You’ve probably seen the ads. Estate planning made simple. Downloadable one-size-fits-all wills. No lawyer necessary. The promise of DIY estate planning is tempting, especially if you’re young, financially stable, and living a relatively uncomplicated life. Who wouldn’t want to save time and money while still taking care of something that, let’s be honest, most of us avoid until a crisis forces the issue? And to be fair, DIY estate planning tools have come a long way. They’re faster, more affordable, and more user-friendly than ever before. But they also come with a quiet asterisk. There’s often a set of risks and limitations that aren’t always obvious until it’s too late. In this post, we’ll walk through what DIY estate planning can do, where it falls short, and how to know when it’s smart to get a little help.
Affordable, accessible, and empowering
There’s no denying the appeal of DIY tools. They promise to help you create a legally valid will, living trust, or power of attorney without the time or cost of hiring an attorney to draft one from scratch. Most platforms offer guided questionnaires and step-by-step instructions that make the process feel approachable. For individuals or couples with straightforward needs, say, no kids, no exes, no business interests, and modest assets, this can feel like a win. And for busy professionals or young families juggling careers, kids, and mortgages, DIY tools offer something else: convenience! You can create an estate plan at your own pace, in your pajamas, without ever needing to schedule a formal meeting. And in a country where fewer than half of adults have any estate plan in place, DIY platforms at least get people started. They help us overcome procrastination and fear, and that alone is no small feat.
Choose a platform that considers individual state laws
One of the most important things to remember when choosing a DIY estate planning platform is that estate laws aren’t one-size-fits-all. Estate planning laws vary significantly from state to state, changing more often than most people realize. What’s valid in Florida may not hold up in California, and something enforceable in Texas might be completely ignored by a court in New York. Each state has its own rules about how wills must be signed, how many witnesses are required, what makes a trust enforceable, and even how property should be distributed if something’s unclear. A seemingly small mistake, like using a self-proving affidavit incorrectly or failing to retitle assets into a trust, can invalidate the whole document.
Take Pennsylvania, for instance. Under the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, wills must be in writing and signed at the end by the testator (Pa. C.S. § 2502). Sounds easy enough. But if the will is contested or lacks proper witnesses, it can easily be deemed invalid. Even powers of attorney in Pennsylvania must be signed in the presence of two adult witnesses and a notary (Pa. C.S. § 5601). Many states have nuanced rules regarding procedures and steps people must take when creating their estate plan. These procedural details are often where DIY plans fall short. And unfortunately, if the mistake isn’t discovered until after someone passes away or becomes incapacitated, it’s usually too late to fix it.
So, it’s essential to choose a platform that doesn’t just offer generic templates but actually tailors your documents based on your specific state’s laws. That includes built-in compliance with local statutes, support for things like the Uniform Probate Code where applicable, and up-to-date legal language that reflects any recent legislative changes. A good DIY tool doesn’t just fill in the blanks, it protects your intent by translating it into language your state’s court will recognize and honor.
Coordination matters more than people think
Another common pitfall in DIY estate planning is a lack of integration. Estate planning isn’t just about a will. It’s a holistic process. A solid plan should account for how your assets are titled, who your beneficiaries are on retirement and insurance accounts, whether you’ve designated powers of attorney for finances and healthcare, and whether any trusts are properly funded. If your will says one thing but your IRA beneficiary designation says another, the beneficiary form wins. That’s federal law.
What’s more, some DIY tools don’t prompt you to address things like digital assets, business succession, or guardianship designations for children. And they almost never catch inconsistencies between your estate documents and other parts of your financial life. An estate attorney’s job isn’t just to draft paperwork, it’s to make sure everything works together. DIY tools, for all their strengths, can’t replicate that level of strategic oversight. If you find a DIY tool that also incorporates the ability to hire on attorney services…then you’ve probably found the right platform.
Life changes. So should your plan.
Even the best estate plan isn’t a “set it and forget it” project. It needs to evolve alongside your life. Marriage, divorce, children, inheritance, disability, aging parents. Each of these milestones can affect your wishes and obligations. The same goes for changes in the law, especially around estate taxes, healthcare directives, and trust structures. But most people don’t revisit their DIY documents unless prompted. And online platforms aren’t designed to check in on your life every year and recommend changes. So, if you do use a DIY platform, set an annual appointment to check in on your estate plan and make sure that it still aligns with your wishes and with the state of your life.
The final word on the pros and cons of DIY estate planning
At the end of the day, the goal isn’t just to have a plan. It’s to have the right plan. One that’s valid in your state, aligned with your life, and flexible enough to grow with you. DIY estate planning platforms can be a great option as they allow you to get your finances and estate in order while not spending a huge chunk of your savings on legal fees. Just make sure that you use a DIY platform that drafts estate planning documents according to individual state laws. And it’s a huge plus if the platform offers add-on attorney services for you to ask legal questions, have a professional review, and revise your estate planning tools if needed. That way, you get the best of both worlds: affordable planning with the peace of mind that your documents will actually hold up when it matters most. Because when it comes to protecting your legacy, you deserve more than a template. You deserve a plan that’s legally sound, personally tailored, and built to last.
Kendra Strong-Tehrani, is an attorney in Colorado that specializes in Prenups and Estate Planning for busy professionals and families. By providing comprehensive legal services, she helps to keep her clients out of court and conflict. She loves to offer my guidance and support no matter what stage of life her clients are in. Book a Q&A with Kendra here.
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