WillArbor
How we've helped
A few simple, anonymized examples of how families have used WillArbor to find a licensed estate planning attorney. These are illustrations, not reviews, promises, or legal advice.
How a couple with two small children used WillArbor to find an attorney for a will, a power of attorney, and guardian nominations.
Open → A homeowner sets up a trust to spare the family probateHow a single homeowner moved a house into a living trust to keep it out of probate.
Open → Adult children get help settling a parent's estateHow siblings found a probate attorney to settle their late mother's estate without conflict.
Open → A new arrival plans a will in their own languageHow someone new to the US found a bilingual attorney to write a will covering US and overseas wishes.
Open →What these examples are — and what they are not
WillArbor is a free matching service for families. We are not a law firm, not a lawyer, and we do not draft documents or give legal, tax, or financial advice.
The stories below are anonymized examples based on common situations families face. They are here to help you understand how estate planning often works in real life. They are not guarantees about cost, timing, or results.
Estate planning and probate rules vary by state and can change over time. If you need advice for your family, it is important to speak with a licensed estate planning attorney in your state.
Example: New parents who wanted to name a guardian
A couple with a young child realized that if something happened to both of them, they had not legally named who should care for their child. They also wanted to decide who would inherit and who would manage money for the child until adulthood.
They used WillArbor's free matching service to connect with a licensed estate planning attorney in their state. The attorney explained the difference between a will and a trust, and why naming a guardian in a will was an important first step.
For many families in this situation, a basic will-based plan may be quoted as a flat fee in the low hundreds to low thousands of dollars, while a trust-based plan may be higher. The real price depends on the state, the documents included, and how complex the plan is. These are ranges, not quotes.
Example: An adult child settling a parent's estate
After a parent died, an adult son was not sure what to do next. He had heard the word probate but did not know whether a will existed, how court paperwork worked, or what deadlines might apply.
Through how it works, he learned that WillArbor can help families find a local licensed attorney for probate and estate administration. The attorney reviewed the situation, explained what documents would likely be needed, and told him what the next steps might look like in that state.
Probate and estate administration are often priced differently from planning ahead. Some attorneys charge a flat fee for certain tasks, and some matters become more expensive if there is conflict, missing documents, property in multiple states, or court complications. The family should always confirm the fee arrangement in writing before work starts.
Example: A family updating old documents
One family already had a will, but it was many years old. Since then, they had moved, had another child, and changed who they wanted to make medical and financial decisions if they could not speak for themselves.
A matched attorney helped them review whether their old plan still fit their life and their state. This matters because common problems include out-of-date beneficiary designations, old documents that do not meet current state rules, and powers of attorney or advance directives that no longer match the family's wishes.
In many states, updating a simple set of documents may cost less than building a full new plan, but not always. The flat fee depends on what needs to be reviewed, replaced, or added.
Example: A family that tried a DIY form first
A family found an online form and thought they were done. Later, they learned the form might not meet their state's signing rules, and it did not clearly cover guardians, backups, or how property should pass.
This is a common reason people ask for help. DIY forms can fail if they do not match your state's law, if they are signed or witnessed incorrectly, or if they leave out key parts of the plan. A trust can also fail to help the way people expect if it is never properly funded.
An attorney can explain these risks in plain language and help the family decide whether they need a simple will, a living trust, powers of attorney, advance directives, or a fuller plan. You can read more about common services before deciding what kind of help you may want.
How families use WillArbor
Families usually come to us when they want a clearer next step without sharing private financial details. We only collect contact information and planning intent: name, phone, optional email, state, what you want to plan, and preferred language.
We do not ask for asset values, account numbers, Social Security numbers, income, or the contents of your documents. After you are matched, you stay in control: you can compare attorneys, choose who to hire, and confirm the flat fee in writing before any work begins.
If you decide to move forward, it is wise to confirm that the attorney is licensed in your state and that you understand the scope of work, the documents included, and the fee.
These examples show common ways families use WillArbor to get matched, free, with a licensed estate planning attorney in their state.
Thinking about a will or trust?
Get matched, free, with a licensed estate planning attorney near you. You compare attorneys and choose who to hire — and you confirm the flat fee before any work starts.