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DoYourOwnWill Review 2023

DoYourOwnWill is a free online will-making service that has been in business since 2001. The company is operated by fewer than 10 employees, and makes most of its profits from ad revenue and referrals. This service is a good option for people who don’t want to spend money on a will and are okay with just getting the basics.

Should you really make a will for free? Learn about the pitfall of free wills here.
Have you tried this company? How would you rate your experience?

Services:

  • Last will and testament
  • Living will
  • Medical Power of Attorney
  • Financial Power of Attorney
  • Pet Guardian Trust

Availability map:

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

Value for Money:

n/a

Official website:

Overall rating75.0%
  • star-100
  • star-100
  • star-100
  • star-100
  • star-50
Updated Apr 20, 2023
Not available via OWM

Pros and cons

  • It's free
  • No sign up required
  • Clean site design
  • No customer support
  • No legal advice
  • You are responsible for veryfying your state laws
 

Our Top-Rated Alternatives to DoYourOwnWill

1
Overall rating 97.1
  • star-100
  • star-100
  • star-100
  • star-100
  • star-100
Oldest Will Making Service
Services
  • Last will and testament
  • Living will
  • Living trust
  • Medical Power of Attorney
  • Financial Power of Attorney
  • + 3 more
  • Will Codicil
  • Amendment to Living Trust
  • Revocation of Living Trust
Pros and cons
  • Detailed forms and instructions
  • Includes 35 documents+2 books
  • Can use for multiple people
  • Regular updates as laws change
2
Overall rating 98.6
  • star-100
  • star-100
  • star-100
  • star-100
  • star-100
Best Selection of Features
Services
  • Last will and testament
  • Living will
  • Living trust
  • Medical Power of Attorney
  • Financial Power of Attorney
  • + 4 more
  • Will Codicil
  • Amendment to Living Trust
  • Revocation of Living Trust
  • Pet Guardian Trust
Pros and cons
  • Detailed final documents
  • Intuitive user interface
  • Easy to ask a lawyer or support
  • Good form builder
3
Overall rating 95.1
  • star-100
  • star-100
  • star-100
  • star-100
  • star-75
Great Value for Money
Services
  • Last will and testament
  • Living will
  • Medical Power of Attorney
  • Financial Power of Attorney
Pros and cons
  • Customizable will template
  • Easy to update long-term
  • Free unlimired updates for one year
  • 30-day money-back

Editorial Notes

DoYourOwnWill claims that in order to create an online will with them, you don’t need to register an account or give them your credit card. They believe that writing a will does not have to be complicated or expensive. All you need to do is enter your basic information, name a will executor, describe how you would like your assets to be distributed, and download your document. All it takes is 5 to 10 minutes of your time. In addition to your last will and testament, you can create a living will, and a power of attorney.

Credibility: Is DoYourOwnWill legit?

Established in 1999
Registered in Seattle, WA
Google Rating n/a
BBB grade n/a

DoYourOwnWill website belongs to Trial Data, Inc that was established in 1999 in Seattle, Washington. The company’s vision was to deliver accurate and reliable information at little or no charge. For this purpose, they created DoYourOwnWill in 2001 Since then, millions of people used DoYourOwnWill to create their simple wills online.

The company specifically reminds its customers that they are not a law firm and cannot provide any legal advice. DoYourOwnWill is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau and does not have any Google reviews.

Is DoYourOwnWill safe? Is DoYourOwnWill secure?

DoYourOwnWill does a great job of preventing unauthorized access to your data. They use all the appropriate physical, electronic, and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information that you enter on their website. Meeting these top safety requirements makes DoYourOwnWill a safe and secure site you can trust.

DoYourOwnWill Services and Pricing

During our DoYourOwnWill review, we found out that this site charges the following fees:
Services one-doc Package Subscription
Last will and testament
Living will
Medical Power of Attorney
Financial Power of Attorney
Pet Guardian Trust

No matter your station in life, you can make your last wishes known. By making their service free of charge, DoYourOwnWill has accomplished this.

DoYourOwnWill offers its customers the following services:

  • Power of Attorney
  • Last Will & Testament
  • Living Wills

Additional services include life insurance, funeral planning checklist, pet guardian trust, and more.

