Choosing between hiring an attorney for estate planning versus using an online will is a critical decision that affects how your loved ones will receive their inheritance. Attorney Kellen Bryant explains why professional legal guidance often provides better protection for your family’s future than do-it-yourself estate planning tools.
Understanding the Stakes: Why This Decision Matters
Before comparing attorneys versus online wills, it’s crucial to understand what’s at risk. Your estate planning decisions determine:
- How your loved ones will receive their inheritance
- Whether they will receive an inheritance at all
- How your accounts and assets are structured
- Whether your actual wishes will be followed
Important reality: What you think will happen with your estate may not actually happen without proper planning. Once you pass away, your estate plan is “locked in stone” with no opportunity to make changes or fix mistakes.
Online Will Forms: Limited but Affordable
What Online Wills Offer
Online will services typically provide:
- Basic will templates for around $20-100
- Simple form-filling process
- Immediate access and completion
- Cost-effective solution for tight budgets
Major Limitations of Online Will Forms
Online forms are restricted to the fields and questions they ask you, which creates significant limitations:
No Personalization:
- Forms may not be tailored to your personal situation
- Generic templates don’t address unique family circumstances
- Limited options for complex scenarios
No Problem Identification:
- Forms won’t warn you about potential issues
- No guidance on situations that can cause major problems
- Example: Second marriages with adult children from previous relationships
- No alerts about common estate planning mistakes
No Account Setup Guidance:
- Won’t tell you how to set up your accounts properly
- No guidance on beneficiary designations
- Missing coordination between will and other assets
- No assurance your intent will be followed
Attorney-Assisted Estate Planning: Comprehensive Protection
What Experienced Estate Planning Attorneys Provide
An attorney experienced in estate planning can:
- Think outside the box: Consider scenarios and solutions beyond basic templates
- Personalize your plan: Tailor documents to your specific family and financial situation
- Identify problems: Spot potential issues before they become costly mistakes
- Coordinate all aspects: Ensure your accounts and documents work together
Professional Guidance Benefits
Working with an attorney helps you:
- Hit your target more precisely for exactly what you want to happen
- Address complex family situations properly
- Coordinate all aspects of your estate
- Avoid costly mistakes that can’t be fixed later
Real-World Example: The Home Repair Analogy
Attorney Bryant uses a helpful analogy to illustrate the difference:
DIY Approach: Making multiple trips to Home Depot, trying to find the right parts, attempting to fix plumbing yourself, only to make a mistake that floods your basement and ruins your bathroom.
Professional Approach: Hiring a skilled plumber who gets it right the first time, avoiding costly damage and ensuring everything works properly.
The critical difference: With home repairs, you can call a professional to fix mistakes and clean up damage. With estate planning, once you pass away, there’s no opportunity to fix problems – “there is no mop” to clean up estate planning mistakes.
When Online Wills Might Be Appropriate
Online wills may be suitable for people who:
- Are very low on funds or in significant debt
- Have extremely simple estate situations
- Need something basic in place immediately
- Have minimal assets to distribute
- Have no complex family relationships
Important note: Even in these situations, online wills should be viewed as temporary solutions until professional planning becomes affordable.
Situations That Require Professional Help
You should definitely use an attorney if you have:
Complex Family Situations
- Second marriages with adult children from previous relationships
- Blended families with competing interests
- Estranged family members
- Children with special needs
- Beneficiaries with substance abuse or financial problems
Significant Assets or Complexity
- Substantial wealth to protect
- Business ownership
- Multiple properties
- Retirement accounts and investments
- Tax planning considerations
Specific Goals or Concerns
- Asset protection from creditors
- Long-term care planning
- Charitable giving strategies
- Privacy concerns
- Minimizing family conflicts
The Cost-Benefit Analysis
Short-Term Costs
- Online wills: $20-100 initially
- Attorney planning: $1,000-5,000+ depending on complexity
Long-Term Costs
- Online will mistakes: Potentially tens of thousands in probate costs, family conflicts, and lost inheritance
- Professional planning: Often saves far more than it costs through proper structuring and problem prevention
Questions to Ask Yourself
Before choosing between online wills and professional help, consider:
- How complex is my family situation?
- Do I have significant assets to protect?
- Are there potential conflicts among beneficiaries?
- Do I understand how all my accounts and assets will transfer?
- Can I afford to have mistakes that can’t be fixed?
Making the Right Choice for Your Situation
The decision between online wills and professional estate planning depends on:
- Your financial situation and available resources
- The complexity of your assets and family relationships
- Your risk tolerance for potential mistakes
- How much your family has to lose if something goes wrong
Why Professional Estate Planning Is Usually Worth the Investment
For most people with assets to protect and family to care for, professional estate planning provides:
- Peace of mind that your wishes will be followed
- Protection from costly mistakes
- Coordination of all estate planning elements
- Professional guidance on complex situations
- Long-term savings through proper planning
Get the Estate Planning Protection Your Family Deserves
While online wills may seem like an easy solution, estate planning mistakes can’t be undone after you’re gone. If you have assets to protect and loved ones to care for, professional legal guidance helps ensure your estate plan actually accomplishes your goals.
Contact the Berg Bryant Elder Law Group in Jacksonville, Florida today to discuss your estate planning needs and get the professional guidance that protects your family’s future. Don’t leave your legacy to chance with a generic online form when you can get personalized protection designed specifically for your situation.
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Author Bio
Kellen Bryant, Esq.
Founder
Florida Bar Board Certified Elder Law Attorney, Kellen Bryant focuses his law practice on advising and helping caregivers with a particular focus on asset protection and preservation from long-term care costs, creditors, and predators. Kellen Bryant is AV Preeminent® Rated, meaning his attorney peers rated him at the highest level of professional excellence. Kellen Bryant was nominated and selected as a Super Lawyer, Rising Star: 2022.
