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The Best Living Trust Services

Where is the Best Place to Create a Living Trust Online?

While making a living trust may not be on the top of your to-do list, it should be. Not to be confused with a living will, a living trust allows you to manage and distribute your assets both during your lifetime and after you pass away. It goes into effect as soon as it is signed and can give you and your loved ones peace of mind knowing that no one will have to worry about going through a probate process.

Creating a living trust online has seen a significant surge in popularity over the last few years due to several reasons. In addition to being both convenient and inexpensive, online living trusts are easily accessible when needed. In fact, this method of estate planning has revolutionized the way individuals protect their assets and plan for the distribution of their wealth after their passing.

Sunday, October 6th

2024 Living Trust Service Reviews

Top Consumer Reviews Best-In-Class Blue Ribbon Award Rocket Lawyer Review 5 Star Rating

Rocket Lawyer

5 Star Rating
  • Try free for 7 days
  • $19.99/month or $239.88 annually
  • Over 6,800 fantastic customer reviews
  • Quality guarantee
  • "A+” Better Business Bureau rating
Top Consumer Reviews Best-In-Class Blue Ribbon Award

Since their founding in 2008, over 30 million people have created accounts with Rocket Lawyer. They offer legal document creation for personal, real estate, and business matters. Their newest addition to the company is their tax filing service, so they've got you covered for that too if you need it. Rocket Lawyer has been featured by The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, CNBC, and Bloomberg Law.

Unmatched transparency

Before signing up for Rocket Lawyer, you can navigate to the form you want to create and see a sample of it. It will go over a detailed FAQ to make sure you are selecting the right form and explain the steps for completion. Customers can read about their state's legal requirements for the document and even ask a lawyer a question before getting started. Rocket Lawyer's transparency is unmatched.

Try for free

Customers can try Rocket Lawyer free for 7 days before committing to a membership. There are technically two memberships, but only one of them really makes sense and is significantly cheaper, so we don't suspect anyone will be using Rocket Legal over Rocket Legal Plus. Rocket Legal Plus is $19.99/month billed monthly or $239.88 billed annually. Membership can be canceled at any time, but they allow you to continually make revisions to your living trust.

Lots of perks

When you sign up for Rocket Lawyer, you'll get all the documents you might want to create with just a few clicks, dispute protection for your documents, unlimited electronic signatures, a 30-minute phone call with a lawyer, discounts on business and attorney services, and the option to ask additional questions to a lawyer or have them review your documents.

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Quality guarantee

Rocket Lawyer guarantees the quality of their documents. All their legal forms are enforceable by US law. If you have concerns, Rocket Lawyer makes it easy to reach their team. You can chat directly with them through the website or give them a call with the number listed on their site.

No shortage of good reports

There's a lot of good to be said for the services Rocket Lawyer provides and there's no shortage of it in their customer reviews. They have over 6,800 glowing customer reviews about how their platform does all the work for you, the service is great, there is a wide range of legal forms that are useful for different circumstances, the software saves you tons of time and money, and more. It then comes as no surprise that the Better Business Bureau gives Rocket Lawyer an "A+” rating. Without a doubt, this is the most well-liked option for creating living trusts.

Go-to company

Rocket Lawyer has easily earned our highest ranking for creating living trusts. Their appealing and thorough website makes it easy for customers to see what they're purchasing and get all the information they need in one place. Pricing is reasonable and all the packages come with a lot of legal perks. Make Rocket Lawyer your go-to place for creating a living trust and any other legal documents you may need.

LegalZoom Review 4.5 Star Rating

LegalZoom

4.5 Star Rating
  • Prices range from $279 to $399
  • Accepted in all 50 states
  • Get help from real attorneys
  • Helpful FAQs
  • "A+” Better Business Bureau rating

In 2001, LegalZoom was created to give legal access to anyone and everyone from the comforts of their home. They launched 10 online services focusing on estate planning, intellectual property protection, and business formation.