DoYourOwnWill offers all services listed on their site for FREE. They also boast an extensive FAQ and information section that addresses common questions and concerns.

DoYourOwnWill: Strengths

  • Cost – If you’re living on a shoestring budget, DoYourOwnWill.com is a godsend. Every service they offer is for free – to make money, they earn revenue from on-site ads. They also earn affiliate income through a partnership with Ladder life insurance.
  • Clean Site Design – Navigating this site is a breeze. DoYourOwnWill lists their three biggest services – Last Will & Testaments, Living Wills, and Power of Attorney docs – right at the top of the page. Common topics regarding will creation are visible along the left sidebar. Consequently, getting lost on this site is practically impossible.
  • In-Depth FAQs and Information – The process of will creation has plenty of legal pitfalls. DoYourOwnWill has gone above and beyond to provide an extensive trove of information on this subject. For a free site, it’s remarkable how detailed their resources are.

DoYourOwnWill: Weaknesses

  • Depth of Services – For a free site, DoYourOwnWill is a tremendous resource. But, “free” will only get you so far. For instance, if you want to set up a trust, you’ll have to do it through another site. If you’re looking for something sophisticated, DoYourOwnWill won’t cut it.
  • No Customer Support – DoYourOwnWill.com is a free site. So technically, they don’t have customers. Yes, they do provide an extensive FAQ. However, with limited revenue coming in, DoYourOwnWill doesn’t have the resources to offer customer service.
  • No Legal Advice – DoYourOwnWill is not a legal firm, nor do they sell access to attorneys. If you plan on using this site, we recommend getting advice from a lawyer first.
  • Suitable for only very simple cases – Wills created using this service are only suitable for very simple estates and family situations, for instance, if you and your spouse want to leave everything you own to each other. Plus, the documents are not tailored to laws in each specific state.

Compare DoYourOwnWill

Payment structure No fees
Free trial No
Guarantees No
States covered All states
Attorney Support No
Attorney Cost n/a

While making a will online is very fast and easy, choosing a service where you will make your will is not. Companies that provide online will making services are very different and some of them will suit you more than others. For instance, you might want to opt for a specific payment structure or want to use certain features that are not offered by every company. This is why we’ve added a Compare section to each of our online will maker reviews to help you easily find a service provider that meets your needs.

5-7 Docs 38.9% 1-4 Docs 38.9% 8+ Docs 22.2%
Number of documents offered by different will makers
DoYourOwnWill offers 5 to 7 documents

Number of Documents Offered

DoYourOwnWill offers a basic estate planning document package that consists of a last will and testament, living will, medical and financial powers of attorney, and pet guardian trust. While this selection of documents is missing some important forms such as a living trust, it’s still enough to cover the basic estate planning needs of most people, especially if your family and property situations are relatively uncomplicated.

Subscription only 33.3% Subscription or one-doc 27.8% Package only 16.7% Package or one-doc 16.7% One-doc only 5.6%
Payment structure offered by different will makers
DoYourOwnWill offers subscription-only payment options

Payment Structure

DoYourOwnWill offers all documents completely free of charge. This sets it apart from most other online will making companies, which typically charge customers a one-time or subscription fee to use their services.

No guarantee 38.9% Money-back guarantee 61.1%
Availability of money-back guarantees offered by different will makers
DoYourOwnWill does not offer a money-back guarantee

Guarantees

Since all documents you create on DoYourOwnWill are free, the company doesn’t need to offer any money-back guarantees.

No 50% Yes 27.8% By referral 22.2%
Availability of attorney support offered by different will makers
DoYourOwnWill does not offer attorney support

Attorney Support

One disadvantage of using DoYourOwnWill to create your will and other estate planning forms is that this company doesn’t connect its customers with attorneys who can answer questions, offer legal advice regarding their estate plan, or check documents. Some competitors of DoYourOwnWill offer their customers access to licensed attorneys in their network, and can give free or heavily discounted legal advice. However, unlike DoYourOwnWill, these companies charge fees for their services.

