Make a Free California Will Online — No Account, No Payment
Answer plain-English questions with William AI and download four ready-to-sign California documents. Sign your will with two witnesses — no notary needed (Probate Code §6110).
For California residents only. FreeWillUSA is a self-help tool — not a law firm — and does not provide legal advice.
What a California will usually costs
Prices below are typical published ranges — attorney fees vary widely by region and complexity.
Estate-planning attorney
Often $2,000–$6,000
- Personalized legal advice
- Best for complex estates, blended families, tax planning
- Weeks of scheduling and drafting
Paid online services
Roughly $89–$649
- Wills from about $89–$199; living trusts about $399–$649
- Account required; upsells and recurring fees are common
- Software-only unless you pay for attorney review
FreeWillUSA
$0 — free
- All four core California documents
- No account, no payment, no upsells
- AI-guided in plain English, about 20 minutes
How your will becomes legally valid
FreeWillUSA prepares the documents; California law makes them real. For a typed will, Probate Code §6110 requires your signature plus two adult witnesses who are present at the same time when you sign or acknowledge the will — then they sign too. No notary is required for the will itself. Before you download, we walk you through a short review-and-consent step so you confirm your answers and understand what you're signing.
An honest note: FreeWillUSA is in free beta. The documents follow California statutory requirements, but you should read every page before signing — and for a large or complex estate, have a licensed attorney review your plan.
Want to compare your options first? Read the step-by-step California will guide or see how we compare to the state's own free form in California statutory will (§6240): the free form and its limits. Curious what happens if you do nothing? Dying without a will in California explains intestate succession.
Frequently asked questions
Is a will made online legally valid in California?
Yes, if it is executed correctly. Under California Probate Code Section 6110, a typed will is valid when you sign it and two adults — present at the same time — witness your signing (or your acknowledgment of the signature) and then sign as witnesses. No notary is required for a California will. FreeWillUSA generates the document; you print and sign it with two witnesses to make it legally effective.
Is FreeWillUSA really free? What's the catch?
It is free — no account, no payment, no upsells, and we don't sell your data. FreeWillUSA is currently in a free beta, which means we're actively improving it and asking users to review documents carefully before signing. Optional donations keep it running.
What documents do I get?
Four core California estate-planning documents: a Last Will & Testament, a Revocable Living Trust, a Durable Power of Attorney, and an Advance Healthcare Directive — each generated from your answers and ready to download as PDFs.
Do I need a lawyer to make a will in California?
No. California law does not require a lawyer to make a valid will. Self-help options include the free statutory will form in Probate Code Section 6240, handwritten (holographic) wills, and document tools like FreeWillUSA. That said, for large or complex estates, blended families, tax planning, or special-needs beneficiaries, a licensed California attorney is the right choice — and FreeWillUSA is a self-help tool, not a law firm, so it cannot give legal advice.
Can I use FreeWillUSA if I live outside California?
Not yet. FreeWillUSA currently supports California residents only. Estate-planning rules differ by state, so we'd rather be right for one state than vague for fifty.
FreeWillUSA.ai is a free self-help tool and is not a law firm. This page is general information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. This page addresses California; rules can change and other states differ. For a large or complex estate, consult a licensed California attorney before acting.