In today’s digital world, it’s easy to see why do-it-yourself tools like LegalZoom appeal to families looking to create a will or estate plan. They promise a quick, low-cost solution to something many view as a routine task.
While these online services seem convenient and affordable at first glance, they often leave families facing unexpected legal problems, higher than anticipated costs, and stressful delays—especially when the documents don’t hold up in court. In this blog, we’ll explain why LegalZoom and similar tools often fall short, and why simply having a will still isn’t enough to avoid probate complications.
What LegalZoom and Similar Services Really Provide
LegalZoom and similar platforms typically provide fill-in-the-blank templates, not personalized legal solutions. Estate planning, however, is rarely “one size fits all.” Every family is different—whether it’s a blended family, a child with special needs, business ownership, or significant tax considerations—and these factors demand customized planning.
DIY documents often don’t account for these complexities. Even worse, the language they use may not comply with Texas law or may be missing crucial provisions. This can lead to wills being contested, delayed, or even declared invalid in probate, leaving families with legal headaches they thought they had avoided.
The Limits of a Will
It’s important to understand what a will does: it directs how your assets are distributed after your death. What many people don’t realize is that a will must still go through probate, which can be a lengthy, public, and expensive court process.
A will also doesn’t help your family if you become incapacitated—it won’t authorize anyone to make healthcare or financial decisions for you while you’re still alive. Nor does it provide privacy or directly transfer certain types of assets like jointly owned property, retirement accounts, or life insurance proceeds.
Avoiding Probate: Why a Will Alone Falls Short
Probate is the legal process of proving and administering a will, and many families hope to avoid it because of its delays, costs, and court involvement. Tools that can help keep assets out of probate include:
- Revocable living trusts
- Transfer-on-death deeds for real estate
- Beneficiary designations on bank accounts and insurance policies
These tools can only work when properly coordinated and customized to your specific assets and family circumstances. That’s why having just a will—even if drafted online—isn’t enough to truly protect your loved ones from probate or to ensure your wishes are carried out.
The Value of Professional Estate Planning
Relying solely on online forms might seem like a cost-saving shortcut—but estate planning is far more than filling in blanks on a template. Working with an experienced estate planning attorney, like the estate planning attorneys at Quadros Migl & Crosby, brings essential benefits you simply can’t get from DIY tools. A lawyer provides personalized advice tailored to your family’s unique circumstances, coordinates how your assets are titled and how beneficiaries are designated, and ensures your plan stays current as laws and life events change.
Professional planning also helps protect your loved ones from unexpected tax consequences, disputes, and costly court battles down the line. As attorney Jennifer Murray at Quadros, Migl & Crosby explains:
“LegalZoom documents often use one-size-fits-all language that doesn’t always meet your state’s legal requirements. You always have to go to court to probate a will, but when it’s missing key provisions or isn’t properly witnessed–like many LegalZoom wills I’ve seen–the process can cost three times as much and drag on much longer.”
“A will only takes effect after you die. But if you don’t have a power of attorney or healthcare surrogate, no one can step in while you’re still alive on your behalf. I had a client whose mom had a will–but no powers of attorney (financial or medical) –and they couldn’t access her bank account or speak to her doctors when she had a stroke. But none of these documents ‘avoid’ probate.”
Protect Your Family with the Right Plan—Before It’s Too Late
Estate planning is too important to trust generic templates or a single document. Reviewing your existing plan and building a comprehensive strategy tailored to your family can save time, money, and stress when it matters most.
Contact attorney Jen Murray at Quadros, Migl & Crosby today at 713-300-9662 or through our contact form to schedule a personalized consultation to make sure your wishes are honored, and your loved ones are protected.
