# Your estate-planning software recommendations?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-estate-planning-software-recommendations/619162>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [April 18, 2012, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-estate-planning-software-recommendations/619162 "2012-04-18T16:24:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\
**Post date:** [April 18, 2012, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-estate-planning-software-recommendations/619162/1 "2012-04-18T16:24:11Z")

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We need to do some estate planning. I work at a law firm, and the firm gives its staff one hour free estate planning work, then charges standard fees after that. I was told it’d probably come to about $1,500 to $2,000 total. Yikes!

Our estate is relatively uncomplicated: no kids or grandkids, standard property not running into a huge dollar amount. So I’m looking into do-it-yourself estate planning software.

Is this a good idea? Are any brands particularly recommended? Has anyone else gone this route and has advice? Thanks for any help.

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**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\
**Post date:** [April 18, 2012, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-estate-planning-software-recommendations/619162/2 "2012-04-18T16:39:37Z")

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For our wills and health care directives we used [Nolo’s Willmaker](http://www.nolo.com/), which was pretty easy. Like you we have no kids and small finacial footprint. Nolo also has a section for setting up living trusts and estate planning. Make sure you get the right forms for your state.

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**Author:** ![rickwilliams799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8e8cbc/32.png) [@rickwilliams799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rickwilliams799)\
**Post date:** [March 1, 2013, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-estate-planning-software-recommendations/619162/3 "2013-03-01T08:37:55Z")

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I haven’t heard any good software that can do your estate planning like a DIY software but why not try consulting to other firm. They might help you or might give you a smaller consulting fee.

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**Author:** ![Ken001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/43a26b/32.png) [@Ken001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ken001)\
**Post date:** [March 1, 2013, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-estate-planning-software-recommendations/619162/4 "2013-03-01T10:52:23Z")

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Errr…might I humbly suggest that you need to understand estate planning laws in your jurisdiction before setting out on any particular course? It boggles my mind that “software” could replace a lawyers knowledge and experience. I’ve spent nearly 30 years (in NZ) doing wills and trusts for people on a bespoke basis because every family is unique.