Fastwill

Introduction

FastWill offers professionally written documents that comply with legal requirements in all 50 states, eliminating the need for costly legal fees and time-consuming visits to lawyers. In just about 20 minutes, you can complete your important estate planning documents using FastWill's user-friendly step-by-step process.

Key Benefits of FastWill's Remote Estate Planning :

• Convenience : No travel required - complete everything online
• Professional Quality : Every document created by licensed attorneys
• State-Specific Compliance : Tailored to your location's legal requirements
• Comprehensive Options : Both wills and living trusts available
• Secure Process : Bank-level encryption protects your sensitive information

This detailed guide covers all aspects of FastWill's services. You'll learn about the basics of estate planning, how to use remote notarization, and more. We'll also explain how to decide between wills and living trusts, safeguard your assets, designate guardians for your children and pets, and steer clear of lengthy probate processes. Plus, you'll find real testimonials from satisfied customers that showcase how effective the platform has been in bringing genuine peace of mind to families across the country.

Understanding Estate Planning and Its Benefits

Estate planning is the process of organizing your financial affairs and personal wishes to ensure that your assets are transferred smoothly to your chosen beneficiaries after you pass away. This comprehensive approach protects your family from unnecessary complications and ensures that your legacy is preserved according to your specific intentions.

Core Components of an Estate Plan

An effective estate plan typically includes three fundamental elements :

• Will - A legal document that specifies how your assets should be distributed, names guardians for minor children, and outlines your final arrangements
• Living Trust - A legal entity that holds your assets during your lifetime and transfers them directly to beneficiaries without court intervention
• Guardianship Provisions - Designations for who will care for your minor children and pets if you're unable to do so

Key Benefits of Estate Planning

The benefits of estate planning go beyond just deciding who gets what. It gives you control over your legacy and provides important protections for your loved ones:

• Avoiding Probate Court : Without proper planning, your estate goes through a lengthy government process where courts decide how to distribute your assets and who will take care of your children. Living trusts bypass this process entirely, allowing your beneficiaries to receive their inheritance immediately.
• Asset Protection : Clear documentation prevents disputes among family members and ensures that your property, investments, and personal belongings go to the people you intended. By specifying exactly who receives what, you eliminate any confusion or arguments.
• Medical Wishes Clarification : Estate planning documents communicate your healthcare preferences and end-of-life decisions, taking the burden off your family during difficult times.
• Peace of Mind for Heirs : Your beneficiaries will have clear instructions on what to do with their inheritance and access to resources right away. This reduces stress during an already challenging period and helps them avoid costly legal battles or delays in receiving their inheritance.
• Time and Money Savings : Proper planning can save your loved ones thousands of dollars in attorney fees and months of legal complications, ensuring that more of your estate's value goes to the people who matter most.

Wills vs. Living Trusts: Making the Right Choice on FastWill

Understanding the difference between a living trust and a will becomes essential when planning your estate through FastWill's platform. Both documents serve distinct purposes and operate on different timelines, making your choice dependent on your specific circumstances and goals.

Timing and Asset Control Differences

Wills activate only after your death, serving as instructions for how your assets should be distributed and who should care for your minor children. You retain complete control over your assets during your lifetime, but beneficiaries must wait for the probate process to receive their inheritance.

Living trusts take effect immediately after you fund them by transferring your assets into the trust. You maintain control as the trustee during your lifetime, but the trust provides seamless asset transfer to beneficiaries without probate court involvement. This immediate activation allows for continuous asset management even if you become incapacitated.

When to Choose Each Option

The will vs living trust decision depends on your personal situation :

Choose a Will if you :

• Have a simpler estate with fewer assets
• Want to name guardians for minor children
• Prefer lower upfront costs
• Don't mind the probate process for your beneficiaries

Choose a Living Trust if you :

• Own significant assets or real estate
• Want to avoid the 9-18 month probate process
• Desire privacy in asset distribution
• Need incapacity planning protection
• Want immediate asset transfer to beneficiaries

FastWill's attorneys design both options to meet your state's legal standards, ensuring your documents remain legally recognized regardless of your choice. The platform's step-by-step process guides you through either option, helping you create the right estate planning solution for your unique circumstances.

