No one likes the idea of writing a will, but everyone has to do it sometime. And while you could pay hundreds or thousands of dollars to have a lawyer do it, you can draft a legally effective and binding one with a bit of help from a few websites and software applications.

Here are some of the best options that are largely for residents of the US and UK.

Are Online Wills Legally Binding?

A lot of people wonder if online and do-it-yourself wills are legally binding and if they'll stand up in court. The short answer is yes: they're legally binding. However, it's important to make sure that they fully comply with the laws of your country or state.

If there are any errors in a will, it might not hold up if someone decides to contest it. All the options below provide state-specific formats, but it's up to you to make sure that there aren't any legal errors in your will.

This is why it's best to have an attorney review your will, even if you've used a reputable service. It's especially crucial if you have anything that could be complicated, like a large amount of personal assets, complex trust arrangements, or specific conditions on your will.

Even if you're creating a simple will online, it's a good idea to have it reviewed by someone familiar with the estate laws of your place of residence. Fortunately, paying to have a document reviewed is a lot cheaper than having one written up from scratch.

1. Rocket Lawyer

Consistently chosen as one of the best ways to create a will online, Rocket Lawyer lets you use its services free for the first seven days, meaning you can spend a week getting your will ready without having to pay a dime. You can also create as many other legal documents as you'd like within those seven days, something that can make this free trial a fantastic value.

Another big advantage is that you have legal professionals on hand to look over your documents before you finalize them, helping you avoid costly mistakes. You can email and chat with lawyers easily from the Rocket Lawyer dashboard. It'll even review your document to see if there are any significant errors.

The questions that you need to answer to get your will are simple and clearly explained, making this a great option for people who don't have much (or any) legal experience. Once you've created your will, it's easy to download and print or save it and finish it later.

If you want to have access to it online on a long-term basis, you'll need to upgrade to the Rocket Lawyer membership plan, which costs $39.99 per month or $479.88 annually. Additionally, Rocket Lawyer is also available in the UK, Brazil, Spain, France, and the Netherlands.

2. LegalZoom

Another popular option, LegalZoom will help you create a last will and testament for a flat fee of $89. You can also upgrade to the comprehensive plan for an additional $10, which gives you two weeks of legal advice and attorney assistance, and reviews.

There is also an Estate Plan Bundle which is available for $249. This bundle gives you access to three documents (last will, financial power of attorney, and living will), unlimited revisions, and legal advice, both for one year.

After creating a will with LegalZoom, you can adjust it for 30 days, after which you'll have to invest in the Estate Plan Bundle or pay an additional fee to continue editing. As previously mentioned, LegalZoom also provides support for things like living wills, living trusts, and power of attorney, though you'll have to pay extra if you'd like to create any of those.

One thing to note about LegalZoom is its LegalZip review service—if you just glance at this heading, you'll probably assume that you get a quick legal review. However, it's only a proofreading overview; LegalZoom will quickly look for spelling errors, capitalization problems, and consistency throughout your document. You'll still need to have it checked out by a lawyer.

3. Do Your Own Will

This is one of the best completely free services on this list, and it should only be used in cases of very simple inheritance. If all of your assets are going to your spouse or only child, this could be a good way to go. The interview portion is extremely simple, and only provides a few different options for distributing your assets.

Once you've filled in the questionnaire, you'll get a Word document and a PDF file that can be saved and downloaded. You also have the option to print out the document to be signed or use an app for online document signing. The entire process could take you less than five minutes if you already know what your plan is.

Note that if there's any sort of complication or contestation of the will, this could lead to legal issues. So take care if you use this one. However, if your situation is simple, you can save a fair amount of money without having to worry about legal trouble after you pass away.

4. Quicken WillMaker

Quicken is one of the big names in personal finance software, and estate planning is no exception. With Quicken WillMaker, you can create a will, a healthcare directive, durable power of attorney, living will documents, instructions for your executor, and a number of other documents that will be useful for you and your family in estate planning, making this a very comprehensive option.

However, what you get access to varies based on what bundle you choose. There are three options available, the Starter bundle, Plus bundle, and All Access bundle. The Starter bundle is the cheapest at only $99.

This plan is best for those who want to keep it simple and only need access to will documents, health care directives, and final arrangements. On the other hand, the All Access bundle is $209 and gives you access to every single feature as well as secure online storage for one year.

5. FreeWill

FreeWill is another completely free online resource to prepare for your death. Furthermore, creating your last will and testament using FreeWill is as easy and straightforward as it gets. It's also on the more simple side, yet not as simple as the Do Your Own Will website.

To get started making your free will, all you have to do is create an account—which is done automatically when you fill in your basic details—and then complete each section. It should only take you a few minutes to make your will, after which you can download it in PDF form, print it out, or email a copy to yourself.

FreeWill encourages all users to consider leaving a gift in your will for a charitable cause. If you have a cause that's important to you, and you want to leave something to them when you pass away, then simply choose a nonprofit while you're filling in your will. You can then select what percentage of your residual estate you want to gift them, or you can gift them a fixed cash amount.

6. LegalTemplates

If you're looking for an online platform with a comprehensive range of legal documents and contracts, then try LegalTemplates. Its available forms range from business contracts and property management documents to divorce agreements if you need help through a divorce. And, of course, LegalTemplates features a ton of estate planning documents.

Here, you can create your last will and testament as well as a DPOA form, POA form, living will, a codicil to will, and lots more. Creating your will is free on LegalTemplates, but printing or downloading it requires a payment plan. The seven-day trial plan is a nice option if you just want to create a plain sailing will. Just note that after the trial, it'll cost you $39.95 per month.

If you're interested in a prepaid one-year plan, the price ends up being only $7.99 per month. Alternatively, there is a convenient option where you only have to pay for the single document of your choice. The price for this option ranges from $19.95 to $59.95 and is ideal if you want to use LegalTemplates to create a will and nothing else.

Create Your Will From the Comfort of Your Own Home

Writing a will is never going to be much fun, but technology can help you get your affairs in order. By using a professionally produced tool, you'll be much less likely to run into problems after your death—your executors will be named, they'll know what to do, your assets will be spoken for, and you'll have made your final wishes very clear.

With how easy it is to create a will, there's really no excuse for not having one. And if you're looking for other solid advice online, there are plenty of resources to check out.