A LegalZoom will can be valid in Texas if the document and its execution meet Texas law. Choosing between an online will and an attorney depends on your family, property, and need for tailored advice—not the brand name alone.
Compare what the selected plan includes: document preparation, access to an attorney, signing instructions, revisions, and coordination with assets that pass outside a will.
At Massingill, we are dedicated to helping clients protect their legacy and give their family peace of mind.
Deciding whether an online will fits your family? Explore our Texas estate planning services for help preparing a plan around your family and property. Request an estate planning consultation and let us know whether you already have a will and what you want to address.
Is LegalZoom Legit for Wills?
An online will may suit some straightforward situations. Blended families, business interests, beneficiaries with special needs, or unusual gifts can call for individualized advice.
To create an effective will, you need to take all possible life outcomes into consideration, including deaths, births, marriages, divorces, adoptions, and more.
LegalZoom’s current will offerings include plans with access to independent attorneys. Features and scope vary by plan; confirm the advice and document review included before purchasing.
For example, review what happens if a beneficiary dies first, who serves if your executor cannot act, and how gifts interact with beneficiary designations. Ask whether the selected plan addresses your specific circumstances.
Are LegalZoom Wills Valid?
A LegalZoom will can be valid, but there are many circumstances that can make a will invalid.
Common issues to check include unclear gifts, omitted contingencies, and improper signing. No document provider or attorney can guarantee that a will will never be challenged.
For a will to be valid, you can’t just fill out a form and put it in a drawer.
It’s important to comply with legal formalities required by the state, such as signing the will and having it appropriately witnessed. LegalZoom won’t complete these steps for you.
Questions about capacity or undue influence can arise with any will. Individual advice can help identify those concerns and document the circumstances of preparation and signing.
If an estate planning attorney prepared the will, they could attest to the testator’s mental capacity.
But if the testator’s daughter just printed out the will and had them sign it, questions about mental capacity or undue influence could plague the probate proceedings.
What to Check in Any Texas Will
Use the following topics as a review checklist for any will, including one prepared through LegalZoom. These are matters to verify in the selected document and service, not a claim that every online plan omits them.
1. Alternative Executors and Beneficiaries
When filling out a will, the testator must choose an executor to carry out their wishes. In most cases, this is a spouse, child, or other close relative.
However, if the primary executor dies or rejects their role, the probate court must appoint an administrator for the will.
Each state has its own laws designating who may serve as an administrator if the testator doesn’t have an alternative executor.
In addition, if a testator doesn’t name an alternative beneficiary in case the primary beneficiary cannot receive a gift, the probate court will distribute the gift according to state law.
2. Witnesses
For an ordinary written Texas will, review Estates Code Section 251.051: it requires the testator’s signature (or a qualifying signature on the testator’s behalf) and attestation by at least two credible witnesses aged 14 or older, signing in the testator’s presence, unless an exception applies.
Handwritten wills and self-proving affidavits have distinct rules. Follow the requirements for the document you actually use; notarization alone does not replace the witnesses required for an ordinary typed will.
Confirm the signing procedure before execution, and retain the original in a place your executor can locate.
3. Conditional Gifts
It isn’t uncommon for testators to leave a gift to a beneficiary with a request for them to meet certain criteria.
Conditions allow you to control when your beneficiary receives their gift and how your beneficiary uses it.
For example, if you want to leave your child a family heirloom, you can give it to them under the condition that they don’t sell it.
Discuss whether a proposed gift condition is enforceable and practical. Confirm that the document expresses the intended condition and provides a workable alternative.
4. Guardianship Nominations
A guardianship nomination is often overlooked in a will, especially if the testator expects their spouse to take care of their children.
However, this section helps identify a legal guardian for a minor child in case both parents die simultaneously.
When Individual Estate Planning Advice Helps
Before choosing a will service: compare attorney access, custom drafting, signing guidance, revisions, and treatment of assets that pass outside your will. Confirm the scope of the particular plan or engagement.
Compare a document service’s stated scope with an engagement for individualized legal advice. The amount of attorney involvement depends on the particular plan or engagement.
LegalZoom offers attorney-supported plans, so it would be inaccurate to say its users can never receive legal advice. Ask who advises you, what they review, and whether customized drafting and follow-up work are included.
If you want to create a will that minimizes the risk of legal disputes and carries out your wishes to the letter, hiring an estate planning attorney is your best bet.
At Massingill, our attorneys can help evaluate your family and assets, prepare appropriate documents, and explain execution and follow-up steps. No estate plan can anticipate every possible future event.
This includes identifying both primary and alternative beneficiaries, assigning legal guardians to a minor child, preparing detailed medical directives, and more.
Need Help Planning for the Future? Contact Our Top-Rated Estate Planning Lawyers At Massingill Today
Estate planning isn’t easy to do alone, especially if you have unique circumstances or don’t know where to start.
At Massingill, we know that your will is an important investment in your legacy. Our goal is to tailor your will to your precise wishes and protect your family from potential legal issues.
If you are ready to start the estate planning process or have questions about your existing will, call us at (512) 410-0343 or contact us online to schedule a consultation.
We proudly serve clients living in Cedar Park, Austin, and throughout the state of Texas.
Where You Can Find Our Austin, Texas Office
Joshua Massingill
Joshua Massingill is an attorney practicing in Austin, Texas. He serves on the Texas State Bar’s Law Practice Management Committee, the Leander Educational Excellence Foundation (LEEF) Board of Directors, and the Success-Werx Board of Advisors. He mentors young entrepreneurs in Leander ISD’s INCubatorEDU program and is active in his church.