Step-by-Step Estate Planning Process on FastWill

FastWill transforms what traditionally takes weeks into a streamlined step-by-step estate planning process that you can complete from your living room. The platform breaks down complex legal requirements into bite-sized tasks, ensuring you never feel overwhelmed or rushed through important decisions about your legacy.

FastWill

FastWill is the leading online estate planning platform that is changing the way Americans safeguard their families and assets. With this groundbreaking service, you can now create your will online from the comfort of your own home, just like thousands of others who have found true peace of mind.

Discover FastWill

The FastWill Process Breakdown

1. Getting Started (5 minutes)

• Create your secure account with basic personal information
• Select your state for customized legal compliance
• Choose between Will or Living Trust options based on your needs

2. Document Creation (10-12 minutes)

• Answer guided questions about your assets, beneficiaries, and preferences
• Name guardians for children and pets through intuitive prompts
• Specify distribution of property and investments with clear dropdown menus
• Review attorney-drafted language tailored to your responses

3. Final Review and Completion (3-5 minutes)

• Preview your complete document before finalizing
• Make any necessary adjustments using the user-friendly editing tools
• Confirm all details match your intentions

The entire FastWill experience typically takes around 20 minutes for most users, delivering legally valid documents that meet your state's specific requirements. You work at your own pace without pressure from sales representatives or time constraints that plague traditional law offices.

Each step includes helpful explanations and examples, so you understand exactly what you're agreeing to. The platform's design eliminates legal jargon wherever possible, replacing complex terminology with plain English that makes sense to real people planning their estates.

Your documents receive the same legal recognition as those created in expensive law offices, but you save both attorney fees and travel time. The convenience factor alone makes FastWill attractive to busy professionals, parents, and anyone who values efficient solutions for important life decisions.

Remote Notarization and Secure Online Document Signing with FastWill

FastWill's integrated remote notary service transforms the traditional notarization process by allowing you to complete this crucial step from the comfort of your home. You no longer need to schedule appointments, travel to offices, or coordinate with notaries during limited business hours. The platform connects you directly with certified notaries through a secure digital environment, eliminating geographical barriers and time constraints.

The online notarization service operates through FastWill's encrypted signing platform, which meets all state legal requirements while maintaining the highest security standards. When you're ready to notarize your documents, you simply access the platform, verify your identity through secure authentication methods, and connect with a licensed notary public. The entire process happens in real-time, with the notary witnessing your signature electronically and applying their official digital seal.

Key Benefits of FastWill's Remote Notarization

• Convenience : Complete notarization 24/7 without leaving your home
• Legal compliance : All documents meet state-specific legal standards and requirements
• Security : Bank-level encryption protects your personal information and documents
• Speed : Immediate access to certified notaries without scheduling delays
• Accessibility : Available across all 50 states with location-specific requirements built in

The digital notarization process maintains the same legal validity as traditional in-person notarization while offering enhanced security features. Your documents receive tamper-evident seals and digital certificates that provide additional protection against fraud. The encrypted platform ensures your sensitive estate planning information remains confidential throughout the entire signing process.

FastWill's remote notary service integrates seamlessly with the document creation process, allowing you to move from drafting your will or living trust directly to notarization without interruption. This streamlined approach saves you time and reduces the complexity often associated with estate planning documentation.

Attorney Support Services Offered by FastWill

Creating an estate plan can feel overwhelming, especially when you're unsure whether your decisions align with legal requirements and best practices. FastWill recognizes this challenge and offers attorney support services to bridge the gap between DIY estate planning and traditional legal counsel.

The $299 Attorney Support Package

FastWill's optional attorney support package provides direct access to qualified legal professionals who specialize in estate planning. For $299, you receive comprehensive guidance that transforms your estate planning experience from a solo endeavor into a professionally supervised process.