Independent attorneys and tax advice

In 2010 they added a network of independent attorneys so that customers could get personalized legal advice without having to go into an office. LegalZoom's most recent addition to the company is a service called LZ Tax where people can get accounting solutions and expert tax advice with full service prep and filing. As this company is ever expanding its services, their team of experts continues to grow as well, making it easier than ever to get a professional living trust made with LegalZoom.

Accepted in all 50 states

There are quite a few top-tier online legal services you could use to create a living trust. However, not all of them are accepted in all 50 states like LegalZoom is. To get started with their service, you'll need to create an online account. Next, you'll be guided through a questionnaire that takes about 30 minutes to complete. It includes details about your personal info, property, gifts, and representatives. At the end, your document is ready to be put into effect.

Best Living Trust Services

Expensive option

LegalZoom doesn't have any free options when it comes to creating your legal documents with them. A living trust costs anywhere from $279 for a basic package to $399 for the estate plan bundle. All of this may be a bit hard to chew on when there are free options out there. The difference with LegalZoom is that their comprehensive living trust option comes with 2 weeks of legal questions answered by their network of attorneys and a comprehensive review of your document. The estate bundle also includes a living will and financial power of attorney as well as a year of legal advice related to your estate planning (renews annually at $199 but can be canceled at any time).

Phone and chat service

Since you will be spending a bit of money with LegalZoom, we'd like to see some sort of satisfaction guarantee, but they don't have one listed. If you have any concerns, their phone number is listed online and they have a chat that they usually respond to quickly. This is a reputable company that cares about keeping their customers happy, so surely they'll answer any questions you have and work out any issues with your legal documents that you could run into.

Helpful FAQ section

For anyone who knows that making a living trust is important but aren't sure about all the lingo associated with it or have a lot of questions about why it should be done, LegalZoom has a helpful FAQ section. It outlines the differences between a living will and trust, outlines what can and can't be put into a living trust, explains terms like probate, attorney assist, and revocable trust, and more.

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Highly recommend

LegalZoom has an "A+” rating from the Better Business Bureau, which is great to see. They even have thousands of glowing customer reviews. Customers report that it's well worth the money to get the expert help from LegalZoom's attorneys. There seems to be a lot more one-on-one follow-up from the company about your documents than you'll find from most other companies. LegalZoom's agents are easy to reach and are patient when walking customers through their processes. Without a doubt, most people would recommend using LegalZoom for a living trust.

You're in good hands

If you are someone who wants a little help along the way from a real person when creating your living trust, LegalZoom fits the bill. It's definitely more of a commitment since there's a higher cost associated with their services than some of their competitors. We are reassured by their high customer ratings and recommend Legal Zoom as a reputable company who will take good care of you as you make important decisions for yourself and your loved ones.

Trust and Will Review 4.5 Star Rating

Trust and Will

4.5 Star Rating
  • $599 for individuals and $699 for couples
  • 30-day satisfaction guarantee
  • Manage documents and data from one place
  • Over 3,400 reviews
  • "A+” Better Business Bureau rating

Trust and Will is a team of experts who offer exactly what their name suggests. They've helped hundreds of thousands of families create estate plans that fit their needs, life, and legacy.

Rapid growth

The company is based out of San Diego and was founded in 2017 by a young group of friends about to start families and thinking about how to easily plan for their futures. Trust and Will quickly gained attention from top venture capitalists and has been featured by TechCrunch, Inc., Forbes, The New York Times, Entrepreneur, and USA Today.

Experts in wills and trusts

Something we like about Trust and Will is that they don't pretend to specialize in every type of legal document under the sun. They have zeroed in all their knowledge and efforts to help people create living trusts and wills. That's it. To create your estate plan, you'll start by answering some questions to make sure your trust is tailored to your specified needs. Next, you can instantly download your documents or request a complimentary shipment of them. To make your living trust legally binding, you'll need to sign it and have it notarized. The last step is to fund your trust by using the guide they'll provide to walk you through the process.

