Trust & Will

About Trust & Will 

As one of most popular platforms to help families and individuals navigate the estate planning process, Trust & Will provides a streamlined, user-friendly approach to answering some of life’s biggest what-ifs in the form of wills, trusts and other important legal documents. 

Unlike traditional estate planning, which can be costly and time-consuming, Trust & Will provides affordable, attorney-approved documents that are tailored to your specific state’s laws and can be completed in as little as 30 minutes. Their intuitive platform walks you through the estate planning process step-by-step with simple question-and-answer prompts, plus also includes documentation for power of attorney, HIPAA authorization and a living will at no additional cost. 

Trust & Will also includes easy updates as your life circumstances change, built-in guidance for naming guardians and beneficiaries, and secure digital storage so your documents are always accessible. With just the right blend of convenience, compliance and affordability to help estate planning feel like less of a burden on you and your loved ones, Trust & Will makes it easy for nearly anyone to protect and implement their final wishes.

Trust & Will Estate Planning Services 

Best suited for individuals or couples who need help knowing where to start in the estate planning process, and who don’t have a super complex financial or family situation to sort out, Trust & Will makes it simpler to put a comprehensive plan in place for your lasting legacy with a specific focus on the two most fundamental parts of estate planning.

Creating a Will

Fundamental to any estate plan, writing a will is often the first step most people consider when starting this process. A will is a legally binding document that covers the basics of what you want to happen when you are gone, including naming guardians for your children or pets and beneficiaries of your assets, appointing an executor of your estate, and declaring your final wishes and funeral arrangements. 

With the Trust & Will platform, all of the documents included with a will are designed by estate planning attorneys, specific to your state’s laws and can be customized to meet your needs. Plus, unlike many competitors, Trust & Will includes other key documentation to clarify your wishes and create a more comprehensive plan at no additional charge.

• HIPPA Authorization: Authorizes family members or a chosen representative to access your medical records and discuss your healthcare with doctors. 
• Advanced Healthcare Directive/Living Will: Outlines your medical preferences, including life-sustaining or end-of-life care, in case you are unable to.  
• Power of Attorney: Allows you to appoint someone to manage your financial or legal affairs if you become incapacitated.

Setting Up a Trust

While a will is a great first step for anyone with a fairly simple estate, creating a more comprehensive trust can be better for individuals or couples who have more complex financial situations or want greater control of when and how assets are distributed. 

Though they share some similarities, a major difference between the two is that wills only take effect after you’ve passed, while the stipulations of a trust are upheld immediately, giving you the opportunity to be more of an active participant in your plan while you still can. Setting up a trust also helps protect your wishes and loved ones from having to go through a lengthy probate court process, ensures a smooth transfer of assets, plus keeps your most personal details private (versus a will, which is a public document). 

When you set up a trust, you need to have the appropriate assets in place to fund it, and you can specify distributions, conditions and durations to commence during your lifetime. 

As part of the process of setting up a trust through Trust & Will, you will also create a will that automatically transfers any remaining assets to the trust in the event of your passing (also known as a pour-over will). You’ll receive all of the attorney-approved, state-specific documentation included with a will, plus:

• Revocable Living Trust: A legal arrangement that holds and manages your assets according to your specifications, can be changed or revoked at any time, and ensures smooth transfer of those assets directly to your beneficiaries without probate. 
• Schedule of Assets: A detailed inventory of all assets included in your trust, including real estate, bank accounts, and investments to clearly document what is covered. 
• Certification of Trust: A summary document verifying the authenticity and authority of your trust while keeping the details private. 

Pricing & Preparation  

Creating a will through the Trust & Will platform starts at $199 for individuals, while setting up a more comprehensive trust starts at $499. Couples filing together can expect to pay an additional $100 for each plan, and young adults between the ages of 18-26 can also qualify for their own special plan and pricing through Trust & Will. 

