Why Online Will & Trust Services are NOT for Everyone

Over the last decade, online legal services have become increasingly popular across the United States. There are many online programs, websites, and services that offer DIY estate planning. Although it may be an attractive choice for some, unlike doing your taxes on your own, however, you may never know the results of your work, but your loved ones will.

While online services can provide you with quick, basic wills, they cannot provide the in-depth and comprehensive estate planning that you need. There are serious negative disadvantages because the online companies cannot ask you the pertinent questions that will help you create an estate plan tailored to achieve your specific plan. Good estate planning allows people to express their preferences, while avoiding court involvement and reducing administrative confusion. Online legal services cannot ask you whether you would like to leave your children equal amounts of a property, or if you would like to deduct the amount of a loan you made to someone from their share of the estate.

Four basic documents that you should have are a will, a trust, a power of attorney for financial matters, and an advance health care directive. Not all online sites or software programs offer all of these, except for in “higher-end packages.”

You don’t know what you don’t know. You know some things about how you want to dispose of your assets after you die. What you may not know is all the case law and legislation that have evolved into your state’s probate code. At Thooft Law, we are well versed in Minnesota law and we are happy to walk you through this process. We understand these are personal matters and we want to ensure that you and your family feel confident in the plan you have in place if this were to happen to you. Our team has helped clients in many different situations and can help you, your business, or your family as well. Call us or email ThooftLaw@gmail.com. Check us out on Facebook, Thooft Law, LLC.