Is an online living trust as good as an attorney?

Online living trust WITH attorney review is equivalent to traditional attorney-prepared trust for most people. The key is attorney oversight, not delivery method. Online with attorney review ($150) provides same legal protection as traditional attorney ($1,500-$3,000) at lower cost. Software-only online services WITHOUT attorney review (LegalZoom $279, Trust & Will $499-$599) are NOT equivalent to attorney preparation.

When do I need a traditional attorney vs online living trust?

Use traditional attorney ($1,500-$3,000) if: very complex estate (over $5M), special needs planning, business succession, tax planning, litigation concerns. Use online with attorney review ($150) if: standard estate ($100K-$5M), primary residence, standard beneficiaries, no complex tax issues. 95% of Californians can use attorney-reviewed online services.

Attorney vs Online Living Trust California — Which Do You Need? (2025)

Quick Answer: Attorney vs Online Living Trust

The real question isn't "traditional attorney vs online."

The real question is: "attorney review vs NO attorney review."

Online WITH attorney review ($150): Equivalent to traditional attorney for 95% of Californians
Online WITHOUT attorney review ($279-$599): Risky, software-only, no professional oversight
Traditional attorney ($1,500-$3,000): Best for very complex estates only

For most California homeowners: Online with attorney review provides same legal protection as traditional attorney, saves $1,350.

Attorney vs Online Living Trust — Real Comparison

Feature	Traditional Attorney	Online + Attorney Review	Online Only (No Attorney)
Cost	$1,500-$3,000	$150	$279-$599
Attorney Review	✓ YES	✓ YES	✗ NO
CA-Specific	✓ YES	✓ YES	✗ Generic 50-state
Legal Validity	100%	100%	Risky (no oversight)
Time to Complete	2-4 weeks	24-48 hours	Same day
In-Person Meeting	Required	Optional	None
Best For	Very complex estates ($5M+), special needs	95% of Californians	Not recommended

Cost Comparison: Attorney vs Online Living Trust California

Traditional Attorney Living Trust Cost

Service	Typical Cost
Individual living trust	$1,500-$2,500
Joint living trust (married)	$2,000-$3,500
Pour-over will	Usually included
Powers of attorney	Usually included
Deed preparation	Usually included
TOTAL	$1,500-$3,500

Online with Attorney Review Cost

Service	Living Trust California
Individual/joint living trust	$150
Pour-over will	Included
Powers of attorney	Included
Healthcare directive	Included
Deed preparation	Included
Attorney review	Included
TOTAL	$150

Savings: $1,350-$3,350 (90-95% less)

Quality Comparison: Are They Equivalent?

Yes, for 95% of estates, online with attorney review is equivalent to traditional attorney.

What You Get with Both:

✓ California attorney reviews your documents
✓ California-specific provisions (community property, Prop 13)
✓ Compliance with California Probate Code
✓ Proper execution guidance
✓ Trust funding instructions
✓ Legally valid, enforceable documents

What's Different:

Difference	Traditional Attorney	Online + Attorney Review
Face-to-face meeting	Required (1-2 hours)	Optional (online questionnaire)
Delivery method	In-person	Online/email
Customization	Highly customized	California-compliant, covers standard situations
Time investment	4-6 hours (meetings, revisions)	30 minutes (questionnaire)

Key insight: The difference is convenience and customization, NOT legal validity or quality.

When You Need Traditional Attorney

Use traditional attorney ($1,500-$3,000) if you have:

Very large estate (over $5 million) requiring tax planning
Special needs beneficiary requiring special needs trust
Complex business with succession planning needs
Litigation concerns (expect will/trust contest)
Blended family conflicts requiring careful planning
Multi-state property requiring coordination
Charitable planning with complex tax strategies
Asset protection concerns (lawsuits, creditors)

Percentage of Californians needing traditional attorney: ~5%

When Online with Attorney Review Works Perfectly

Use online with attorney review ($150) if you have:

Standard estate ($100K-$5M)
Primary residence (California home)
Standard beneficiaries (spouse, children, family, friends)
No special needs beneficiaries
No complex tax planning (most estates under $13M don't need it)
No ongoing business succession needs
No litigation expected
Want to avoid probate ($27K-$68K+ savings)

Percentage of Californians who fit this: ~95%

🏆 Best Value: Online with Attorney Review

Living Trust California provides attorney-reviewed trusts for 95% of Californians:

✓ California attorney reviews every trust
✓ Same legal protection as $1,500-$3,000 attorney
✓ California-specific provisions (community property, Prop 13)
✓ Complete package (trust, will, POAs, directive, deed)
✓ Save $1,350-$3,350
✓ Done in 24-48 hours

Get Attorney-Reviewed Trust — $150 →

Key Takeaways: Attorney vs Online Living Trust

Online WITH attorney review = equivalent to traditional attorney for 95% of Californians
Online WITHOUT attorney review = risky (software-only, no oversight)
Traditional attorney costs 10-20x more ($1,500-$3,000 vs $150)
Both provide same legal protection if attorney reviews
Difference is delivery method, not quality
5% need traditional attorney (complex estates, special needs, tax planning)
95% can use online with attorney review and save $1,350+

About: Rozsa Gyene, California Estate Planning Attorney, State Bar #208356. I offer both traditional in-person services and online attorney-reviewed trusts to serve all Californians.

Attorney vs Online Living Trust California (2025)