Simple estate plans often fail during real-life emergencies. Learn why easy solutions can create complex legal problems when plans are tested.

Online estate planning tools promise speed, affordability, and convenience. For many families, they feel like a responsible first step—something is better than nothing. The problem is not that DIY estate planning tools are always wrong. It’s that they often create a false sense of security , leaving families unprepared for the situations where estate plans are actually tested. Why DIY Plans Feel Safe at First DIY estate planning tools are designed to be simple. They ask basic

Trusts are often misunderstood. Some families assume a trust is automatically better than a will. Others avoid trusts altogether, believing they are only for the wealthy or overly complicated. The truth is simpler—and more practical: a trust is a tool , not a requirement. Whether it makes sense depends on goals, risks, and family circumstances. What a Trust Is Designed to Do A trust can provide structure before and after death . Depending on how it is set up, a trust may: Avo