We get it. LegalZoom is tempting. $89 for a will? $249 for a trust? It feels responsible and affordable. You're checking a box. You're doing the right thing.
Except here's the problem: what you're getting isn't a plan. It's a template. And the difference between a template and a plan is the difference between a map and a GPS. One shows you roads; the other actually gets you there.
What LegalZoom Can't Do
Let's be fair — LegalZoom and similar online services have made basic legal documents more accessible. That's genuinely positive. But for estate planning, “accessible” and “effective” aren't the same thing.
Online Templates
- Generic documents, not customized to Texas law
- No trust funding (the #1 reason trusts fail)
- No beneficiary designation review
- No Kids Protection Plan available
- No ongoing reviews or updates
- No human to answer your questions
- $200-300 upfront, $14K+ in probate when it fails
Legacy Dad Plan
- Custom-drafted for Texas law and your specific situation
- Trust funded — every asset inventoried and properly titled
- All beneficiary designations reviewed and aligned
- Kids Protection Plan with immediate guardian authority
- Regular reviews as your life changes (new baby, new home, etc.)
- A real attorney who knows your family — for life
- Flat fee with payment plans available — saves $10K+ vs probate
The Real Cost of “Cheap”
The average cost of probate in Texas ranges from $5,000 to $14,000+, not counting the emotional toll on your family. That's what happens when a $200 online will doesn't account for beneficiary designations, unfunded trusts, or Texas-specific requirements.
A proper estate plan isn't an expense — it's insurance against a much bigger expense. And unlike LegalZoom, it actually works when your family needs it.
The bottom line:
LegalZoom is fine for forming an LLC. It's not fine for protecting your children. The stakes are too high for a template.
Get a Real Plan. Not a Template.
Your free planning session shows you exactly what your family needs — and what it would cost if you don't act.
Book Free Planning Session