved what you’re doing in your will ahead of time. That way there are no surprises (your executor of estate might want to know they’ve got a job in their future).

But there are really only a few things you’ll need to decide before making an online will, including:

• Who would you like to receive your money and property?
• Who do you want to appoint as the guardian of your kids or pets?
• Who should be the executor for your estate?

Once you have those answers, you’re pretty much ready to fill out an online will.

A will from a reputable online will-maker should’ve been crafted by an attorney, so anything that needs the attention or expertise of a lawyer has already been built into the electronic will process. In fact, most digital wills include other legal documents like:

• Financial power of attorney forms
• Medical power of attorney forms
• Living wills or advanced health care directives

How Is the Online Will Process Different From Using an Attorney?

The main differences between getting a will through an online will-maker and paying an attorney to create one are:

• Price
• Time

To put it simply, it’s just a lot more affordable and convenient to do a will online than it is to find a lawyer and deal with the extra time and hassle to go meet with them. Attorneys charge an average of $300 for a simple will, but that price can run closer to $1,000, depending on the complexity of your needs. Ouch! Although there’s a lingering myth that attorneys are the only people with the power to create binding wills, it’s simply untrue.

Then there’s the time-saving factor. If the thought of cramming one more thing into your busy day makes you wilt, rest assured you can make your will online in couch-potato mode. Awesome!

If all the ease and savings sound appealing, they are. But just keep in mind what we already mentioned—some people with a really large estate will still want to work with an attorney for their will. How large are we talking? Say, if your total net worth is $1 million or more. (And if you’ve never bothered to do that math, you can quickly find your net worth using our Net Worth Calculator.) But if you’re not yet a member of the millionaires club, you can get a perfectly legally binding will online at a much more affordable price.

Are There Any Good Free Will Options?

Unfortunately, when it comes to estate planning (as with other things like antivirus software or coffee), it’s free or good—pick one.

Sure, you could go with the free options out there, like:

• Free online will-makers
• Free will templates
• Free or cheap estate planning software

But you’ll run the risk of a legal headache in the long run. Most aren’t tailored to your state laws, which leaves your will wide open to being declared invalid.

Make an Online Will Today!

Did you know some legal forms are better than others? That’s why we only recommend our RamseyTrusted^® partner Mama Bear Legal Forms to help you create a will online. Their will package includes four legal documents:

• Your state-specific will
• Financial power of attorney form
• Health care power of attorney form
• Letter of instruction

And you'll even have the option to add a mirror will for your spouse! With Mama Bear Legal Forms, you can have peace of mind knowing your will is legally binding and customized to the laws of your state. No need for a second opinion! But it’ll hold up to the scrutiny if you do get one like Shanna K. from the Baby Steps Millionaires Facebook group did.

“We used [the Mama Bear Legal Forms will-maker] and had a great experience,” she said. “We’re blessed to have a good friend who is an attorney for exactly those things. She reviewed [the documents] and said they were all perfect. HIGHLY recommend it!”

Create your own will online in about the time it takes you to eat lunch (hope it’s ham and cheese). All you need to do is plug in a few answers, and the rest of the work is done for you.

And once you’ve purchased, there’s no rush—you have 180 days to complete the form from there. Get it done today!