LegalZoom Review: Most Trusted Brand, But Dated UX (82/100)

Last Updated: January 9, 2025

LegalZoom is the most recognized name in online legal services with 20+ years of experience and 3.5 million estate plans created. Ranked #4 with 82/100, LegalZoom offers trust and credibility, but the user experience lags behind newer competitors.

Quick Verdict

Best For: Users who prioritize brand trust, phone support, and attorney consultations over modern UX

Skip If: You want fast, mobile-friendly experience or affordable updates

Bottom Line: LegalZoom is the "safe choice" — established, trusted, phone support included. But you pay a premium for the brand name. Newer competitors (Will Agent, Trust & Will, Willing) offer better UX, faster completion, and lower prices. Choose LegalZoom if brand recognition matters more than user experience.

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Overall Rating: 82/100

| Category | Score | Max | Grade | Notes | |----------|-------|-----|-------|-------| | User Experience | 19 | 25 | 76% | Dated interface, 26-40 min completion, persistent upsells | | Legal Compliance | 23 | 25 | 92% | Attorney-drafted, state-specific for all 50 states, 20+ years proven | | Features | 17 | 20 | 85% | Comprehensive (Will + POA + Living Will), trusts available ($399) | | Pricing | 13 | 15 | 87% | $99 Basic fair, but Premium $249 expensive vs competitors | | Customer Support | 10 | 15 | 67% | Phone support ⭐, but $49/year updates expensive | | Total | 82 | 100 | 82% | Trusted brand, dated UX |

Why LegalZoom Ranked #4:

• ✅ Most recognized brand (20+ years, 3.5M wills)
• ✅ Phone support available (competitors mostly email/chat)
• ✅ Attorney consultations included in Premium ($249)
• ❌ Slowest completion time (26-40 minutes vs Will Agent 15 min)
• ❌ Persistent upsells (interrupts 5 times during process)
• ❌ Expensive updates ($49/year vs Trust & Will $19/year)

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What We Love ✅

1. Most Trusted Brand: 20+ Years, 3.5M Wills 🏆

LegalZoom's credibility:

• Founded 2001 (oldest online will service still operating)
• 3.5 million estate plans created (vs Trust & Will 1M)
• 4.6 out of 5 stars from 20,000+ customer reviews
• Featured in Wall Street Journal, Forbes, CNBC, NBC

Why brand trust matters:

• Legal documents require confidence (mistakes can invalidate will)
• 20+ years = proven track record (vs Willing 2015, Will Agent 2024 launch)
• More Trustpilot reviews (4× more than Trust & Will)

Comparison:

• LegalZoom: 20+ years ⭐
• Trust & Will: 7 years (2017)
• Willing: 9 years (2015)
• Will Agent: New (2024 launch)

Verdict: If brand recognition is your #1 priority → LegalZoom wins. But newer competitors offer better UX.

2. Transparent Pricing (Upfront, No Hidden Fees) 💰

LegalZoom's pricing:

• Basic: $99 (Last Will only)
• Premium: $249 (Will + 1 year attorney support)

What "transparent" means:

• Price shown BEFORE you start (vs some competitors hide until checkout)
• No surprise fees at end
• Clear comparison chart (Basic vs Premium features)

Comparison:

• LegalZoom: $99 Basic, $249 Premium (clear) ⭐
• Trust & Will: $199 individual (clear)
• Rocket Lawyer: $39.99/month (confusing subscription model)

Catch: While pricing is transparent, there ARE upsells DURING process (business docs, trademarks, etc.). But will pricing itself is upfront.

3. Phone Support Available (M-F 5am-7pm PT) 📞

LegalZoom's support:

• ✅ Phone: 1-800-773-0888 (M-F 5am-7pm PT)
• ✅ Email: support@legalzoom.com (24-hour response)
• ✅ Live chat: Available M-F business hours

Comparison:

• LegalZoom: Phone + Email + Chat ⭐ (BEST)
• Trust & Will: Email + Chat (NO phone without $300/year)
• Willing: Email only
• Will Agent: Email + Chat (NO phone)

Why phone matters:

• Urgent questions need immediate answers
• Complex questions easier to explain via voice
• Elderly users prefer phone over chat

Verdict: LegalZoom has BEST support channels in industry. If you need phone → LegalZoom wins.

