Yes, technically you can scribble your last wishes on a cocktail napkin. But here’s the catch: if that napkin is smudged with salsa or missing a witness signature, your heirs will spend years in court arguing about it. A hand-written will—called a holographic will—is valid in about half of U.S. states, but it’s like trying to win a chess match with a crayon.
Online will-making services like LegalZoom or WillMaker are the sweet spot for most people. They’ll run you $30 to $100, and they ask you fun questions like, “Do you want to leave your stamp collection to your niece, or to a raccoon sanctuary?” The downside? If your life is complicated—think multiple marriages, a business, or a pet iguana named Godzilla—these templates can fail spectacularly.
