AI tools can now draft an email, plan a vacation, and summarize a long article in seconds. So it’s no surprise that some people are asking a chatbot to write their will or trust. It seems fast, free, and easy. Unfortunately, when it comes to your estate plan, “fast and free” can become very expensive for the people you love.
AI can be a helpful starting point. It can explain what a trust is, define terms like “executor” or “beneficiary,” and help you organize questions before you meet with an attorney. But here’s why I strongly advise against letting AI draft the documents themselves.
AI doesn’t know what it doesn’t know. Chatbots produce confident, polished language -- even when that language is wrong. AI tools sometimes invent rules, mix up laws from different states, or leave out key provisions. A document that looks professional can still fail to do what you intended, and, critically, you won’t find out until it’s too late to fix.
Small technical mistakes can invalidate your plan. Each state sets its own requirements for signing a valid will, such as how many witnesses must sign, who can serve as a witness, and whether you need a notary. AI can’t supervise your signing ceremony or confirm you followed every step. If a court finds your will invalid, state law -- not you -- decides who inherits your assets.
AI can’t ask the right questions. A good estate plan starts with a conversation. When I meet with clients, I ask about blended families, children with special needs, a business they own, a beneficiary who struggles with money, or property in another state. These details shape the entire plan. A chatbot only answers the questions you think to ask -- and most people don’t know which questions matter.
Your plan has to work with everything else. Your will or trust controls only some of your assets. Retirement accounts, life insurance, and jointly owned property often pass outside of these documents. If you create a trust but never transfer your assets into it, the trust may sit empty and your family may end up in probate anyway. AI can draft a document, but it can’t review your whole financial picture to make sure all the pieces fit together.
Consider this example: Linda uses a free AI tool to create a will leaving everything equally to her three children. She doesn’t realize that her house is titled jointly with her oldest son, or that she named only her daughter as beneficiary of her retirement account years ago. When Linda dies, her house goes entirely to her son and her retirement account goes entirely to her daughter -- leaving her youngest child with far less than she intended. Her “equal” plan wasn’t equal at all.
There’s no one to call when questions come up. When your executor or trustee needs guidance, or when a family member challenges your plan, a chatbot can’t step in to explain your wishes or defend your documents.
Your estate plan protects the people and things that matter most to you. It deserves careful, personal attention. If you’ve been thinking about creating or updating your estate plan, contact our office to schedule a consultation. We’ll take the time to understand your goals and build a plan that works for you and your family.