Unlimited 38.9% Limited-time 38.9% Until subscription ends 22.2%
Free document update period offered by different will makers
DoYourOwnWill offers an unlimited free document update period

Free Document Update Period

As mentioned above, all DoYourOwnWill documents are free, so you can create new versions of your estate planning forms as often as you want without paying a dime. This gives DoYourOwnWill a huge edge over its competitors.

No 83.3% Yes 16.7%
Phone app availability offered by different will makers
DoYourOwnWill does not have a phone app

Phone App Availability

Since all services provided by this company are free, it's understandable that it doesn’t offer a smartphone app, though most DoYourOwnWill competitors don’t have an app either. This can be a downside for people who prefer to use their mobile devices to visit websites and create documents. However, you still have the option of using a mobile browser to view the website, and this seems like a small inconvenience given that you’re not being charged anything to use the service.

Ease of Use

Instructions Yes
Output format Word or PDF
Turnaround Time Instant
PlatformWeb
Updates Unlimited

DoYourOwnWill boasts a clean, straightforward design. Within ten seconds, you can find information or get started drafting a free document. Despite being in a legal niche, DoYourOwnWill presents vital info in a no-nonsense format that’s easy to skim.

Of particular note is their planning guide. This section offers a slickly-produced outline that takes you through each step in the estate planning process. Here, you’ll find document creation tools not listed on the landing page, so check it out.

During the document creation process, DoYourOwnWill asks simple, easy-to-understand questions. Within 10-15 minutes, the algorithm will generate a legally-binding will/document based on your responses.

Unique Functions Offered by DoYourOwnWill

DoYourOwnWill offers several unique features. These include:

A Planning Guide

Estate planning, like most aspects of the law, can be confusing and intimidating. DoYourOwnWill makes the process simple with a step-by-step checklist. For some steps, there is a document you can create within DoYourOwnWill will maker software. For others, you’ll need to access resources outside the site. However, having the steps laid out in a logical progression makes estate planning much easier.

White Label Estate Documents

Run an estate-planning, funeral directing, or life insurance business? Increase client value by taking advantage of DoYourOwnWill’s white-label estate documents. Through this service, you can produce wills and other estate planning documents for FREE. It even comes with on-board analytics!

Famous Wills

This isn’t a service, but it’s a fun read. DoYourOwnWill has a section where you can read the wills of the rich and famous. From Benjamin Franklin to Michael Jackson, you’ll find some eye-opening documents here.

FAQ

Can anyone create a will with DoYourOwnWill?
Yes, if your will is simple and does not require any customization or advice from an attorney’ DoYourOwnWill cannot provide you with either of them. You can check Will Requirements on the DoYourOwnWill website before you begin creating your will and see if you qualify.
Is it really free?
Yes, it is 100% free. DoYourOwnWill does not accept payment anywhere on the website.
Do I need to register on the website to create a will?
No, you don’t have to register. Just fill in the form and download your will to your computer. However, if you want to store your documents with DoYourOwnWill, you will need to create an account.
Do I need to notarize my will?
It is recommended to notarize your will but not required. In case you want to notarize it, you will need a witness who is not your relative to sign an affidavit before a notary public.
Can my spouse duplicate my will?
After you complete your will, you will have an option to mirror it in your spouse’s name.

Bottom Line

Is DoYourOwnWill legit? In today’s over-monetized world, many people are understandably skeptical of free services. However, after doing this DoYourOwnWill review, we’ve learned that there are still generous people in this world. If you want to make your final wishes clear but can’t afford to spend even a few dollars on a will, DoYourOwnWill offers a viable alternative. You just need to make sure that your will is simple since you won't be able to customize the template. If you follow all the rules for creating and signing a will, it will be considered legal by your state’s laws. And if you’re looking for another option, please browse our site for more online will maker reviews to find the company that works best for you.

Ratings

Credibility
  • star-100
  • star-100
  • star-100
  • star-100
  • star-0
Services
  • star-100
  • star-100
  • star-100
  • star-100
  • star-0
Usability
  • star-100
  • star-100
  • star-100
  • star-100
  • star-100
Features
  • star-100
  • star-100
  • star-100
  • star-100
  • star-100

Total
  • star-100
  • star-100
  • star-100
  • star-100
  • star-50
Not available via OWM
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