Professional-quality planning
We provide a budget-friendly option so that you can provide for the people, pets, and charities
most important to you.
You know you need a will or trust, but working with a lawyer one-on-one just isn't in the budget right now. Maybe you even prefer a good DIY project. You’ve also heard horror stories about certain simplistic online forms options, and just don’t see how those “one size fits all” options are going to take care of what’s most important to you. Do they even include pets?! How would you even know if they are going to cover you or just leave your family with a mess to clean up when it’s too late?
For the DIY-ers
We’ve got you
Thorough documents tailored to your situation - with examples and instructions. All at a lower cost.
Save money without sacrificing quality. Create an affordable estate plan with thorough DIY estate planning documents prepared by an attorney who’s been guiding clients through the preparation of wills and trusts since 2011.
Comprehensive
Step-by-step instructions and clear, fun examples allow you to complete custom legal documents on your own schedule.
Convenient
Step-by-step instructions and clear, fun examples allow you to complete custom legal documents on your own schedule.
Download a complete set of legal documents crafted to fit the specific needs of California residents - whether you’re a parent, a paw-rent, or child-free; married, partnered, or single.
Customized
I knew there had to be a better way.
I created these top quality DIY wills and trusts because I was tired of seeing clients on a budget (and my own family members) get bitten by overly simplistic, outdated, and difficult-to-complete forms. Every time I reviewed those *other"* online forms for a client who wanted to know if they were completed correctly, I found MAJOR issues. Often the instructions aren’t even clear, so of course they’re going to be difficult to fill out clearly and completely.
You deserve documents that do what they promise, and the peace of mind and confidence that comes not from filling out simple forms, but from knowing that this important project is done properly.
All of our plans are gender neutral and designed to be inclusive of non-binary individuals and same-sex couples. Visit our FAQ to see a complete list of documents that come with the DIY Estate Plans.
A good estate plan allows you to:
Make your wishes known and legally binding, including:
Who takes care of your kids?
Who inherits your assets?
Who provides a home for your pets?
Provide for your own care in case you become ill or incapacitated.
Prevent your beneficiaries from wasting multiple years and many tens of thousands of dollars in public probate court proceedings.
Each package includes:
A set of example documents so you can see what your documents should look like when you’re done.
A set of annotated documents so it’s clear what to write and where.
Step-by-step instructions to walk you through completing your documents.
What happens after you sign - a critical part of the process that’s often missed.
These estate plans are designed for:
California residents + U.S. Citizens.
Assets valued at less than $12 million for single individuals and less than $24 million total for married couples.
Estates including cash, bank accounts, brokerage accounts, retirement accounts, personal items, vehicles, real estate, and/or a business. (Additional purchase may be necessary to plan for real estate and businesses.)
These forms may not achieve your goals if:
You want to explicitly disinherit a family member.
You want to leave assets to someone with special needs who may qualify for needs-based public benefits.
You don’t want the person inheriting your assets to have unrestricted access at 30 years of age.
You already have a trust you want to update.
All options are currently specific to California residents. More states coming soon.
(Yes, legal forms are and should be state specific! Laws vary from state to state.)
Guarantee
I designed these DIY Estate Plans to be the highest quality do-it-yourself estate planning option available. If you need some extra support, or for any reason you find your purchase does not work for you, simply email us at info@marisanelson.com to take advantage of one of these options:
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If you have a few specific questions, schedule a free 15 minute phone call within 6 months of purchase. If you need more time, you can schedule an additional 30 minute call for $195.
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If you decide you want to upgrade to a one-on-one custom estate plan, no problem. Upgrade within 6 months of purchase and I will apply the full cost of this download to your one-on-one estate planning fees.
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If these just aren’t going to do the job for you, contact us within 14 days of purchase. If we can’t find a better solution, we’ll issue a full refund.