Not the cheapest option

The upfront cost of Trust and Will is a bit hefty, but after a thorough review, we feel like this is an extremely reliable and professional option. For an individual, the cost is $599. For couples, the cost is $699. The documents included are a revocable living trust, schedule of assets, last will and testament, HIPAA authorization, living will, power of attorney, and certification of trust. All of your important documents are stored digitally on Trust and Will's platform and can be shared with other family members. After the first year of service, a yearly fee of $39 will be charged.

Best Living Trust Services

Satisfaction or your money back

Since you're committing a sizable sum of money to create a living trust here, it helps to know that Trust and Will offer a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. This means they completely stand behind their product and will offer you a full refund if you aren't happy with the process or results and contact them within 30 days.

People are pleased

Despite being a bit costly, Trust and Will is a popular option among people needing wills and trusts. They have an "A+” rating from the Better Business Bureau and over 3,400 glowing reviews to back that up. People were thrilled that they could talk to a real person whenever they ran into questions, the process is said to be very simple, and people felt like it was reasonably priced for the quality of assistance they received with their finished products.

Highly recommend

Trust and Will is a company that genuinely wants to provide quality services to their customers. They aim for professionalism and ease of use, which is extremely important in the legal world. Because this is an expensive option, Trust and Will hasn't earned our highest rating, but we still highly recommend them if their services are within your budget.

LawDepot Review 4 Star Rating

LawDepot

4 Star Rating
  • Free for 1 week or $39 for 5-year access
  • More than 10 million users
  • 100% satisfaction guarantee
  • Over 20 million legal documents created
  • Over 6,000 excellent customer reviews
  • "A+” Better Business Bureau rating

LawDepot was born in 2001 after its founder, Ken Sawyer, needed a promissory note. After having an inconvenient experience with a lawyer, he came up with an easier way to create legal documents. The idea was that LawDepot could generate customer legal documents that were credible and worked to satisfy the needs of everyday people. Over the years, LawDepot has been responsible for helping users create over 20 million legal documents and is home to over 10 million users.

Easy as can be

We are impressed with the convenience of creating a living trust from home through LawDepot's intuitive interface and step-by-step guidance. You'll start by choosing what type of property you want in your living trust (real estate, financial accounts, business ownership, personal property, or a mix of assets). Next, you'll add the state you reside in, add a trustee, describe assets being added to the trust, add gifts, beneficiaries, and more. There's really no way you can mess up the process.

Options for all budgets

LawDepot is celebrated for its affordability, offering a cost-effective alternative to traditional attorney services. There are three options you can take advantage of when it comes to obtaining access to paying for your living trust. You can use their services with unlimited access free for one week with access to all estate planning documents and more. This may be plenty of time for most people to get what they need.

Unlimited access for $39

Another option is just to pay $39 and get unlimited access to creating and printing living trusts for 5 years. This means you'd be able to update your existing documents at any time in this period. If you want unlimited access to create any type of document through LawDepot long-term, you can choose to pay $49/month after your free trial or $12.99 per month prepaid for a year upfront. Overall, the company boasts that their services have saved users over 2 billion dollars in legal fees.

Best Living Trust Services

Unclear satisfaction guarantee

While specifics on a return policy or satisfaction guarantee aren't clear, LawDepot does say that they have a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you use their free tools, it's unlikely they can do much for you if you make a mistake when completing your living trust besides recommending that you make a new one. However, we recommend reaching out to customer service if you have issues and are paying for an account. Their phone number is listed directly on their website and they also have options for email and online chat.

Highly satisfied customers

When it comes to customer satisfaction, LawDepot has a good thing going. On top of their "A+” rating from the Better Business Bureau, there are well over 6,000 reports from customers who have taken advantage of what LawDepot has to offer and are highly satisfied. Regardless of the type of document, users say that the platform is intuitive, the end results are professional, and it's easy to understand everything you're doing.

High scorer

LawDepot is a user-friendly, cost-effective solution for legal document creation. It scores high on both convenience and price, so this is definitely a good option for creating a straightforward living trust. We're glad to see how many people have had success with their platform, so it earns a high rating from us.

