You need a will or trust but don’t want to pay thousands of dollars to a lawyer. Online estate planning services like Trust & Will and LegalZoom let you create legal documents yourself for a fraction of the cost.
But which one should you use?
Trust & Will focuses exclusively on estate planning—wills, trusts, and guardianship documents. It’s simple, straightforward, and designed for people who just want basic estate documents done quickly.
LegalZoom offers estate planning plus a ton of other legal services—business formation, trademarks, contracts, and more. It’s more comprehensive but also more complicated and potentially more expensive.
Here’s an honest comparison to help you decide which service fits your needs.
What Each Service Offers
Trust & Will
Focus: Estate planning only
Main Services:
- Last will and testament
- Living trusts (revocable trusts)
- Healthcare directives (living will, healthcare power of attorney)
- Guardianship designations for minor children
What you won’t find: Business formation, trademarks, contracts, divorce documents, or other legal services outside estate planning
Best for: People who want simple, focused estate planning without distractions
LegalZoom
Focus: Comprehensive legal services
Main Services:
- Estate planning (wills, trusts, healthcare directives)
- Business formation (LLCs, corporations, partnerships)
- Intellectual property (trademarks, copyrights)
- Contracts and agreements
- Real estate documents
- Divorce and family law documents
- Name changes
- And much more
Best for: People who need estate planning plus other legal services, or those who want access to attorney consultations
Ease of Use
Trust & Will
Trust & Will wins on simplicity. The interface is clean, uncluttered, and focused entirely on guiding you through estate planning.
The process:
- Answer questions about your situation (married? kids? assets?)
- Choose beneficiaries
- Name executors and guardians
- Specify how you want assets distributed
- Review your document
- Sign and notarize (they walk you through this)
Time to complete: Most people finish their will in 15-30 minutes. A trust might take 30-60 minutes.
Language: Plain English. They avoid legal jargon and explain terms clearly when necessary.
User experience: Intuitive. The questions flow logically. You’re never confused about what you’re supposed to do next.
LegalZoom
LegalZoom’s interface is more complex because they offer so many services. You need to navigate to the right section first, then work through their forms.
The process:
- Choose which document you need (will, trust, etc.)
- Answer questions through their questionnaire
- Review your document
- Purchase additional services if desired (attorney review, etc.)
- Download your completed document
Time to complete: Similar to Trust & Will—15-30 minutes for a basic will, longer for trusts.
Language: More legal terminology. Still accessible, but not quite as simplified as Trust & Will.
User experience: Good, but more overwhelming due to upsells and additional service options throughout the process.
Winner: Trust & Will for pure simplicity. LegalZoom if you want more options and don’t mind a busier interface.
Pricing
Trust & Will Pricing
Trust & Will uses straightforward, transparent pricing:
Individual Will: $159
- Last will and testament
- Healthcare directive
- Unlimited updates
Trust-Based Estate Plan: $399
- Living trust
- Pour-over will
- Healthcare directive
- Unlimited updates
Couples packages: Slightly discounted rates for married couples creating documents together
What’s included: Everything you need. No hidden fees. Unlimited document updates for life.
State-specific forms: Automatically included and compliant with your state’s requirements.
LegalZoom Pricing
LegalZoom uses tiered pricing with add-ons:
Last Will (Basic): $99
- Basic will document
- One year of document storage
Last Will (Premium): $299
- Will document
- 30-minute attorney consultation
- Lifetime document storage and updates
Living Trust (Basic): $279
- Trust document
- One year of updates
Living Trust (Premium): $499+
- Trust document
- Attorney consultation
- Estate plan review
Add-ons you might end up buying:
- Attorney consultations ($50-$150 per session)
- Document review ($100-$300)
- Registered agent services (for businesses)
- Filing services
The catch: The advertised price is often just the starting point. By the time you add attorney review or consultations, the cost increases significantly.
Cost Comparison
For basic estate planning (will and healthcare directive):
- Trust & Will: $159 flat
- LegalZoom: $99-$299 depending on tier
For trust-based planning:
- Trust & Will: $399 flat
- LegalZoom: $279-$499+ depending on tier and add-ons
Winner: Trust & Will for predictable, all-inclusive pricing. LegalZoom if you want the absolute cheapest option and don’t need extras.
Document Quality
Both platforms produce legally valid documents that comply with state laws.
Trust & Will Documents
Strengths:
- Clean, well-formatted documents
- State-specific language included automatically
- Easy to understand even without legal background
- Focused entirely on estate planning best practices
Limitations:
- Less customization for unusual situations
- May be too simple for very complex estates
LegalZoom Documents
Strengths:
- More customization options
- Attorney review available (for extra cost)
- Handles more complex scenarios
- Years of experience (founded 2001)
Limitations:
- Standard templates may feel generic
- Upsells can pressure you into paying for reviews you might not need
Winner: Tie. Both produce valid, legally sound documents. Trust & Will edges ahead for simplicity; LegalZoom for complexity.