The attorney support services include :

• Line-by-line document review to ensure accuracy and completeness
• Trust funding support to help you properly transfer assets into your living trust
• Personalized legal estate planning advice tailored to your specific circumstances
• Expert consultation throughout the entire document creation process

Professional Value Beyond Document Creation

The attorney support package delivers value that extends far beyond basic document preparation. You gain access to legal expertise that helps identify potential issues before they become problems. Attorneys can spot gaps in your estate plan that might leave your beneficiaries vulnerable or create unintended consequences.

Trust funding represents one of the most critical aspects where professional guidance proves invaluable. Many people create living trusts but fail to properly fund them, rendering the trust ineffective. The attorney support team guides you through the specific steps required to transfer your assets into the trust, ensuring your estate planning goals are actually achieved.

Ensuring Legal Compliance and Peace of Mind

Working with FastWill's attorney support team provides confidence that your estate plan meets all state-specific legal requirements. Each attorney understands the nuances of estate law in your jurisdiction, helping you navigate complex regulations while maximizing the benefits of your chosen estate planning strategy.

The attorney support services transform what could be a stressful legal process into a manageable, educational experience where you maintain control while benefiting from professional expertise.

Avoiding Probate Court with FastWill's Solutions

Probate court is one of the most time-consuming and expensive processes your family might face after you pass away. This mandatory government procedure happens when you die without a valid will or trust, forcing the court system to make decisions about your assets and guardianship arrangements. The probate process usually takes between 9 to 18 months, during which your loved ones cannot access your assets while legal proceedings are happening.

What Happens During Probate ?

When there are no estate planning documents in place, the court system takes complete control. Judges decide how to distribute your property, who receives your investments, and even who will care for your minor children. Your family has to bear the financial burden of court fees, attorney costs, and administrative expenses that can eat up a significant portion of your estate's value.

How FastWill Can Help You Avoid Probate

FastWill's living trust solutions provide a direct way to avoid probate process entirely. When you create a living trust through FastWill, you still have full control over your assets while you're alive, but they will automatically go to your beneficiaries when you die. This means that the trust structure bypasses the lengthy government procedures that often delay traditional estate settlements.

Benefits of Living Trusts Created Through FastWill

Living trusts created through FastWill offer immediate effectiveness once you properly fund them. Here are some benefits :

• You can specify exactly how and when your assets get distributed, eliminating the uncertainty and delays associated with probate court decisions.
• Your beneficiaries receive their inheritance without waiting months for court approval or paying excessive legal fees.
• The platform's attorney-designed documents meet all state legal requirements, ensuring your trust holds up under scrutiny.
• You avoid the stress of court appearances, public record disclosures, and the emotional toll that probate proceedings place on grieving families.

FastWill's streamlined approach transforms what could be a 9-18 month ordeal into an immediate, private transfer of assets according to your exact wishes.

Assigning Guardianship for Children and Pets Through FastWill

Naming trusted guardians represents one of the most critical decisions you'll make when creating your estate plan. FastWill's platform guides you through this essential process, ensuring your minor children receive care from people you trust rather than leaving this decision to the court system.

When you assign guardians for children through FastWill, you're taking control of their future well-being. Without designated guardians in your will or trust, the court decides who raises your children—a process that can take months and may not align with your values or preferences. FastWill's attorney-created documents ensure your guardianship selections meet all state legal requirements across all 50 states.

The platform allows you to name both primary and backup guardians, providing multiple layers of protection for your children's care. You can specify different guardians for different children if needed, accommodating unique relationships and circumstances within your family structure.

Pet Guardianship Protection

Your beloved pets deserve the same thoughtful consideration as other family members. FastWill enables you to designate specific caregivers for your pets, ensuring they receive proper care according to your wishes. You can include detailed instructions about :

• Feeding schedules and dietary requirements
• Medical care preferences and veterinary contacts
• Exercise routines and behavioral needs
• Financial provisions for ongoing pet expenses

The guardianship provisions in FastWill documents go beyond simple naming—you can outline your expectations for care, specify living arrangements, and even allocate funds for your pets' ongoing needs. This comprehensive approach prevents your pets from ending up in shelters or with unprepared caregivers.

FastWill's step-by-step process walks you through each guardianship decision with clear explanations, helping you make informed choices about who will care for your most precious family members—both human and animal—when you're no longer able to do so yourself.