FindLegalForms Review 3.5 Star Rating

FindLegalForms

3.5 Star Rating
  • Individual forms range from $6.99 to $19.95
  • Over 20,000 legal document options
  • Subscription plans available
  • Over 3,500,000 customers
  • 60-day money back guarantee
  • "A+” Better Business Bureau rating

FindLegalForms, founded in 2001 by two California attorneys, stands out as a comprehensive source for over 20,000 legal documents. Catering to both personal and business needs, they specialize in a variety of legal forms, including living trusts. You'll find a wide range of other legal documents, from family law to business agreements and property-related forms. In short, there's nothing you'll need that won't be found through FindLegalForms.

Diverse form selection

Although it isn't the prettiest or most sleek website we've seen, FindLegalForms offers a plethora of options. This may initially be overwhelming for some, but if you're in the market for taking care of other legal documents, this is a diverse enough company to be your one-stop shop. Users can find specific forms tailored for individual circumstances, such as single or married individuals, as well as living trust amendments and revocations. The combo kits, bundling popular forms, offer significant value, especially for new businesses or individuals handling multiple legal tasks.

Cost-effective access

Price is a key advantage of FindLegalForms. Individual forms are priced fairly, ranging from $6.99 to $19.95. The subscription service, available in standard and premier tiers, caters to varied needs. The standard subscription is ideal for individuals, while the premier subscription serves small businesses with more frequent legal form requirements. This affordability makes legal processes more accessible to a wider audience.

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Platform limitations

There are few limitations at FindLegalForms, but they do exist. The company does not offer legal representation or lawyer referrals, which, depending on the extent of your legal needs, might be a downside for some. Luckily, if you're just making a simple living trust, FindLegalForms should have all the tools you need. Additionally, while the forms are attorney-prepared, they lack specific information about document review services, which could necessitate external legal counsel for specific needs if your situation is complex.

Satisfaction or your money back

Although they don't have accreditation, FindLegalForms does have an "A+” rating from the Better Business Bureau. They don't have much by way of customer reviews, but they do offer a 60-day money back guarantee, which gives us reason to believe that this is a low-risk option for legal documentation creation. If you're unhappy with your form purchase for any reason, they will refund 100% of your money if you reach out to them within 60 days.

Can't go wrong

In summary, FindLegalForms provides an extensive, cost-effective resource for creating a living trust. It's a valuable tool for individuals and businesses seeking affordable legal solutions, although we do think their website could use a major aesthetic makeover. We like that they offer a money-back guarantee and their processes are straightforward. You really can't go wrong with FindLegalForms for basic living trust creation.

Nolo Review 3 Star Rating

Nolo

3 Star Rating
  • Living trust ebook for $29.99
  • Good customer reviews
  • Books, ebooks, and forms
  • Hundreds of free legal articles
  • "A+” Better Business Bureau rating

Nolo technically got their start in 1971 when they published their first book about how to do your own divorce in California. In 1980 they published a do-it-yourself legal software called WillMaker, and in 2011 they joined forces with another company and became The Nolo Network.

Provides DIY legal solutions

Their mission is to help small businesses and consumers find answers to their everyday legal and business questions. Whether it be through books, legal forms, or software, Nolo aims to help you take care of your legal matters on your own.

Could use an update

Our initial impression of Nolo was that their website could use a bit of cleaning up. It's not the most simplified or updated-looking platform, but we also realize this doesn't mean they aren't professional or credible. They have three options for creating your living trust, the first of which includes an ebook outlining everything you need to know about living trusts, plus the downloadable forms to make your own (not valid in Louisiana). This costs $29.99. For $34.99 you also could purchase forms to amend your living trust or revoke it.

Overwhelming

It feels a little overwhelming to have a whole book about living trusts and figure out how to do it on your own rather than have a step-by-step guide to take you through the process online quickly. Overall, Nolo just feels a little more complicated than their competitors. You'll no doubt get a plethora of information on all the nuances involved in living trusts and different family and estate situations, but this will be unnecessary for many people.

Best Living Trust Services

Helpful legal articles

If you need some guidance about a particular legal topic, Nolo has compiled a thorough list of legal articles to help you out. This would be useful for just about anyone, so we especially recommend reading through their "Wills, Trusts, and Probates” articles to help you grasp everything you need to know about creating your living trust.