The company offers payment plans as part of their dedication to make estate planning more accessible to anyone, plus they also often run welcome discounts for new customers directly on their website, so be sure to check for savings before getting started. 

Since the process for creating either of these options is done entirely online through the Trust & Will platform, you’ll need to either instantly download the appropriate documents or have them shipped to you to be signed and notarized to make them legally binding. Trust & Will provides detailed instructions and guidance on the need for notarization, witnesses or both to ensure proper finalization.

Trust & Will Support 

One of the benefits of using an estate planning platform like Trust & Will is the convenience of being able to complete the process on your own time, from the comfort of your own home. But that doesn’t mean that you’re on your own. 

Trust & Will provides live customer support available Monday through Friday via phone, chat or email to help you answer any immediate questions and concerns. In addition to their dedicated support team, Trust & Will customers also have access to additional helpful services as needed. 

Tools & Resources 

Along with your Will or Trust, you’ll also have access to a host of online features to help ensure your plan stays up-to-date and securely accessible. As a member of Trust & Will, you can make edits anytime as life and your wishes evolve, safely involve family members or relevant parties with customized permissions, securely store and organize your documents in a digital vault, plus get guided recommendations to help optimize your plan based on your Plan Health Score. All of these features and more are included with your plan for free for the first 30 days, while an annual membership starts at just $19.99. 

Attorney Support 

While Trust & Will is designed to help you through the estate planning process without the need for an attorney, they understand that sometimes having that professional advice can provide added peace of mind. Customers can opt to add on live attorney support for a flat fee of $299 a year, which includes unlimited one-on-one access to a licensed estate planning attorney in your state to help answer any questions or provide specific guidance specific to your situation and needs. 

Mobile App 

Trust & Will makes it easy to access your estate plan anytime, anywhere with their free app available for both Android and iOS devices. With the Trust & Will app, customers with an active account can securely review key documents, monitor plan progress, plus add and track assets to keep your plan up-to-date.

Trust & Will Compared to the Competition

As online estate planning platforms continue to rise in popularity as a way to simplify an otherwise time-consuming and costly process, here’s what makes Trust & Will stand out:

Trust & Will vs. LegalZoom

As two of the most popular estate planning platforms, Trust & Will and LegalZoom have helped millions of customers ensure that their wishes and legacy are protected.  While LegalZoom offers a broad range of legal services, including wills, trusts, small businesses, real estate and more, Trust & Will specializes in estate planning, offering streamlined, easy-to-follow online tools designed to create customized documents quickly and affordably. With transparent pricing, a user-friendly interface and dedicated customer support, Trust & Will provides a more approachable and tailored experience for those looking to secure their wishes without the need of attorneys. 

Trust & Will vs. Ethos

While these two online platforms provide estate planning services featuring wills and trusts, Ethos is primarily focused on life insurance policies with wills and trusts being secondary or an add-on. Trust & Will provides a more in-depth, guided experience when it comes to creating a will or trust, with helpful features and additional documentation like a HIPPA authorization and Power of Attorney included at no additional charge. Trust & Will also provides access to licensed estate planning attorneys for an additional cost, making it better suited for someone looking for a more comprehensive, personalized estate planning experience.

The Bottom Line: Why We Love It 

Trust & Will has helped over a million users start their legacy planning, solidifying their spot as  a leading platform in the digital estate planning space. Their focus on helping individuals and couples create wills and trusts through a guided, user-friendly online experience has turned a traditionally costly, time-consuming process into something that can be done from the comfort of your own home in as little as 30 minutes. Their attorney-approved, state-specific wills and trusts include everything you need to make your wishes clear, plus added documentation and features to help put a comprehensive plan in place while maintaining the flexibility to make changes as life evolves. With transparent pricing, secure technology and access to professional estate attorneys if needed, Trust & Will provides a smart, modern solution for estate planning that ensures your legacy and loved ones are protected long after you’re gone.