Freewill Online Will Review

Best for Planned Charitable Contributions

Freewill is a free online will creation program that gives a person the opportunity to list their assets and designate who will inherit them. Seniors also can leave a small portion of their assets to charity when using the service. The software uses a will-making template that follows the user’s state laws based on their home address. A questionnaire gathers the information needed to write a legally binding simple will. The service also includes complete instructions to ensure the will is valid once it’s written.

This free online will template requires standard input such as the will executor’s name and a backup executor’s name. It asks users to list immediate family members and their relationship to them. The questionnaire also includes guardianship arrangements for any minor children and pets, and there’s an option to add funeral arrangement wishes.

Online will forms or templates cost anywhere from free to $2,000. Freewill is a free will creation service that relies on charitable site commissions for operating expenses. It’s a bargain if you need a basic will for uncomplicated assets. The service was started to help raise money for charities through legacy giving, which is leaving money to a nonprofit organization in your will. There’s no requirement to give to a charity, though, and you can donate as much or as little as you wish to any charitable organization.

Freewill gathers input using a questionnaire to add your will’s relevant information. The program then inputs the necessary legal language required for a will to be valid and legally binding in your state. Below are some of the most common sections included in a simple will.

Declarations

This section is identified as a person’s “last will and testament” and specifies that any previous wills are no longer valid. It also records the testator’s marital status and their spouse’s and children’s names.

Executor Provisions

The executor provisions portion names the will executor and backup executor and spells out the executor’s duties. It specifies to reimburse the will executor for expenses related to will administration. This section also gives the executor the right to manage digital assets and accounts.

Care of Minor Children

The testator lists their minor children’s names and appoints a “guardian of the person” to care for them. They also nominate a financial guardian or trustee. The same person can fill both roles. If no trustee is appointed, the court will appoint one. A court-appointed guardian must document and report every expense related to the minor children.

Pet Care Directives

This section identifies any pets by name and appoints a caregiver. The testator usually leaves the caregiver with a small sum for animal upkeep.

Gifts at Death

Any special assets, such as items of sentimental value or family heirlooms, are listed here as gifts apart from the rest of the assets named in the will.

Gift of Residue

This section specifies any gifts to other parties, including charitable organizations. Freewill makes it easy to include a legacy gift for a charity that is meaningful to the testator.

General Provisions

Any remaining details integral to writing a complete will are covered here. This portion includes any tax payments and a description of allowable expenses related to executing the will.

Freewill is an excellent choice for anyone who wants to write a simple will because it’s easy to use and free. The service is a good fit for a person who:

Wants to Get Their Affairs in Order Easily

A will can be completed in as little as 20 minutes using Freewill, and a user can also create a living will and durable power of attorney. The finished will is accessible online any time after completion, with options to download, print or make changes.

Possesses Uncomplicated Assets

Freewill has all the features necessary to create a basic will, including common asset distribution, such as cash, automobiles and real estate.

Is Interested in Legacy Giving

Freewill partners with more than 600 charities, creating an easy one-click process for choosing where to direct charitable donations. There’s also an option to select a charity that’s not listed.

Freewill gets high marks from reviewers, with a 4.8 out of 5 points on Trustpilot. People especially appreciate that Freewill doesn’t charge for the service. They frequently mention the peace of mind and relief of completing such an important task, as well as easy and speedy will creation. Users also appreciate the ability to make changes to the will after it’s written.

However, there isn’t online support, and Freewill is only useful for creating a simple will. People who own a business, need to set up a special trust for a family member or have extra stipulations will need more support than Freewill can offer.