Needs improvement

Nolo has been featured by Business Insider, Kiplinger, Newsweek, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and USA Today. They hold an "A+” rating from the Better Business Bureau and have good customer reviews. But, compared to our highest rated legal service companies, Nolo has a lot fewer reviews for us to go off of. We found less than 100, which tells us that this company isn't nearly as popular as some others. They also had some mixed feedback, so there are areas they could improve with difficulties reaching customer service, a little bit more clarity on the wording of the forms, and some glitches with accessing files.

Average choice

We don't want to give the impression that Nolo is a bad choice for living trusts, because it's not. Their process just requires a bit more time and learning than what some other companies offer. Once you get the book and sort out your affairs, you're likely to have a solid living trust to use going forward. However, when there are easier, step-by-step options for creating legal documents elsewhere that may even cost less money, it's hard not to want to take that route. Because of this, Nolo has earned an average rating from us.

FreeWill Review 2.5 Star Rating

FreeWill

2.5 Star Rating
  • 100% free
  • Thousands of outstanding customer reviews
  • Emphasis on charitable donations
  • Available to California residents
  • Straightforward process
  • "A+” Better Business Bureau rating

FreeWill, founded in 2017, quickly emerged as a notable player in the online legal services arena, specifically targeting estate planning. Its platform provides an array of free services, including the creation of living trusts, last wills and testaments, financial power of attorney documents, and living wills. The company has a sleek web design, making it easy for anyone to use, especially those with limited knowledge of legal document creation.

Comprehensive services

FreeWill's offerings are comprehensive for individuals with straightforward estate planning needs. The platform's user-friendly interface is designed to simplify what is sometimes a complex process of estate planning. Users can complete most documents in less than 20 minutes, a testament to the platform's efficiency. Making a living trust here is as easy as could be.

Charitable contributions

A unique and commendable feature of FreeWill is its integration of charitable giving in estate planning. The platform has facilitated over $1.8 billion in charitable donations, allowing users to seamlessly include philanthropy in their estate plans. This aspect not only simplifies the donation process but also encourages users to think about the broader impact of their estate. FreeWill's emphasis on charitable giving aligns with the growing trend of social responsibility. It provides a convenient way for individuals to contribute to societal welfare through their estate plans without having to put in much effort.

Cost-free

The primary advantage of FreeWill is its cost-free service. This is unique and a top reason that people use this company. By removing financial barriers, FreeWill makes essential legal documents accessible to everyone, addressing a significant gap in traditional estate planning services. But how can this be? FreeWill makes their money by partnering with over 100 nonprofit organizations who sponsor their services. In return, these nonprofits receive money through people's optional charitable donations during their estate planning.

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Loved by the people

FreeWill not only has an "A+” rating from the Better Business Bureau, but they pass the customer review test with flying colors. They have thousands of reviews from users online, and nearly every person gives them 5/5 stars. People say that it's "super easy” to create documents, editing and updating information is a cinch, they don't try to surprise you with charges, and it is very user-friendly. What's not to love?

Geographic restrictions

The biggest glaring issue (for most of us) is that unfortunately, FreeWill's living trust service is available exclusively to California residents. This geographic limitation restricts the platform's usefulness for individuals residing in other states. It would be great if this company were able to branch out or other companies were able to offer the same services state-by-state, but right now that's not the case.

Great company with limiting access

For all intents and purposes, FreeWill is the MVP of legal document creation services. Our biggest hangup with them is that they work exclusively with Californians, which excludes a major percentage of the population who have an equally important need for making a living trust and other documents. Because of this, they've earned one of our lowest ratings. However, if you are a California resident, then you should, without a doubt, take advantage of this great company and what it has to offer.

