Quick Answer
Can I Make My Own Living Trust Online?
Yes. You can create a legally valid living trust online in about 30 minutes, for a fraction of what an attorney charges. Here's exactly how it works.
The short answer
Yes, absolutely. Online legal services create the same legally valid trust documents an attorney would — just faster and cheaper. You answer questions about your situation, the service generates state-specific documents, you sign with a notary, and your trust is complete. Most people finish in 30 minutes to an hour.
How making a trust online works
Answer questions about your situation
The service asks about your assets, who you want to inherit them, who should manage things if you can't, and similar questions. Takes 10-20 minutes. No legal jargon — plain English.
Review your documents
Based on your answers, the service generates your complete trust package — trust document, pour-over will, healthcare directive, power of attorney, and more. Review everything before signing.
Sign with a notary
Good services include online notarization — you video chat with a licensed notary and sign digitally. Takes about 10 minutes. No need to find a local notary or schedule an appointment.
Fund your trust
The most important step: actually transfer your assets into the trust. For real estate, this means recording a new deed. Good services help you with this — it's where most people get stuck.
Is an online trust legally valid?
Yes. What makes a trust valid is whether it meets your state's legal requirements — not who created it. A properly executed online trust has the same legal standing as one from a prestigious law firm.
Courts don't ask "who drafted this?" They ask "does it meet the legal requirements?" Good online services use attorney-designed, state-specific templates that satisfy those requirements.
What you'll need before starting
- ✓List of your assets: Home address, approximate values, account types
- ✓Beneficiary decisions: Who gets what when you're gone
- ✓Successor trustee: Who manages things if you can't (usually spouse, then adult child)
- ✓Healthcare agent: Who makes medical decisions if you're incapacitated
- ✓Guardian for minor children: If applicable
You don't need exact account numbers or property legal descriptions to start — you can add those later.
How long does it take?
10-20
minutes to answer questions
10-15
minutes with the notary
Total: about 30 minutes for the documents. Funding your trust (transferring assets) happens afterward and varies — recording a deed takes a few days; updating account titles might require a bank visit.
How much does it cost?
Online trust services typically cost $500-$1,000 for a complete package. Compare that to $2,000-$5,000+ for an estate planning attorney.
Look for services that include notarization and all essential documents (trust, will, healthcare directive, POA). Some charge extra for these — always check the total price.
What to avoid
- ✗Free templates: Generic, not state-specific, easy to make mistakes
- ✗Services with no notarization: You'll have to find a notary yourself — annoying and error-prone
- ✗No help with funding: Creating documents is half the job; transferring assets is the other half
- ✗One-size-fits-all: Make sure documents are specific to your state
Make your trust online today
Mantle walks you through every step — questions, documents, notarization, and actually funding your trust. 30 minutes, $995, done right.
Get Started Free →Free to start. Pay when you're ready to sign.