DIY Estate Planning: It Might Seem Easy. Until It Isn’t.
You’ve seen the websites. “Write your will in ten minutes.” “Build a trust without a lawyer.” The promise feels efficient. Clean. Cheap. And for some, it might actually be enough. But most of the time, what works on paper doesn’t work in real life. Not when someone gets sick. Not when someone dies.
At Fletcher Estate Planning, we don’t start with fear. We start with questions. Who do you trust? What do you own? Who do you want to protect? These questions rarely come with simple answers. And if your plan isn’t built to handle real life, the consequences usually land on the people you care about most.
When a DIY Estate Plan Might Be Good Enough
If your assets are minimal and your instructions are clear.
Maybe you have one checking account, a modest home, no children, and a single heir. You aren’t setting up trusts. You don’t need conditions or restrictions. You just want everything to go to one person. If that’s your situation, an online will might do the job. As long as it’s state-specific. As long as it’s executed correctly.
If you want a basic distribution with no special planning.
Everything goes to your spouse. If your spouse is gone, everything goes to the kids, divided equally. No complications. No one left out. In a case like that, a simple form might be enough. But you still need to check that the language matches Georgia law. A document is only as good as its enforceability.
If you need powers of attorney and nothing more.
Medical decisions. Financial access. These can sometimes be handled through downloadable forms. But they must be signed correctly. Notarized if required. Witnessed in the right way. One small mistake can make the entire form useless when someone shows up at the hospital or the bank and gets turned away.
If money is tight and you need a stopgap.
Sometimes the budget won’t stretch to legal fees. In that case, a DIY plan might be a temporary option. Something to get in place while you work toward something stronger. But be aware that fixing a broken plan costs far more than building a reliable one from the start.
When DIY Becomes a Risk You Can’t Afford
If you have multiple properties or complex assets.
Rental homes. Out-of-state property. Business interests. Investment accounts spread across platforms. These require planning beyond what a template can provide. It’s not just about who gets what. It’s about how, when, and with what tax consequences.
If your family structure isn’t simple.
Second marriages. Stepchildren. Unequal gifts. Estranged relatives. Anytime the default rules don’t match your wishes, you need a plan that speaks clearly. Vague documents lead to confusion. Confusion leads to court.
If someone you love has a disability.
Leaving assets directly to someone who receives government benefits could do more harm than good. A special needs trust may be necessary. That’s not something you want to guess at.
If you’re concerned about taxes.
Even a modest estate can face unnecessary tax burdens without the right strategy. Proper planning helps ensure your heirs receive more of what you intended to leave them. That usually takes more than filling in a few blanks.
If you’re planning for medical events or long-term care.
It’s one thing to name a health care agent. It’s another to prepare for nursing home costs, Medicaid eligibility, or asset protection over time. Online forms won’t warn you about what they leave out.
If your life has changed and your documents haven’t.
Marriage. Divorce. A new child. A death in the family. An inheritance. Every major shift in life is also a legal one. If your documents are out of date, they might not protect anyone the way you thought they would.
If you live in Georgia and your plan wasn’t made for Georgia.
State law matters. A document that works in Florida might fail here. Witness rules, notarization, probate standards — they’re different everywhere. Generic isn’t always harmless.
What Goes Wrong
- People sign things incorrectly. Documents that aren’t witnessed properly are often thrown out entirely.
- Important pieces are missing. Many DIY wills don’t include guardianship language, backup executors, or asset-specific instructions.
- The wording causes fights. Ambiguity leads to arguments. And arguments lead to court.
Final Thoughts
A DIY estate plan might be better than nothing. But better than nothing doesn’t always mean good. If your situation is truly simple, and if you’re confident the documents meet your state’s legal standards, it might work. But if there’s any uncertainty, it’s worth talking to someone who knows how to ask the right questions.
At Fletcher Estate Planning, we help people protect what matters. Whether you’re starting fresh or reviewing something you built years ago, we’re here to make sure your plan holds up when it’s needed most.
