CreateAWill

Before you choose an online Will, ask these 5 questions

Online Wills can be a great option. But the marketing doesn't always tell the whole story. Here's what to check before you trust any service with your Will, including ours.

What happened when I used one

I used one of the well-known online Will services myself. My details had several mistakes in them, and I paid for their review. Within three days it came back saying everything was correct. When I went through it myself, the mistakes were all still there. And the final Will named the company itself as my executor, which I never chose.

I also looked at how several of these Will websites are built. Underneath, many share almost exactly the same structure and questions, with different colours, logos and images on top. So a Will service that looks independent, or looks like a charity's own, may be the same product with a different badge.

That's why I wrote these five questions.

— Chris Wong, founder

1What does "lawyer reviewed" actually mean?

Many online Will services say their Wills are "lawyer reviewed". That can mean very different things. Sometimes a lawyer reviewed the template or the website once, or only checks that you filled the form in completely. Your own circumstances may never be looked at.

Watch out for

  • "Lawyer reviewed" with no explanation of who reviews what
  • A review that only checks the form is complete
  • Fine print saying the service does not provide legal advice, next to big "lawyer approved" claims

Ask them: “Will a qualified lawyer read my Will and consider my situation, or do they only check the template or the form?”

How CreateAWill does it: We're upfront that CreateAWill is a template Will. It suits most people, but it doesn't look at your individual circumstances. If you want a lawyer's view, our optional Lawyer Review means an Australian solicitor actually reads your Will and talks it through with you by phone or video. They speak with you directly, can arrange an independent interpreter if English isn't your first language, and will flag any concerns about understanding or pressure from others.

2Who is paying for your "free" Will?

Making a Will costs money to provide, so a free Will is usually paid for some other way. A common model is a partnership with charities: the charity promotes the Will service to its supporters, and the Will service invites users to leave a gift to that charity. Gifts in Wills are a major source of funding for charities. And while dozens of charities offer a "free Will", most of those pages send you to the same handful of online Will companies.

Watch out for

  • A charity's page sending you to a Will website
  • A "charity" Will site whose footer or terms name a different company as the operator
  • Repeated prompts to leave a gift while you write your Will
  • Charities appearing as suggested beneficiaries you didn't search for

Ask them: “Which company actually runs this Will service? Who pays for it, and does it receive money from charities, or for each gift left to a charity?”

How CreateAWill does it: Our Will is free because it's how people find us. We earn money from our optional paid services, and from disclosed fees paid by the independent solicitors we introduce people to. We have no paid charity partnerships, and you can leave a gift to any charity you choose without any prompting.

3Who is named as your executor?

Your executor manages your estate after you die. A family member or friend can usually do this without charging. A professional executor, such as a trustee company, charges fees that come out of your estate. Public trustees, for example, charge on a sliding scale of up to around 4.4% to 5.5% of the estate, depending on the state.

Watch out for

  • A company suggested, recommended or pre-filled as your executor
  • An executor option you didn't actively choose
  • A change you made to your executor that doesn't show on the final review screen
  • Executor fees that aren't explained up front

Ask them: “Who will be named as my executor, did I choose them, and will they charge my estate?”

How CreateAWill does it: You choose your own executor. We never suggest or appoint ourselves, and we never will. We never take fees from your estate. If your executor asks us to find a solicitor, that firm pays us a disclosed panel fee. Whatever you pick is exactly what appears on your final review and in your Will.

4Who helps you sign it correctly?

An online Will is only valid once it's printed, signed and witnessed correctly. Mistakes at the signing step are a common reason Wills fail, and most online services leave you to do this on your own.

Watch out for

  • A download button and nothing else
  • No explanation of who can and can't be a witness
  • No help if you can't find two independent witnesses

Ask them: “What happens after I download my Will? Who checks it was signed properly?”

How CreateAWill does it: Every Will comes with a step-by-step signing guide for your state. For a fixed fee, we check your signed Will page by page, including your witnesses, and store a secure copy.

5What will it really cost?

"Free" sometimes means free to start. Look for what costs extra later: updates, downloads, storage, or yearly memberships.

Watch out for

  • Fees to download, print or update your Will
  • Subscriptions that renew automatically
  • Prices that only appear at the end

Ask them: “What will I pay now, and what could I be charged later?”

How CreateAWill does it: Your Will is free to create, download and update, forever. The only paid service is Check & Store, at a fixed price shown up front.

A Will you can trust, free

No paid charity partnerships, no executor fees, no hidden costs. Just your Will, your choices, and help to sign it properly.

Create Your Free Will

General information to help you compare Will services, checked October 2026. Public trustee fees vary by state and estate. Check the current fee schedule in your state. This isn't legal advice. We are not a law firm.