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Friday, April 18th
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.
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.
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.
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:
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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