3 Ways to Get a Will

Advertising Disclosure: When you buy something by clicking links on our site, we may earn a small commission, but it never affects the products or services we recommend.

Image Not Available

Nobody likes to think about death. It could be why so many Americans don’t have a will. According to one recent survey, up to 57% don’t have a plan for the ones they leave behind. But the fact is that no matter how young, or poor, you are, you still need a will. Especially if you have young children. Way to save #55 – Children’s life insurance.

“If you have minor children, you really want to have a will because you want to provide for their care until they’re 18”, estate attorney Jack Friedrich tells Money Talks News.

So why wouldn’t you have a will? It’s really not all that difficult and there are least three ways to get it done. First, ‘the traditional and most expensive approach is to use a lawyer. For a minimum of a few hundred bucks, an attorney will hold your hand throughout the entire process. “A lot of it is not really the preparation of the will, but its the give and take, or the conference, the information gathering that makes it so important”, Friedrich adds.

But if that’s too rich for your blood, you do have other options — and for a lot less. Legal Zoom offers a standard do-it-yourself will for $69. Nolo has an online version for $49. And there are plenty of others. If you’re afraid you’ll make a mistake (and depending on how much you leave behind, mistakes can be costly in this area) then get some human, but perhaps non-lawyer, help.

According to Maria Paijus of We the People, the process is fairly simple. “They fill out a simple questionnaire, and then they just give us the information that we need and we process the paperwork, and its just for $99”.

But however you decide to get a will, get one. No matter how old you are, no matter how little you have. Because you just never know. Bottom line? Getting a will probably isn’t the hassle or expense you might imagine. And it is important. If not for you, then for those you might leave behind. For every will: there’s a way.

Get smarter with your money!

Want the best money-news and tips to help you make more and spend less? Then sign up for the free Money Talks Newsletter to receive daily updates of personal finance news and advice, delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for our free newsletter today.