Whether you can do estate planning online and whether you should are two different questions. Yes, you can do estate planning online. You can sign up for a plan through LegalZoom or a similar company, provide your information, and get a will. However, whether that will is going to reach your goals is a different story.
Estate Planning Online
Often, when you create an estate plan online using a nationwide company, you are not going to wind up with a will, trust, or other document that actually does what you hope it will. Unfortunately, wills and trusts created by an online robot are sometimes only as good as the paper they are printed on. This is because a robot cannot understand the personal side of estate planning. A robot cannot understand that you have three children, but only want to provide for two of them in your will. A robot cannot understand the best way to effectuate that language so that it holds up should your will be contested.
By drafting your estate plan online, you may be able to “check the box” that your estate plan is complete, but is that really your goal? Don’t you want an estate plan that functions the way you need it to? That provides instructions for your friends and family in the event of your incapacitation or death? An online machine is often not the best way to ensure that happens.
Our Hybrid Approach
At Wildoner Law, PLLC, we use a hybrid approach to estate planning. We do not require multiple in-person meetings. Instead, we send you an electronic intake form to complete. Once we have that back with your basic information, we set up a telephone or video conference. During that conference, we discuss your estate planning goals (all from the comfort of your home or office!). Once we are all on the same page with your wishes, we draft the documents necessary to achieve those plans.
By doing it this way, your personalized estate plan is made in a way that is convenient for you. You’re also much more likely to have documents that align with your wishes and outline your goals – and most importantly, hold up in court when it matters. You have a Florida licensed attorney working with you and advising you, and ultimately, drafting the will (or trust) of your dreams.
Want to Learn More?
If you are interested in our hybrid approach to estate planning, reach out to us today. We will get you set up with an intake form, walk you through a goal planning session, draft the necessary documents, and work with you to execute your documents.