One of Rocket Lawyer’s key strengths is its versatility; it allows you to create a wide range of estate planning documents beyond a basic will, making it a useful tool for those looking for a more comprehensive planning solution. However, it does come with a few important considerations. The platform offers a seven-day free trial, which lets you create a will and other legal documents at no cost during that period. But you’ll need to provide credit card information upfront, and continued access to the full platform requires a paid subscription.
Because DIY estate planning comes with certain risks, it may be a good idea to work with a financial advisor in your area.
Rocket Lawyer Overview
Pros | – Plenty of offerings – Direct contact with lawyers – Great customer service |
Cons | – Relatively expensive |
Best For | – Those who want access to a wide range of legal and estate planning services and who don’t mind paying |
Rocket Lawyer: Services and Features
Rocket Lawyer is a robust estate planning tool. You’ll have the option to create various legal documents that may or may not have to do with estate planning. You can create wills and trusts, but you also have the option to make other custom legal documents and contracts, as well as create an LLC, non-profit or corporation. Another great feature of Rocket Lawyer is the ability to work directly with a lawyer who can help you plan or even review documents that you make on the platform.
Creating an online will is the main estate planning focus of Rocket Lawyer’s services. While you can make your will online for free by taking advantage of the platform’s seven-day free trail, there are other options, as well. A monthly membership, which costs $39.99 per month, gives you access to legal support and unlimited access to any documents. Rocket Lawyer also offers a plus membership for $19.99 per month, which is billed annually at $239.88.
Rocket Lawyer covers a wide range of estate planning needs, including issues that involve:
- Asset division
- Digital assets
- Beneficiaries
- Order of death
- Guardians
- Last wishes
The platform uses a detailed questionnaire to help you address different aspects of your situation. One thing that makes Rocket Lawyer really stand out is the ability to speak directly with an attorney. However, if you want your will to incorporate home estates, trusts, medical planning and power of attorney, you’ll need to look elsewhere, as Rocket Lawyer won’t help with such services.
Rocket Lawyer: Pricing
Rocket Lawyer’s Fee Structure
Membership Tiers | – Free seven-day trial – $39.99 monthly membership that includes support and ongoing access to documents – $19.99 monthly plus membership billed annually at $239.88 |
Rocket Lawyer offers many different services, but when it comes to estate planning, most services start at $39.99. Whether you’re choosing the monthly membership ($39.99), or taking advantage of the seven-day free trial, Rocket Lawyer tends to be pretty affordable.
However, when you start annexing additional services, the prices can pile up a bit. The same goes for anyone who’s paying $39.99 every month for the platform’s full suite of services.
Rocket Lawyer: Customer Support
Rocket Lawyer stands out when it comes to customer support, especially for those who pay the monthly membership rate. But at any membership level, when you’re filling out the questionnaire to create your will, you can submit questions and expect to hear back within a single business day.
The monthly membership gives you access to email support, chat support, attorney consultations and more. Note that Rocket Lawyer seems to intentionally leave out some definitions and support measures, which suggests that you will need to pay for an attorney. This could get frustrating for users unfamiliar with various estate planning documents.
Rocket Lawyer: Online Experience
Rocket Lawyer operates entirely online, so you won’t need to install any software to use its services. The platform provides access to a broad array of legal tools, though its estate planning offerings are somewhat more limited in scope. While it offers valuable features, the overall user experience may fall short for some.
Navigating the platform can be challenging, especially for individuals unfamiliar with estate planning. The interface feels dated, and it lacks the user-friendly guidance found on many other estate planning websites. In particular, the legal terminology used throughout the platform can be difficult to interpret without a background in law.
If you need clarification or support, you’ll likely have to pay for it, either by subscribing to a monthly membership or by purchasing access to legal advice on a per-question basis. That said, for users who are already comfortable with estate planning terms and procedures, Rocket Lawyer can be a convenient and effective tool.
How Does Rocket Lawyer Stack Up?
Rocket Lawyer stands out above the competition mainly because it provides access to lawyers and other experts who can help you through the estate planning process. While costs can add up a bit, the ability to create and download a will for free during a seven-day trial is a huge positive. And even though the variety of estate planning services can be limited, access to a wide variety of legal forms could make the service well worth it beyond just estate planning.
Comparing Rocket Lawyer to Other Services
Service | Pricing | Features | Accessibility |
Rocket Lawyer | – $39.99/month membership – Free seven-day trial for will making | – Sessions with a lawyer – Online Q&A with lawyers – Document defense – Form an LLC, corporation or non-profit – Registered agent service | – Web-based program |
Trust & Will | – Will: $199 ($299 for couples) – Trust: $499 ($599 for couples) | – Will membership – Trust membership | – Web-based program |
Quicken WillMaker & Trust | – $99 for all services | – Final arrangements for your resting place – Wills – Trusts – Specify how to handle debts – Name an executor – Health care directive | – Software |
Bottom Line
Rocket Lawyer isn’t only an estate planning platform. It connects clients with lawyers and offers a variety of legal services that include forming LLCs and non-profits, document defense and will writing. On the other hand, if you’re looking for broad-based estate planning services, you might want to look elsewhere. That’s because other services tend to focus only on estate planning. But if you’re interested in having easy access to attorneys who can answer your questions quickly, Rocket Lawyer will be hard to beat.
Tips for Estate Planning
- A financial advisor can help you find solutions for your estate planning situation, including your various needs and beneficiaries. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with financial advisors in your area in just five minutes. If you’re ready to be matched with local advisors, get started now.
- An often forgotten part of an estate plan, a living will or another form of advance directive can be valuable if you ever can’t communicate decisions on your own. This will ensure that your doctors and loved ones comply with your choices.
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