Originally published: December 9, 2015 | Last updated: August 25, 2025
TL;DR: A simple Will can cost anywhere from $0 to $1,000+. Free blank-form templates are inadequate and potentially dangerous. Estate planning attorneys charge $800–$1,200 but use the same software as online services. USLegalWills.com charges $49.95 and produces a word-for-word identical document with free updates. Even a “simple” Will should include about 25 clauses covering alternate scenarios, minor trusts, executor powers, and guardianship. Free services cover their costs by selling your data or hiding subscription fees.
Why Does the Same Simple Will Cost $0 or $1,000?
If you are researching how to prepare a simple Will, you are already ahead of the majority of American adults. But the price range is confusing: how can the same document cost nothing on some websites and $1,000 with an attorney? The answer lies in understanding what you actually receive at each price point.
What Is a Will?
You can create a legal document called Last Will and Testament which enables you to select people who will handle your estate and decide how your assets will be distributed after you pass away. The three key elements:
- Executor appointment – The person responsible for carrying out your instructions
- Estate distribution – How your assets are divided among beneficiaries
- Guardian appointments – Who cares for minor children (if applicable)
A legal Will can exist through any form of message including messages which people scratch onto tractor fenders. George Harris a Canadian farmer left a message on his tractor fender which read: “In case I die in this mess, I leave all to the wife.” The courts accepted it. The Will stands as a complete failure because it lacks any backup arrangements and it doesn’t contain any trust structures or executor directives.
What Should a Well-Drafted Simple Will Include?
USLegalWills.com provides the most basic Will documents which contain all necessary elements to create a correct Will. Our “simple” Will runs about 6 pages with approximately 25 clauses , including:
| Clause | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Revocation clause | Cancels all previous Wills |
| Family identification | Identifies spouse, children, and dependents |
| Executor appointment | Names primary and alternate Executors |
| Payment of debts and taxes | Directs how outstanding obligations are settled |
| Distribution of property | Specific bequests, charitable gifts, and residual estate distribution with alternates |
| Trusts for minor beneficiaries | Sets inheritance age, names trustee, defines permitted uses of trust funds |
| Powers to the Executor | Authority to sell assets, hire help, invest, and manage the estate |
| Guardian appointments | Names guardians for minor children |
| Non-contestability clause | Discourages legal challenges to the Will |
| Settlement of claims | Handles disputed claims against the estate |
State-specific No Yes Yes
When Does a Will Stop Being “Simple”?
Cost of a Will: From $0 to $2,000
How Much Does a Will Cost? And Why?
- Comparing LegalZoom with USLegalWills
- Six Common Errors in a DIY Will
- Free Last Will Service: Is It Worth It?
- The Bottom Line
Cost $0 $49.95 $800-$1,200
What Are the Three Approaches to Preparing a Simple Will?
Approach 1: Write Your Own or Use a Blank-Form Kit
Related Reading
Approach 2: Use an Estate Planning Attorney
How Much Does a Will Cost? And Why?
- Comparing LegalZoom with USLegalWills
- Six Common Errors in a DIY Will
- Free Last Will Service: Is It Worth It?
Approach 3: Use an Online Interactive Service
Cost $0 $49.95 $800-$1,200
What Do You Actually Get for “Free”?
State-specific No Yes Yes
| Free Model | How They Cover Costs | The Risk to You |
|---|---|---|
| Blank downloadable form | No costs – no legal staff, no support | Barely passable as a Will; no error checking, no alternate plans, no trusts |
| Data selling | Partnerships with financial advisors, funeral homes, insurance agents | Your sensitive personal information is shared; expect incessant calls from insurance companies |
| Hidden subscription fees | Require credit card; charge monthly fees if you do not cancel | Expensive monthly charges that are difficult to cancel |
Six Common Errors in a DIY Will
Simple Will: Complete Cost Comparison
| Feature | Free Template | USLegalWills.com | Attorney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | $0 | $49.95 | $800–$1,200 |
| Clauses included | 3–5 | ~25 | ~25 |
| State-specific | No | Yes | Yes |
| Minor trusts | No | Yes | Yes |
| Free updates | N/A | Yes (1 year) | No |
| Data privacy | Unknown | Never sold | Protected |
| Legal advice | No | No | Yes |
| Support | None | Phone & email (North America) | In-person |
| Convenience | Download only | 20 min from home | Office visit |
The Bottom Line
For $49.95, USLegalWills.com gives you access to an up-to-date, state-specific service that produces a well-drafted simple Will from the comfort of your home in about 20 minutes. You can make unlimited updates for a year, with optional renewal beyond that — and we never keep credit card details on file.
If you get stuck, email us and we respond within an hour, or call us at 1-888-660-9455. We also have extensive help on every page of the service. Once you step through our service, you will not only have a Will — you will have educated yourself in the Will-writing process.
We offer a 30-day, no-questions-asked, complete refund policy. Get started on your simple Will today.
Related Reading
- Cost of a Will: From $0 to $2,000
- How Much Does a Will Cost? And Why?
- Comparing LegalZoom with USLegalWills
- Six Common Errors in a DIY Will
- Free Last Will Service: Is It Worth It?
He has over 20 years of experience helping people to write their Will and other estate planning documents. He has been interviewed by many of the major news media outlets, and has contributed to articles in The New York Times, NY Metro Parents, U.S. News & World Report, and other leading publications. He has also contributed to a number of financial planning books.
Throughout his career, Tim has written extensively on the subject of Will writing and estate planning.
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