Customer Support
Trust & Will Support
Available channels:
- Live chat (during business hours)
- Email support
- Comprehensive help center with FAQs and guides
- Phone support (for premium customers)
Response time: Typically within a few hours for email, instant for chat
Quality: Support staff understand estate planning and can answer specific questions about the platform and documents
Limitation: No direct attorney consultations included (though you can hire one separately)
LegalZoom Support
Available channels:
- Phone support
- Email support
- Extensive online help center
- Attorney consultations (extra cost)
Response time: Generally good, though phone wait times can be long during peak hours
Quality: Support staff handle many different legal areas, so estate planning expertise may vary
Advantage: Option to pay for attorney consultations directly through the platform
Winner: LegalZoom if you want attorney access. Trust & Will for focused estate planning support.
Turnaround Time
Trust & Will
Document creation: Instant. Once you complete the questionnaire, your documents are generated immediately.
Download: Immediate. You can download PDFs right away.
Updates: Instant. Log in anytime, make changes, and download updated documents.
Signing and notarization: Up to you. They provide instructions, but you handle the execution timeline.
Total time: You can have finished, downloaded documents in 15-30 minutes.
LegalZoom
Document creation: Instant for most documents.
Attorney review (if purchased): 1-3 business days typically.
Download: Immediate for basic services, delayed if waiting for attorney review.
Updates: Depends on your service tier. Some plans include updates, others charge per revision.
Total time: 15-30 minutes for DIY completion, longer if you opt for attorney review.
Winner: Trust & Will for speed. Both are fast for basic services, but Trust & Will’s simpler structure means fewer delays.
Updates and Changes
Trust & Will
Unlimited updates included with all plans. Log in anytime, revise your documents, and download fresh copies. No additional charges ever.
This is huge if your life changes—you get married, have kids, buy property, or change your mind about beneficiaries.
LegalZoom
Update policy varies by tier:
- Basic plans: One year of free updates, then pay per revision
- Premium plans: Longer-term (sometimes lifetime) updates included
Cost for additional updates: Typically $50-$100 per revision after your free period expires.
Winner: Trust & Will. Unlimited lifetime updates beat any tiered system.
State-Specific Requirements
Both platforms automatically incorporate state-specific legal requirements into your documents.
Trust & Will
Automatically detects your state and generates compliant documents. If you move to a different state, you can update your documents to comply with new state laws.
LegalZoom
Same functionality—state-specific forms generated automatically based on your location.
Winner: Tie. Both handle state requirements well.
Who Should Use Trust & Will
Choose Trust & Will if you:
- Want simple, straightforward estate planning
- Value transparency in pricing
- Plan to update your documents over time
- Don’t need legal services beyond wills and trusts
- Prefer a focused, uncluttered experience
- Want unlimited free updates
Good for:
- Young families creating their first wills
- People with straightforward estates
- Anyone who values simplicity over options
- Budget-conscious consumers who want predictable costs
Who Should Use LegalZoom
Choose LegalZoom if you:
- Need estate planning plus other legal services (business formation, trademarks, etc.)
- Want the option to consult with attorneys
- Have a more complex estate
- Are price-shopping and want the cheapest entry point
- Already use LegalZoom for other services
Good for:
- Small business owners who need multiple legal services
- People with complex estates requiring attorney guidance
- Those who prefer established, well-known brands
- Users comfortable navigating more options and upsells
What They Don’t Tell You
Trust & Will Limitations
Not ideal for:
- Very complex estates with multiple properties, businesses, and beneficiaries
- Situations requiring extensive attorney consultation
- Blended families with complicated inheritance wishes
- Special needs trusts requiring specialized planning
LegalZoom Limitations
Watch out for:
- Upsells throughout the process
- Base price doesn’t include everything you might need
- Attorney consultations are extra (and can add up)
- Annual fees for some services
- Complexity can overwhelm if you just want simple estate planning
Alternatives to Consider
If neither Trust & Will nor LegalZoom feels quite right, consider:
Wills.com: Simple, affordable online will creation starting at around $79. Focuses specifically on wills with a straightforward interface and quick document generation.
USLegalWills.com: Budget-friendly option offering basic wills and estate planning documents. Good for those who want bare-bones service at the lowest price point.
WillandTrustMaker.com: Specialized in both wills and trusts with competitive pricing. Offers more customization options than basic will services while remaining affordable.
Local estate planning attorney: Costs more ($500-$3,000+) but provides personalized advice and handles complex situations involving large estates, blended families, or business interests.
Getting Your Estate Planning Documents Notarized
Both Trust & Will and LegalZoom provide documents that need to be signed and, in most states, notarized to be legally valid.
Why Notarization Matters for Estate Planning
Most states require wills, trusts, and powers of attorney to be notarized. Notarization:
- Verifies your identity when signing
- Confirms you signed voluntarily
- Creates an official record of the signing
- Makes documents harder to contest later
- Ensures legal validity in court
Without proper notarization, your carefully prepared estate documents might not hold up when your family needs them most.
The Easy Way: Online Notarization with BlueNotary
Instead of driving to a bank, UPS Store, or notary office, get your estate planning documents notarized online with BlueNotary.