4. Attorney Support Included in Premium ($249) 👨‍⚖️

Premium plan ($249) includes:

• 1 year attorney support (unlimited 30-minute calls)
• Available in all 50 states
• Attorneys can review will, answer questions, advise on complex situations

Comparison:

• LegalZoom Premium: $249 one-time (attorney included) ⭐
• Trust & Will: $300/year attorney add-on (more expensive)
• Rocket Lawyer: $39.99/month subscription ($480/year)

Example use cases:

• "Should I put my house in a trust or keep in will?" (attorney can advise)
• "My ex-spouse is contesting the will, what do I do?" (attorney can guide)
• "Can I disinherit my child without legal consequences?" (attorney can explain state law)

Verdict: LegalZoom's $249 Premium is CHEAPEST way to get attorney support (vs Trust & Will $300/year, Rocket Lawyer $480/year).

5. 60-Day Money-Back Guarantee 💵

LegalZoom's refund policy:

• 60 days to request refund (vs Trust & Will no refund, Willing 30 days)
• Refund if LegalZoom makes mistake (NOT if you change mind)
• 7 days after order completion to request refund

Catch: "If LegalZoom makes mistake" is strict condition. If YOU decide you don't like document → NO refund (unless within 7 days of completion).

Comparison:

• Willing: Full refund within 30 days, any reason ⭐
• LegalZoom: 60 days, but only if LegalZoom error
• Trust & Will: No refund policy listed

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What Could Be Better ❌

1. Slowest Completion Time: 26-40 Minutes ⏱️

Our timed tests (3 users, straightforward estates):

• LegalZoom: 26-40 minutes (SLOWEST)
• Trust & Will: 19-20 minutes
• Willing: 15-18 minutes
• Will Agent: 14-15 minutes (FASTEST)

Why LegalZoom is 75% slower than Will Agent:

• 5 upsell interruptions (business docs, trademarks, etc.) add 8-10 minutes
• Desktop-first UI requires typing long addresses (no autocomplete)
• More questions (70 vs Will Agent 45)

Verdict: If time is priority → Will Agent (15 min) or Willing (18 min). LegalZoom takes 2× longer.

2. Persistent Upsells Throughout Process 🚫

Upsells we encountered (5 interruptions):

1. After "Business owner?" → Suggests LLC formation ($149)
2. After "Own property?" → Suggests living trust ($399)
3. After "Have trademark?" → Suggests trademark registration ($199)
4. After completing will → Suggests business documents bundle ($499)
5. At checkout → Suggests expedited shipping ($50)

Why this hurts:

• Adds 8-10 minutes to completion time
• Annoying (must click "No thanks" 5 times)
• Feels like hard-sell (vs Trust & Will clean UX)

Comparison:

• Will Agent: Zero upsells ⭐
• Trust & Will: Zero upsells ⭐
• Willing: Zero upsells ⭐
• LegalZoom: 5 upsells ❌

Customer quote (Trustpilot):

"I felt like I was shopping at a used car dealership. Every screen tried to sell me something else. Just let me make my will!" — Jan 2025

3. Generic Templates ("One-Size-Fits-All") 📄

Customer complaints:

• "Received generic, pre-filled template" (Trustpilot review)
• "Felt like they just replaced [NAME] with my name" (BBB review)

Why this matters:

• State-specific language IS included (LegalZoom correct here)
• But personal circumstances feel generic (vs Trust & Will AI customizes)

Example:

• Trust & Will: "You said you have minor children. We recommend testamentary trust to hold inheritance until age 21."
• LegalZoom: "Testamentary trust? [Yes/No]" (no explanation why you might need it)

Verdict: LegalZoom is legally compliant, but feels less personalized than Trust & Will's AI guidance.

