Best Estate Planning Software of 2026
The best estate planning software covers the four core documents (will, revocable living trust, durable POA, advance healthcare directive) with state-specific execution instructions and clear funding guidance. We evaluated Trust & Will, LegalZoom, Nolo Quicken WillMaker, FreeWill, Mama Bear Legal Forms, and Rocket Lawyer on document breadth, state coverage, pricing transparency, and attorney-review availability. Trust & Will leads for households needing both a will and a trust. FreeWill is genuinely $0 for simple-to-moderate estates. Nolo Plus at $139 is the cheapest RLT-included path. LegalZoom Premium is the best budget attorney-consultation bundle.
Before choosing, verify your specific plan tier with our estate planning calculator — it maps family and asset situation to the right document set.
How we ranked these estate planning software
Rankings weighted: document breadth (will + trust + POA + healthcare directive; 25%), state coverage including Louisiana + holographic + notarization-only states (20%), pricing transparency (15%), attorney-review option (15%), update/versioning model (15%), and desktop/web/mobile format (10%). No service paid for placement.
#1 Trust & Will
Best for: Best overall — will + trust + supporting documents in one flow
$199 individual will / $299 couple; $499/$599 trust plan; $299 attorney review add-on; $49/yr membership. Includes POA and healthcare directive with HIPAA release in every will package.
Cleanest state-specific execution instructions in the category. Founded 2017.
Strengths
- Cleanest UX and state execution instructions
- POA + healthcare directive included in base will package
- Attorney-review add-on for hybrid coverage
- Membership allows unlimited updates
- Trust product uses same clean flow as will
Limitations
- Higher price than LegalZoom Basic or FreeWill
- No support for irrevocable trusts (ILIT, MAPT, dynasty)
Pricing: $199/$299 will; $499/$599 trust; +$299 attorney review; $49/yr membership.
#2 LegalZoom
Best for: Best budget option with bundled attorney consultation
Basic Will $129/$229; Pro $149/$249; Premium $299/$399 (includes attorney consultation); Living Trust ~$279. Longest track record in the category (founded 2001).
Broader legal product line beyond estate planning.
Strengths
- Lowest base price ($129) for a full will package
- Premium tier bundles attorney consultation at $299 same-price-point as Trust & Will's add-on
- 20+ year track record
- Broader legal product line
Limitations
- State instructions less polished than Trust & Will
- Basic tier does not include POA or healthcare directive
- Trust pricing not fully verified during 2026-07 check
Pricing: Basic $129/$229; Pro $149/$249; Premium $299/$399; Trust ~$279.
#3 FreeWill
Best for: Best genuinely free — simple-to-moderate estates
$0 for will + POA + healthcare directive. Monetized via 2,400+ nonprofit partnerships (nonprofits pay for placement; users are not required to include a charitable gift).
RLT available in California only. Founded 2017.
Strengths
- Truly $0 — no credit card or upsell required
- Includes POA and healthcare directive
- Simple, focused flow
- Nonprofit partnership model reduces monetization pressure on users
Limitations
- No RLT outside California
- No attorney-review option
- No membership — re-do the flow to change anything
Pricing: $0 for will + POA + healthcare directive. RLT California only.
#4 Nolo Quicken WillMaker & Trust 2026
Best for: Best desktop software with RLT included
Desktop software (Windows + Mac). Starter $99, Plus $139 (adds RLT template), All Access $209 (adds Everplans storage).
Nolo's 50+ year legal-publisher brand. Works fully offline.
Strengths
- Cheapest path to an RLT template ($139)
- Fully offline capable
- Nolo's 50+ year track record
- One-time purchase
Limitations
- Software installation required
- Interface dated vs Trust & Will
- Annual repurchase for latest year's updates
Pricing: Starter $99; Plus $139 (with RLT); All Access $209 (adds storage).
#5 Mama Bear Legal Forms
Best for: Best for parents of young kids
$159 individual / $249 couple. Will + POA + HIPAA release.
Add-ons: Young Adult POA $89, Senior POA $89. Founded 2020 with focus on parents of young children.
Strengths
- POA + HIPAA in base package
- Plain-language document explanations
- Focus on parents-with-kids use case
- Young Adult POA add-on for age-18 handoff
Limitations
- Smaller company, shorter track record
- No trust product
- No attorney review
Pricing: $159 individual / $249 couple. Young Adult POA +$89.
#6 Rocket Lawyer
Best for: Best if you use multiple legal documents
Membership model ~$39.99/month with unlimited documents including wills, POA, healthcare directive, and attorney consultations. Non-member ~$39.99 per document.
Founded 2008.
Strengths
- Attorney consultation included in membership
- Unlimited documents (leases, contracts, IP beyond estate planning)
- Ask-a-lawyer feature
Limitations
- Pricing pages 404'd during verification — check rocketlawyer.com directly
- Monthly membership only justified if you use multiple products
- Auto-renews
Pricing: ~$39.99/mo membership (verify). Non-member ~$39.99 per document.
Comparison: 6 estate planning software at a glance
| Option | Software | Will (indiv/couple) | Trust | POA + HC included | Attorney review | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trust & Will | $199 / $299 | $499 / $599 | Yes | +$299 | Web | |
| LegalZoom | $129 / $229 Basic | ~$279 | Pro+ only | Premium ($299) | Web | |
| FreeWill | $0 / $0 | CA only | Yes | No | Web | |
| Nolo WillMaker Plus | $139 | $139 (RLT template) | Yes | No | Desktop | |
| Mama Bear | $159 / $249 | None | Yes | No | Web | |
| Rocket Lawyer | Membership | N/A | Yes | Membership | Web |
Our verdict: which should you choose?