How it works:
- Upload your completed will, trust, or power of attorney
- Verify your identity via video call
- Sign electronically while a licensed notary watches
- Receive your notarized documents instantly
Why use BlueNotary for estate planning documents:
- Available 24/7 – Get it done at 10 PM on Sunday if needed
- No travel required – Complete everything from home in 10-15 minutes
- Multiple parties can sign from different locations – Perfect when executors, trustees, or family members are in different cities
- Legal in all 50 states – Accepted by courts and financial institutions
- Secure and private – Bank-level encryption protects your sensitive estate information
- Fast turnaround – Your notarized documents are ready immediately, not days later
Cost: $50-99 per estate planning package – cheaper than mobile notaries ($75-150) and more convenient than in-person options.
After spending time creating your estate plan with Trust & Will or LegalZoom, don’t let it sit unsigned. Notarize your documents with BlueNotary now and ensure your estate planning is complete and legally enforceable.
Traditional Notarization Options
If you prefer in-person notarization, other options include:
In-person notary:
- Banks (often free for customers, but limited to business hours)
- UPS Store ($10-15, but you need to travel there)
- Mobile notaries ($75-150, they come to you but expensive)
For most people, online notarization through BlueNotary is the easiest and most convenient option—especially when dealing with important estate planning documents that need to be executed properly the first time.
Bottom Line of Trust & Will vs. Legalzoom
Trust & Will is better for straightforward estate planning. It’s simpler, more transparent about pricing, includes unlimited updates, and focuses exclusively on wills and trusts. If you just want to get your estate planning done without complications, choose Trust & Will.
LegalZoom is better if you need comprehensive legal services beyond estate planning. It offers more options, attorney consultations, and handles everything from wills to business formation. If you want one platform for multiple legal needs, choose LegalZoom.
For most people doing basic estate planning, Trust & Will wins. The experience is cleaner, the pricing is more predictable, and unlimited updates are included. You get what you need without distractions.
If you run a business, need legal services regularly, or have a complex estate requiring attorney input, LegalZoom makes more sense. The broader service menu and attorney access justify the higher potential costs and more complex interface.
Both platforms produce valid legal documents. The choice comes down to whether you value simplicity and transparency (Trust & Will) or breadth and attorney access (LegalZoom).
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main differences between Trust & Will and LegalZoom?
Trust & Will focuses exclusively on estate planning with transparent pricing, simple interface, and unlimited updates. LegalZoom offers estate planning plus many other legal services (business formation, IP, contracts) with tiered pricing and optional attorney consultations. Trust & Will is simpler; LegalZoom is more comprehensive.
Which platform is more cost-effective for estate planning?
Trust & Will offers flat pricing ($159 for will, $399 for trust) with unlimited lifetime updates included. LegalZoom starts cheaper ($99 for basic will, $279 for basic trust) but charges for updates after the first year and upsells attorney services. Trust & Will is more cost-effective long-term for most people.
How do both platforms make document creation user-friendly?
Both use step-by-step questionnaires in plain English. Trust & Will offers a cleaner, more focused interface specifically for estate planning. LegalZoom provides more options and customization but with a busier interface due to their broader service menu. Both generate state-specific documents automatically.
What kind of customer support can I expect?
Trust & Will provides live chat, email support, and an extensive help center focused on estate planning. LegalZoom offers phone support, email, help center, plus paid attorney consultations. Trust & Will’s support is more specialized in estate planning; LegalZoom offers broader legal guidance for a fee.
Can I update my documents after they’re created?
Trust & Will includes unlimited free updates forever on all plans—log in anytime and revise your documents. LegalZoom’s basic plans include one year of updates, then charge $50-100 per revision. Premium LegalZoom plans may include longer-term or lifetime updates. Trust & Will is better for ongoing changes.
What are Trust & Will’s limitations?
Trust & Will focuses only on estate planning, so it won’t help with business formation, IP, or other legal needs. It may be too simple for very complex estates with multiple properties, businesses, or complicated family situations requiring extensive attorney guidance.
What makes LegalZoom better for comprehensive legal needs?
LegalZoom offers everything from wills and trusts to business formation, trademark registration, contracts, divorce documents, and more. Their tiered pricing and optional attorney consultations make it a one-stop shop for multiple legal needs, though this broader focus makes the platform more complex and potentially more expensive.
Do I need a lawyer to review documents from these platforms?
Not required, but recommended for complex situations. LegalZoom offers paid attorney review as an add-on. Trust & Will doesn’t include attorney review but produces legally valid documents. For simple estates, DIY is usually fine. For complicated situations (blended families, large estates, business interests), consult an attorney.
Are the documents legally valid in my state?
Yes, both platforms automatically generate state-specific documents that comply with your state’s laws. If you move, you can update your documents to meet new state requirements. Both companies have been around for years and their documents are widely accepted.
Which should I choose: Trust & Will or LegalZoom?
Choose Trust & Will if you only need estate planning, value simplicity and transparent pricing, and want unlimited free updates. Choose LegalZoom if you need multiple legal services beyond estate planning, want optional attorney access, or have a complex estate requiring extra guidance.