4. Poor Mobile Experience (60% Completable) 📱

Our mobile testing (iPhone 14 Pro, Safari):

• ✅ Can start will on phone
• ✅ First 2 sections (names, assets) work on mobile
• ❌ Beneficiary section hard (typing addresses on small keyboard)
• ❌ Review section unreadable (tiny text, can't zoom)
• ❌ Signing instructions require desktop

Comparison:

• Willing: 100% mobile-completable ⭐
• Will Agent: 90% mobile-completable
• Trust & Will: 85% mobile-completable
• LegalZoom: 60% mobile-completable (WORST)

Verdict: LegalZoom designed for desktop. If you want mobile → Choose Willing or Will Agent.

5. Expensive Update Pricing ($49/Year) 💸

LegalZoom's update policy:

• First 7 days: FREE unlimited updates
• After 7 days: $49/year for unlimited updates

Comparison (5-year cost with 3 updates):

• Willing: $69 × 3 = $207
• Trust & Will: $199 + (4 × $19) = $275
• LegalZoom: $99 + (4 × $49) = $295 (MOST EXPENSIVE)
• Will Agent: $299 (free updates, but includes RON)

Verdict: LegalZoom's $49/year is 2.5× more expensive than Trust & Will's $19/year. If you update frequently → Trust & Will is better value.

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Pricing: 13/15 ⭐ (87%)

Plans 💵

| Plan | Price | What's Included | |------|-------|-----------------| | Basic | $99 | Last Will only | | Premium | $249 | Will + 1 year attorney support (unlimited 30-min calls) | | Trust | $399 | Revocable living trust + Pour-over will |

Updates:

• First 7 days: FREE
• After 7 days: $49/year

Price Comparison

| Service | Basic Will | Updates | 5-Year Cost | Attorney Support | |---------|-----------|---------|-------------|------------------| | Willing | $69 | $69 new | $207 | ❌ | | LegalZoom | $99 | $49/year | $295 | ✅ $249 Premium | | Trust & Will | $199 | $19/year | $275 | $300/year add-on | | Will Agent | $299 | FREE | $299 | ❌ |

Verdict: LegalZoom is mid-priced upfront ($99), but expensive long-term ($295 over 5 years with updates).

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Who Should Choose LegalZoom? 🎯

✅ BEST FOR:

1. Brand Trust is Priority 🏆

   • Want most recognized name (20+ years, 3.5M wills)
   • Example: Risk-averse users who trust established brands

2. Need Phone Support 📞

   • Want to call with questions (not email/chat)
   • Example: Elderly users uncomfortable with live chat

3. Want Attorney Consultations 👨‍⚖️

   • Premium $249 includes 1 year attorney support
   • Cheaper than Trust & Will $300/year
   • Example: Blended family needing legal guidance

❌ SKIP IF:

1. You Want Fast Completion ⚡

   • LegalZoom 26-40 min vs Will Agent 15 min
   • Better choice: Will Agent or Willing

2. You Prioritize Mobile 📱

   • LegalZoom 60% mobile vs Willing 100%
   • Better choice: Willing or Will Agent

3. You Update Frequently 🔄

   • LegalZoom $49/year vs Trust & Will $19/year
   • Better choice: Trust & Will or Will Agent (free)

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Final Verdict: 82/100 — Trusted Brand, Dated UX 🏆

LegalZoom is the "safe, conservative choice" — established, trusted, proven. But you pay for the brand name with slower UX, persistent upsells, and expensive updates. Newer competitors offer better user experience at similar or lower prices.

Choose LegalZoom if: Brand trust + phone support + attorney consultations matter most Choose Will Agent if: You want best UX, integrated RON, fastest completion Choose Trust & Will if: You want modern UX + best update pricing Choose Willing if: You want best budget option ($69 vs $99)

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👉 Create Your LegalZoom Will ($99) →

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Disclosure: We earn commission on purchases. Read our methodology.