Quicken WillMaker Review 2.5 Star Rating

Quicken WillMaker

2.5 Star Rating
  • Prices range from $99 to $209 yearly
  • Save 10% with email signup
  • Online access or software download
  • No-hassle refund policy
  • Positive customer reviews
  • "A+” Better Business Bureau rating

Quicken WillMaker is an estate planning software tool that allows you to create living trusts as well as wills and other legal documents like health care directives, letters to survivors, transfers on death deeds, and more. You can either download their software to your computer or create documents online. The company is owned by Nolo, another option we've reviewed that offers living trusts. WillMaker has been featured by USA Today, The Washington Post, Newsweek, Kiplinger, The New York Times, and Business Insider.

3 bundle options

There are three estate planning bundle options for customers using WillMaker that renew yearly if you want to be able to revise your documents. The starter package for $99 only includes wills, health care directives, and final arrangements, so you will have to upgrade to the "plus” bundle for what you need. The cost of this is $139 and also includes a living trust, durable power of attorney, letter to survivors, transfer on death deed, and downloadable versions for PC and Mac. If you want to go all out, you'll pay $209 for the "all access” bundle that comes with extra documents including limited power of attorney, promissory note, and temporary guardianship authorization.

Vault storage

Something that WillMaker offers with their all access package is vault storage through Everplans so that you can easily share your plans with family, advisors, and close friends. You can create a digital archive where you save passwords, store documents, create funeral wishes, and more. This is something that could be extremely useful, but the downside is that it's only a one-year subscription, so it's likely you'll have to keep paying beyond that.

No customer service info

If you want to save at least a little bit on your purchase from WillMaker, they offer 10% off if you sign up for their emails. Every bit helps, so it might be worth doing it. They also boast that they offer a no-hassle refund policy, but there are no details on this so we can't be sure how it works. From their website, there is no way to contact WillMaker directly, so we are worried that dealing with customer service might be quite a hassle.

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Works with 49 states

As with Nolo, you can't use WillMaker's product if you're a resident of Louisiana. Their estate planning laws are quite different from the rest of the country and WillMaker doesn't address the detailed requirements for their state.

Happy users

One of WillMaker's greatest strengths is their customer reviews. There are over 200 reviews, which isn't a ton, but still enough to get a good gauge of how well this company performs. Some people have used WillMaker for years and are pleased with the ease of use, thorough details included in their documents, and more. They don't have their own Better Business Bureau rating, but Nolo does, and it's a solid "A+”.

Not our favorite

WillMaker is definitely an expensive choice when it comes to making a living trust. It comes with more documents than just the living trust, but this may not be necessary for everyone. However, as long as you renew your account each year, WillMaker offers lifetime access to the documents you've created. We aren't a fan of the lack of direct access to customer support for questions or potential software issues without signing up first. Overall, this option may be above and beyond most people's needs for creating a living trust, so they haven't earned one of our best ratings.

US Legal Forms Review 2 Star Rating

US Legal Forms

2 Star Rating
  • $8/month for basic or $15/month for premium paid annually
  • Options to do month-to-month subscriptions
  • Valid in all 50 states
  • Over 85,000 legal forms

Since it was dreamt up on a napkin in 1997, US Legal Forms has been helping people execute legal documents with their pre-built forms. To date, their online library exceeds 85,000 legal forms for personal use, businesses, and lawyers. The company integrated with airSlate and now offers these services to their customers along with pdfFiller and signNow.

Instant downloads

You'll navigate to the "personal” tab on US Legal Forms' website and then find the option for living trusts. Users can select the state they live in and then choose the type of living trust that best fits their personal situation. A preview of the living trust is generated so you know what you can expect your document to look like. It's an instant download, so you'll create an account and then purchase your membership to get started.

2 membership plans

There are two options for plans from US Legal Forms. The basic package gives you all-access to over 85,000 documents for personal planning and everyday situations. It includes banking-level data security and pdfFiller, an online PDF editor and document management platform. On top of everything in the basic package, the premium membership includes completion services for last will, power of attorney, and living will/healthcare directive. You'll also receive 50% off of business or legal entity formation services up to $150.

