WillArbor
Free estate planning guides
Free guides, checklists, and simple worksheets to help you get organized before you speak with a licensed estate planning attorney in your state.
A free, printable checklist of the documents and decisions to cover before you meet an attorney.
Open → Will vs. Trust Decision WorksheetA free worksheet to help you weigh whether a will, a trust, or both fit your family.
Open → The Executor's Duties GuideA free plain-language guide to what an executor actually has to do.
Open → The Estate Document OrganizerA free template to record where your key documents and accounts are kept — so your family can find them.
Open → Questions to Ask an Estate Planning AttorneyA free one-page list of the right questions — including how the flat fee works — before you hire.
Open →What these free guides are for
Estate planning can feel heavy, especially when you are trying to protect children, care for aging parents, or make sure your family is not left guessing later. Our free guides are here to help you prepare in plain language.
You can use them to think through basic decisions, gather documents, and write down questions before meeting a lawyer. They are educational tools only. They are not legal, tax, or financial advice, and estate planning rules vary by state.
What you can find here
We offer simple resources for common estate-planning topics, including wills, living trusts, powers of attorney, advance directives, probate, and full estate plans. If English is not your first language, these tools can also help you slow down and understand the words you may hear in a lawyer's office.
A good place to start is our estate planning checklist or browse more guides. These resources can help you think about who should inherit, who should make decisions if you cannot, and who should care for your children if needed.
Important limits to know
WillArbor is a free matching service. We are not a law firm, we are not a lawyer, and we do not draft legal documents or create an attorney-client relationship.
That matters because online guides cannot tell you what is valid in your state or what is best for your family. A DIY form may fail if it does not meet your state's rules. Common problems include dying without a will, an unfunded trust, old beneficiary designations, and not naming a guardian for children.
What it may cost to hire an attorney
Many estate planning attorneys charge a flat fee, not hourly, for common work. Simple wills may be a few hundred to around $1,500. A basic estate plan with a will, powers of attorney, and advance directive may be about $800 to $3,000. Trust-based plans are often higher, sometimes around $2,000 to $6,000 or more.
These are general ranges, not quotes. The real price depends on the documents you need, your family situation, your state, and the attorney's process. Before any work starts, ask for the flat fee in writing and what is included.
How matching works
If you want help finding a lawyer, you can get matched with a licensed estate planning attorney near you. The service is free for families. You stay in control, compare options, and choose whether to hire anyone.
We only collect basic contact and planning-intent details: your 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.
- Tell us your state, preferred language, and what kind of planning help you want.
- Review your options and speak with an attorney if you choose.
- Confirm the attorney's bar license and flat fee in writing before work begins.
These free guides help you get organized, but a licensed estate planning attorney in your state should review your plan before you rely on it.
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.