Protecting Assets and Investments Using FastWill Plans

Protect your assets with FastWill's comprehensive allocation system that ensures your property and investments reach the right beneficiaries according to your exact wishes. The platform's attorney-designed documents provide clear, legally binding instructions that eliminate confusion and potential disputes among family members.

Clear Asset Distribution Framework

FastWill's plans include detailed provisions for distributing various types of assets :

• Real estate properties - Primary residence, vacation homes, rental properties
• Financial accounts - Bank accounts, retirement funds, investment portfolios
• Personal property - Vehicles, jewelry, artwork, collectibles
• Business interests - Partnership shares, LLC ownership, corporate stock

Percentage-Based and Specific Allocations

You can allocate assets using multiple methods within your FastWill documents. The platform allows you to assign specific percentages of your total estate to different beneficiaries, ensuring proportional distribution. Alternatively, you can designate particular items or accounts to specific individuals, giving you granular control over who receives what.

Investment Portfolio Protection

Your investment accounts receive special attention in FastWill plans. The documents specify how stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and other securities should be transferred or liquidated. This clarity prevents beneficiaries from making hasty financial decisions during emotionally difficult times.

Contingency Planning for Asset Protection

FastWill includes backup beneficiary designations to protect your assets if primary beneficiaries cannot inherit. The platform also addresses scenarios where beneficiaries are minors, establishing trust provisions that protect inherited assets until children reach appropriate ages.

State-Specific Asset Laws

Since FastWill operates in all 50 states, your documents automatically comply with local property laws and inheritance regulations. This state-specific customization ensures your asset protection strategy remains legally enforceable regardless of where you live or where your assets are located.

Customer Experiences & Testimonials Highlighting Real Peace of Mind with FastWill

FastWill testimonials from real customers across the United States demonstrate the platform's effectiveness in delivering genuine peace of mind through accessible estate planning. Thousands of families have successfully created their estate plans using fastwill, experiencing firsthand the convenience and reliability of the service.

A satisfied customer from Dallas, Texas shared their experience: "The step-by-step process made everything so clear. I completed my living trust in under 30 minutes, and knowing my family is protected gives me incredible peace of mind."

From Great Neck, New York, another user emphasized the platform's user-friendly design: "I was intimidated by estate planning, but FastWill's bite-sized tasks made it manageable. The attorney-created documents give me confidence that everything is legally sound."

A Cleveland, Ohio resident highlighted the time-saving benefits: "Instead of scheduling multiple attorney appointments and paying hefty fees, I handled everything from home. The remote notarization feature was seamless, and I saved both time and money."

These authentic experiences reflect common themes among FastWill testimonials: appreciation for the intuitive interface, confidence in attorney-drafted documents, and relief from completing essential estate planning without the traditional hassles. Customers consistently report feeling empowered by taking control of their legacy planning through the platform's streamlined approach.

The recurring feedback emphasizes how FastWill transforms what many perceive as a daunting legal process into an accessible, straightforward experience that delivers lasting security for families nationwide.

Conclusion

Your legacy deserves more than leaving it to chance. The benefits of using an online estate planning service like FastWill extend far beyond simple convenience – you're investing in your family's future security and peace of mind.

FastWill transforms what was once a complex, expensive legal process into something you can complete from your kitchen table in just 20 minutes. You get attorney-crafted documents that meet your state's legal requirements, remote notarization services, and the confidence that comes from knowing your wishes will be honored.

The choice is clear: you can either let the government decide how your assets are distributed through an 9-18 month probate process, or you can take control today. FastWill gives you that control with :

• State-specific documents created by licensed attorneys
• Bank-level encryption protecting your sensitive information
• Remote notarization eliminating travel and scheduling hassles
• Optional attorney support for complex situations

Thousands of families across all 50 states have already secured their legacies with FastWill. They've experienced the relief that comes from knowing their children will be cared for by chosen guardians, their assets will go to intended beneficiaries, and their loved ones won't face unnecessary legal battles.

Your family's future shouldn't wait. Take the first step toward comprehensive estate planning with FastWill today.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)