Review by Jessica Weissman

Willmaker has been THE tool for creating a straightforward will electronically for a couple of decades, and deservedly so. Whatever you think of Nolo’s business model, the tool itself works well for creating a complete and sound will. You can also produce other vital documents like health care power of attorney, financial power of attorney, and so on.

It’s irritating that Nolo lets each version run only for a year or so and then tries to scare you into buying a new one. It’s irritating that Nolo has dropped support for Mac users. But none of that affects the basic program, which works and does what you need, UNLESS you live in Louisiana or UNLESS you want to do complex things like place conditions on a bequest. If you want to do that, you need a real live attorney. But if all you want to do is leave property to several beneficiaries and make sure your wishes are met in regard to health and financial stuff, Willmaker is great.

The much-ballyhooed trust feature is limited in that it just creates the trust. You still have to transfer things to trust ownership - the same as it would be for a trust made by an attorney.

If your needs are really really really simple, you can use forms found online instead of this package. But isn’t your time worth something? With willMaker you don’t have to chase down those forms. They’re right here. I’d rather pay $50 than spend another 4 or 5 hours looking for valid legal forms.

You really owe it to your family and other heirs to make things simple to handle after you die. A legal will, powers of attorney, and a central place to list your wishes and your assets can only help them. Just do it. I’ve witnessed what happens when a person dies intestate, and it is a world of avoidable trouble. Spare your family that.