The Nightmare of DIY Plans

We all love a good shortcut, right? There is always an “easier” way out there that promises to solve our problems. DIY estate planning falls into that category of shortcuts that overpromise and under-delivers.

Take Michael for example, he completed an DIY online will and felt relieved that he had done his part to protect his children. However when he passed away, he children discovered that the court would not accept it because it did not coincide with the laws in the state he passed in. They then had to spend over a year putting his assets through probate court and owed 15,000 dollars in attorney fees. 

This story is a common one. 

Although there are many reasons why DIY estate plans are not fail-proof, here’s what really goes wrong with do-it-yourself estate planning:

They Often Don’t Meet State Law Requirements

DIY templates are often a “one-size-fits-all,” approach, but estate planning laws are very state-specific.

What’s valid in California may not hold up in Tennessee. A generic online form doesn’t account for those key differences. Something as simple as the wrong number of witnesses or a missing notarization can invalidate an entire plan.

What happens then is that the court will treat your estate as if you never had a will at all. 

They Can Create False Security

Filling out an online form can feel like crossing estate planning off your to-do list. You think your family is protected, and you stop worrying about it.

But too often, those documents don’t say what you think they say, don’t cover unexpected situations, or simply aren’t legally enforceable. Families usually discover these flaws when a loved one has passed away, which is when it is too late to fix them.

They Don’t Cover the Full Picture

Most DIY wills focus only on “who gets what.” But estate planning is much bigger than dividing property. 

What if you’re alive but unable to make decisions for yourself? Who pays the bills? Who makes healthcare choices? A complete estate plan should include powers of attorney, living wills, and other tools to make sure your wishes are carried out. DIY templates rarely address those gaps.

They May Lead to Probate Problems

Probate courts see DIY wills all the time, and they’re often written with vague or incomplete language. That means your family may spend months (or years) trying to interpret what you “meant.”

What could have been a smooth transfer turns into a lengthy, expensive mess.

They Can Cost More in the Long Run

The number one reason people choose DIY is to save money. But here’s the irony: fixing the mistakes of a bad estate plan almost always costs far more than creating a good one in the first place.

Court battles, attorney fees, and family disputes eat into the estate, leaving your loved ones with less than they should have received.

Saving the money turns into an illusion in the long run.

The Bottom Line

DIY estate planning looks like a shortcut, but it’s really a detour into risk, conflict, and unnecessary expense. 

Meeting with a licensed estate planning attorney to create a complete estate plan is the best form of security for your family at a fraction of the cost of probate. And it can be simple! At Linville Estate Law it starts with a quick free phone call, which you can schedule here. 

Don’t take a chance with this, give your family the gift of security.