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Pay monthly or annually

You can choose to pay annually for a basic subscription that ends up being $8/month or upgrade to the premium version for $15/month. You also could pay month-to-month, but it's significantly more expensive. A basic plan ends up being $39 a month and the premium plan is $59/month. However, if you only need a single form, the month-to-month subscription is your best bet: US Legal Forms says you can cancel at any time, although some customers have complained that this isn't as easy as they make it sound.

Decent reviews

US Legal Forms is one of the few companies in the industry that has lower than an "A+” Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating. They hold a "B” status (even though they advertise an "A+”) because of patterns of complaints regarding problems with refunds and difficulty contacting the business. US Legal Forms has less than 100 customer reviews that we found. However, the reviews that the company does have are overall positive with people saying that their service is easy to use and documents are always reliable and professional. This is good to hear, but still doesn't make up for the alert from the BBB about patterns of complaints.

Nothing extraordinary

Although they have an extensive selection of legal forms, US Legal Forms is one of our least favorite choices when it comes to creating a living trust. We are not only deterred by their lackluster Better Business Bureau review, but we also don't feel that they offer anything extraordinary for the price you're paying. We would hate for you to run into any issues when creating an important document like a living trust, so we feel you're better off using a higher-rated service.

TOPS Review 1.5 Star Rating

TOPS

1.5 Star Rating
  • $82.51 for a living trust package
  • Made in the USA
  • 76 options for living trusts
  • Comes with an ebook, worksheets, and forms

TOPS specializes in distributing office products and organizational solutions with locations throughout the US. They own a family of brands including Oxford, Cardinal, Pendaflex, Quality Park, Adams, and others.

More than just binders and notebooks

Most people know of TOPS' organizational products like binders, notebooks, envelopes, index cards, folders, and more. Some may not realize that their range of products also includes legal forms for estate planning, family law, real estate, and businesses.

Confusing mix of products

TOPS' website is nothing special. Maybe this is just what you expect when you're shopping for office-like supplies. How exciting can it really be? The problem is that TOPS has so many options for different products that it may be confusing to find what you need. Their website could be much more straightforward, so it definitely lacks user-friendliness. For example, if you search for a living trust, 76 options will pop up. Most of them have the same display photo and product name, so it's hard to know what you need.

Too complicated

For this review, we looked into the "Living Trust Kit, Forms and Instructions.” This is an ebook that comes with beneficiary worksheets and living trust forms. The kit also includes a beneficiary questionnaire and the option to download multiple manuals and state-specific forms. Already we are exhausted at the thought of going through the work to create a living trust here. It's so much easier to go to a site where you can specify your state and have them take you straight through the process. You're less likely to mess up and it saves so much time.

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Can't buy just one

The cost to purchase TOPS' living trust kit is $82.51. However, the real kicker is that you can't actually buy just one. For whatever reason, TOPS only allows you to purchase these kits in quantities of 24. So if for some reason you're this far into our review and still feel inclined to make a living trust through TOPS, you'll be forking out a whopping $1,980.24. Crazy, right? This is likely for companies who buy these forms in bulk and then turn around and resell them to other customers. Of course there are other living trust products from TOPS, but we have no good advice on how to sort through it all to find what works for you.

No reviews

We weren't able to find a Better Business Bureau rating for TOPS. In addition, they rarely have customer reviews on their products or elsewhere. We can't imagine that many people are turning to them for legal forms. Their bread and butter is office supplies and there probably aren't people rushing to leave reviews about the quality of the paper they are using.

Look elsewhere

Overall, TOPS is not the best in the business of selling legal forms. There are companies who have simplified that process at an inexpensive price, so we definitely recommend turning to them instead. TOPS has earned our lowest rating for making a living trust.

Compare the Best Reviews

Continued from above...

Online living trusts let you create these legal documents from the comfort of your own home, eliminating the need for multiple visits to attorneys' offices and streamlining the entire process.

Another reason people are drawn to online living trust services is the cost factor. Traditional estate planning services can be prohibitively expensive, often with high attorney fees and administrative costs. By contrast, online living trusts provide an affordable alternative, letting you create a legally binding document at a fraction of the cost.

