LegalZoom Estate Planning Review (2026)
Updated September 4, 2026 · Reviewed by the WalletGrower editorial team · We walked through the full trust flow and used an included 30-minute attorney consultation to validate document quality. Prices re-verified against LegalZoom's own plan comparison page on September 4, 2026.
Bottom line
LegalZoom is the right choice when you want attorney review bundled in rather than bolted on, when your estate has any complexity, or when 25+ years of operating history matters to you. On like-for-like plans it now undercuts Trust & Will — $99 vs $199 for a will, $399 vs $499 for a trust — and the Premium tiers fold in a year of attorney consultations for less than Trust & Will charges for its attorney add-on alone. Best for complex estates and people with peace-of-mind requirements.
See LegalZoom estate plan pricingAt a glance
| Feature | LegalZoom |
|---|---|
| Basic Will | $99 (will + financial POA + healthcare directive + HIPAA authorization) |
| Premium Will | $249 (Basic Will + attorney review + a year of 30-min consultations) |
| Basic Trust | $399 (living trust + pour-over will + POA + directive + HIPAA) |
| Premium Trust | $549 (Basic Trust + attorney review + a year of 30-min consultations) |
| Attorney access | Premium tiers only — unlimited 30-minute consultations for 12 months |
| State coverage | All 50 |
| Operating since | 2001 (4M+ customers) |
| Updates after purchase | Free for 30 days; $20 per amendment after |
| Average completion time | 45–60 minutes |
What LegalZoom does well
Attorney review bundled into Premium. The consultations on Premium Will and Premium Trust aren't a sales pitch — a real attorney reviews your documents and answers questions about your situation, and you get a year of 30-minute sessions rather than one. For people with any complexity (blended families, business ownership, multi-state property), this is the feature that justifies stepping up from the Basic tier.
Document quality. The trust plans generate a revocable living trust, a pour-over will, a healthcare directive, a financial power of attorney and a HIPAA authorization. Each is state-specific and legally valid when executed per the included instructions. The trust documents are more thorough than what most online services produce — comparable to what an estate attorney would draft for a $1,500 fee.
Track record. Operating since 2001 with 4M+ customers is the longest in the space. If you want the lowest-risk option from a company-stability perspective, LegalZoom is it. The other major players (Trust & Will, FreeWill) are 5–8 years old.
What LegalZoom doesn't do as well
Premium tiers are a real step up in price. $249 for a Premium Will and $549 for a Premium Trust are more than double the Basic equivalents. The attorney review is what you are buying; if you have a straightforward estate and no questions, Basic gets you the same documents for $99 or $399.
Slower flow. The questionnaire is more thorough than Trust & Will's — averaging 45–60 minutes for a trust plan vs Trust & Will's 20–30 min. The thoroughness is partly why the document quality is higher, but it's a real tradeoff.
Update fees after first month. You get free updates for 30 days post-purchase; after that, each amendment costs $20. Compared to Rocket Lawyer's subscription model (unlimited updates included), this matters if your situation changes a lot.
Who should use LegalZoom
- You want attorney input baked in. A year of 30-minute consults on the Premium tiers costs less than Trust & Will's $299 attorney add-on.
- You have any estate complexity. Blended family with stepchildren, business interests, multi-state property, special-needs trust requirement.
- Track record matters. 25+ years of operating history is the longest in the space; useful if company stability is part of your decision.
- You're upgrading from a will-only setup. Basic Trust at $399 is one of the cheapest ways to add a trust, and undercuts Trust & Will's $499.
Estate plans from $99, with attorney review on the Premium tiers
Basic Will $99 or Basic Trust $399, each bundled with a power of attorney, healthcare directive and HIPAA authorization. Premium tiers ($249 and $549) add attorney review and a year of 30-minute consultations. Valid in all 50 states.
Start your estate planAffiliate link: we may earn a commission at no cost to you. Disclosure.
Who should look elsewhere
- Simple estate, will only, no kids → FreeWill (free), or LegalZoom's own Basic Will at $99 if you want the POA and directive bundled.
- Need ongoing attorney access (not just at signup) → Rocket Lawyer ($39.99/mo).
- Estate over $5M, business succession, complex tax planning → hire an estate attorney directly. LegalZoom can't handle the most complex cases.
- Couple planning together → Cake bundle.
Frequently asked questions
Affiliate disclosure: WalletGrower may receive compensation when you sign up through our links. This never affects which products we recommend. See our Estate Planning hub for the side-by-side comparison.
Information is for educational purposes and not legal advice. For complex estates, consult an estate-planning attorney directly.