How to Make a Will Without a Lawyer (And Why Most Young Adults Should)
You don't need a $1,500 attorney appointment to have a valid will. Here's exactly how it works, what's legally required, and what to watch out for.
By Willy Team · May 20, 2026 · 6 min read
Somewhere along the way, 'making a will' got attached to 'going to a lawyer,' and a lot of us just... never went to the lawyer. So we have no will.
For most of us in our 20s and 30s, a lawyer isn't necessary. Not because lawyers aren't useful — they're great when your situation is complicated — but because most young adults don't have complicated situations. They have simple ones that an online will handles perfectly well.
This is how it actually works.
What makes a will legally valid?
Every state has requirements for a will to be valid. They vary a bit, but the core elements are almost universal:
You must be of legal age. In all U.S. states, that's 18 (with some exceptions for married minors or military members).
You must be of 'sound mind.' Legal speak for: you understand what a will is, what you own, who your relatives are, and that you're making a will. The bar is lower than you'd think.
It must be in writing. Verbal wills aren't valid anywhere in the U.S.
You must sign it. Or direct someone to sign it on your behalf if you physically can't.
It must be witnessed. In almost every state, two adult witnesses must watch you sign and then sign the will themselves. They generally can't be anyone who's inheriting from you.
That's it. That's the list. No lawyer required anywhere on there.
What about notarization?
Some states require a notary. Some don't. A lot of online will platforms add a 'self-proving affidavit' — a notarized statement that makes probate easier later — but it's not always mandatory.
The safest move is to look up your specific state's requirements, or use a platform that handles this automatically.
[[STATE_LINK]]
So how do you actually make one?
There are a few routes.
Option 1: Online will platform
This is what you should do. Platforms like Willy walk you through a series of questions — who inherits what, who takes care of your pets, who's your executor — and generate a properly formatted legal document.
You print it out, sign it in front of two witnesses, have them sign, and you're done. The whole thing takes about 15-30 minutes including the signing.
Cost: Usually under $100. Sometimes significantly less.
Option 2: Write it yourself
Technically legal if you follow your state's formatting requirements. Practically: a bad idea for most of us.
It's easy to accidentally use ambiguous language, forget required elements, or create conflicts between different sections. A poorly written will can be just as problematic as no will — possibly worse, because it creates the appearance of instructions without actually being clear.
If you're going to DIY it, at least use a reliable template and have a lawyer review it.
Option 3: Hire a lawyer
Still the right choice for complex situations:
- You own property in multiple states
- You have a blended family with complicated inheritance questions
- You own a business
- Your estate is worth more than $1-2 million
- You have a dependent with special needs
For everyone else: online is fine.
What goes in a will for a young person?
Less than you'd think. A basic will covers:
Beneficiaries. Who gets your stuff. You can be broad ('everything to my partner, Sam') or specific ('my guitar to my brother, my car to my roommate, everything else to my partner').
An executor. The person responsible for carrying out your wishes. Pay debts, file paperwork, distribute assets. Choose someone organized and trustworthy. They don't need to be a lawyer.
Pet guardians. Who takes care of your pets, and ideally, some money to help cover their care.
Specific gifts. If there are particular items you want to go to particular recipients, say so explicitly.
Personal messages. Optional, but many of us include letters or notes to loved ones. These aren't legally binding but they matter.
What happens after you make it?
Sign it in front of two witnesses who aren't beneficiaries. They sign too. If your state requires notarization, get it notarized.
Keep the original somewhere safe — a fireproof box, a safe deposit box, with your executor. Tell anyone who needs to know where it is.
You don't register wills anywhere in the U.S. (unlike some other countries). The original document is the will.
When should you update it?
Any time your life significantly changes:
- You get married or divorced
- You have kids
- You move to a different state
- You acquire significant new assets
- Someone on your will dies or your relationship changes
- You get a new pet
A good rule of thumb: look at your will every couple of years and ask if it still reflects your actual life. Usually it will. Sometimes it won't.
The witness thing is the most commonly skipped step
Most of us get through the paperwork and then don't want to deal with the awkward 'hey, can you watch me sign my will' conversation. So we never actually execute it.
A will that isn't signed and witnessed is not a will. It's a document with your wishes on it that a court will almost certainly ignore.
Find two witnesses — friends, coworkers, neighbors, family members who aren't inheriting anything — set aside ten minutes, and do it. It's not as weird as it sounds. They don't need to read the will. They just need to watch you sign it and sign it themselves.
The only part that's actually hard
Making a will without a lawyer is completely legal, works well for most young adults, and takes less time than the research you're currently doing about whether to do it.
The only thing that's actually complicated about a will is the part where you have to think about dying. That part is uncomfortable. The paperwork is easy.