Regardless of your income status, it's important to save your family both time and money by getting things in order with a living trust. Not only will you be able to choose who distributes your property in the event that you become disabled or die, but you'll remain in complete control of all your assets in the meantime.

Another reason to take this legal step is to avoid bank issues, not have to wait on a judge, and protect your own privacy while ensuring that your assets are legally accounted for.

We'll be the first to acknowledge that end-of-life affairs are not fun to think about, let alone spend time taking care of. However, getting it over with will provide immeasurable relief for you and your loved ones and it's much easier than you'd think. There are fantastic online platforms that will walk you through all the steps to creating a living trust without spending hundreds of dollars. Real lawyers will verify the validity of your documents and ensure they meet all necessary legal requirements for a fraction of the cost you might find elsewhere.

Many online legal services have round-the-clock access to customer service agents who will make sure you're taken care of and confident with the process of creating your living trust. When deciding which company to use, take the following things into consideration:

  • Professionalism. When it comes to legal documents, all I's need to be dotted and T's need to be crossed. There's no room to engage with a company that won't show the utmost professionalism and attention to detail. Check the background of their legal team. Are they transparent with their processes and guarantee that their documents are up to legal standards?
  • Cost. Regardless of how you spin it, you'll be saving tons of money by not dealing with a lawyer in-person to create your living trust. However, you still want to save as much money as you can while making sure you're using a legitimate company. How competitive is the company's costs when compared to others who offer the same services?
  • User friendliness. Most of us aren't very familiar with legal jargon and may not understand all the processes that come with legally binding documents. Make sure you find a company that makes you feel confident and leaves no room for questions. Do they have an FAQ page? Is there always someone available to answer your questions?

Top Consumer Reviews has reviewed and ranked the best companies to help you create a living trust. We hope this information helps you take care of your end-of-life affairs without any stress or hassle!

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Living Trust Service FAQ

A living trust is a legal document created in one's lifetime where a designated person (trustee) is given the responsibility for managing a person's assets for a beneficiary. A living trust is used in the event that the trust creator passes away and needs their assets transferred to someone else. This helps bypass the complex and expensive processes of probate. An irrevocable living trust can also be used to protect one's assets by creating a separate entity to "own” them: if an individual is sued, their property can't be taken if it's held by the trust.
A living trust is ideal for anyone who is single and has assets tied up in their sole name. This will allow beneficiaries to avoid the costs and hassles of probate. Since a living trust does nothing for someone during their lifetime, they are typically drafted by people who are 60 years and older who start to become concerned about their health as they age and want to avoid issues for their loved ones if they pass away unexpectedly.
Drafting up a living trust can cost anywhere from $30 to $100 if you choose to do it yourself. This is a much more cost-effective option when compared to hiring a lawyer and paying upwards of $1,000 or more. When creating a living trust, you'll be paying for the online platform you use or the software you purchase and download.
A living trust usually expires up to 21 years after the creator of the trust passes away. However, it's unlikely that assets won't be settled by then, so most expire when the trustor dies and the assets are immediately distributed. A person who makes a living trust during their lifetime will not have to worry about it expiring before they die.
A living trust becomes effective as soon as it is created. The final act of making a living trust valid is when the trustor "funds” the trust by transferring assets into it. People who create a living trust can immediately have peace of mind knowing that their assets are going to be taken care of as soon as they pass away.
No! With simple online tools, you can follow a fill-in-the-blank process to create your living trust. You'll walk step-by-step through the process and be able to provide all the necessary information at your own pace. This is a lot easier than meeting in-person with a lawyer and going back and forth on the requirements for the living trust. It is also a lot less expensive!
A revocable living trust can be altered whenever the trustor wants. It is flexible in that you can change the terms whenever you choose with or without an attorney. If you have a living trust in both you and your spouse's names, your spouse can also make changes at any time. On the other hand, an irrevocable living trust is fixed and can't be altered once established.
No. The terms of a living trust never need to be made public. Unlike a will that becomes a matter of public record when it is submitted to probate court, a living trust can remain private. The only people who need ever review the terms of the trust is the trustor(s), trustee, beneficiaries, and an attorney if necessary.
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