Trust & Will is the best overall estate planning software — cleanest UX, POA + healthcare directive included, attorney-review hybrid, and a trust product built with the same clarity as the will. FreeWill is the best free option for simple-to-moderate estates.
LegalZoom Premium ($299) is the best budget attorney-consultation bundle. Nolo Quicken WillMaker Plus ($139) is the cheapest path if you want an RLT template.
Mama Bear works for young families who want POA + HIPAA bundled. Rocket Lawyer works if you'll use multiple legal documents.
Attorney-drafted becomes worth it for complex facts, California residents with meaningful estates, or any irrevocable trust need.
What each document actually does
The four core documents cover four different scenarios. A last will and testament directs how your assets pass at death and (critically for parents) nominates a guardian for minor children. A revocable living trust holds title to your assets during life and bypasses probate at death — probate avoidance and privacy, not tax reduction. A durable power of attorney appoints someone to handle finances during any incapacity BEFORE death. An advance healthcare directive with HIPAA release appoints a healthcare agent and states your end-of-life wishes. Each software above bundles some subset of these; Trust & Will, FreeWill, Nolo Plus, and Mama Bear include POA and healthcare directive in the base package.
State-specific rules that trip up online tools
Louisiana requires a notarial testament under La. Civ. Code art. 1577 — 2 witnesses PLUS a notary. Most online tools default to two-witness wills without the notary; you'll need to re-execute with a notary present or use a Louisiana attorney. Ohio does not permit self-proving affidavits under Ohio Rev. Code §2107.03 — you'll need live witness testimony at probate. Colorado and North Dakota uniquely accept notarization instead of two witnesses under C.R.S. §15-11-502(2) and N.D.C.C. §30.1-08-02. About 27 states recognize holographic (handwritten, unwitnessed) wills as a fallback, but attorney-drafted or online tools with two witnesses plus self-proving affidavit remain the standard everywhere.
When you outgrow estate planning software
Skip software and hire an attorney when: your net worth is above the 2026 federal $15M exemption or a state estate tax threshold (Oregon $1M, Massachusetts $2M, Washington $3M), you need an irrevocable trust (ILIT, MAPT, dynasty — online tools can't produce them), you have blended family or business interests, you have a testamentary trust with age-based distributions past 18, you have cross-state property with unusual titling, or you're in Louisiana. See our estate planning calculator for the specific plan tier your net worth calls for, and the estate tax calculator for federal + state exposure.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best estate planning software?
Trust & Will is the best overall estate planning software for most households — cleanest UX, POA and healthcare directive included in the base will package, attorney-review hybrid available. FreeWill is the best genuinely-free option for simple-to-moderate estates ($0). LegalZoom Premium is the best budget attorney-consultation bundle ($299 individual). Nolo Quicken WillMaker Plus is the cheapest path with an RLT template ($139).
Can I do a whole estate plan with software?
Yes for simple-to-moderate estates. Trust & Will, LegalZoom, Nolo, FreeWill, and Mama Bear all produce valid wills, POAs, and healthcare directives in every U.S. state; Trust & Will, LegalZoom, and Nolo Plus also produce revocable living trusts. Software is not appropriate for: net worth above the $15M federal exemption or a state estate tax threshold; irrevocable trusts (ILIT, MAPT, dynasty); blended families; business succession; testamentary trusts with age-based distributions to minor children; contested beneficiaries; or Louisiana residents (notarial testament requirement).
How much does estate planning software cost?
Range: $0 (FreeWill) to $599 (Trust & Will couple trust plan). Common paths: FreeWill $0 for will/POA/healthcare directive; LegalZoom Basic $129 individual will; Trust & Will $199 individual will + POA + healthcare directive; Nolo Quicken WillMaker Plus $139 including RLT template; Trust & Will trust plan $499/$599; LegalZoom Premium $299/$399 (includes attorney consultation). Attorney-drafted comparison: $300-$800 simple will, $1,500-$5,000 revocable trust, $5,000-$10,000+ California/HNW metros.
Should I use FreeWill or Trust & Will?
Choose FreeWill when your case is simple-to-moderate (single, married with clear heirs, no special needs, no cross-state property), price matters most, and you don't need a revocable living trust. Choose Trust & Will when you want the cleanest UX, need a trust ($499/$599), want the option of attorney review (+$299), or value membership-based unlimited updates ($49/yr). Both produce legally valid documents in every state — the choice is about features and support.
Does estate planning software work in every state?
Yes — the major services (Trust & Will, LegalZoom, FreeWill, Nolo, Mama Bear, Rocket Lawyer) all serve every U.S. state plus DC. State-specific handling: Louisiana requires notarial testament (2 witnesses + notary under La. Civ. Code art. 1577); Ohio doesn't permit self-proving affidavits; Colorado and North Dakota accept notarization instead of witnesses; ~27 states recognize holographic wills as a fallback. Follow the state-specific signing instructions the service provides.
Free calculators to help you decide
Sources
We prioritize primary sources for rules, formulas, rates, limits, and definitions. See our calculator methodology and editorial policy.