Will kits: Cheap, easy and sometimes useful-- Page 2

The asset inventory alone is worth the money because it forces you to locate and consider everything that will require attention after your death -- from the small insurance policy that the company has on your life, to your grandma's diamond, and the tiny retirement account from three jobs ago. If you're close to retirement, the projected values will certainly be useful.

On the downside, the kit isn't intuitive. You have to read the instructions -- sometimes more than once.

Quicken WillMaker Plus 2005, by Nolo. Available for Windows only. Software download, $39.99; software and book on estate planning, $62.49.

Simple and intuitive to use, this software is also remarkably complete, including forms for the most commonly utilized trusts, powers of attorney and other estate planning that you might want to do. The print-instruction book that comes with the basic software spells out the details clearly, and there's also telephone technical support available for the first year of ownership. If you feel in need of more hand-holding, buy the package that includes an estate-planning guide.

Nolo has been in the legal advice business for the last 30 years and makes sure its packages are up to date, encouraging you to download its updates at no additional charge. If you should move from one state to another, the software will assist you in making changes so that your estate plan is consistent with your new state's requirements.

On the negative side, the package doesn't include WillPower's very useful inventory software.

Suze Orman's Will and Trust Kit Available for PC and Mac. $13.50.

At this price, you can hardly go wrong. Plus, the software is easy to use with financial guru Suze Orman giving audio voice-over instructions that explain what you're doing and why you're doing it. For the kit to work properly, you must be connected to the Internet the whole time. The only drawback is the kit's simplicity. If you feel you need more than just basic solutions, you'd probably prefer either of the two aforementioned kits. But the software does include a living will and a health-care power of attorney -- two pieces of paper no one should be without.

BroderBund WillWriter Deluxe Available for PC only via disc or download. $29.95 -- although if you look, versions of this software are often available for as low as $1.95 on sale.

The installation of this software is clunky. Once we got the software to work, the forms were easy enough to fill out. Kennedy used this software himself and approved of its legal content. If you're not very computer savvy, stay away from this package. But if you feel confident in your computer skills, go for it.

There are also a couple of online solutions that allow you to build your will without paying upfront. Then if you're satisfied, you can pay and download it. "Try before you buy" is a good option if you aren't sure this whole do-it-yourself will-making stuff is for you.

BuildaWill works with just about any Internet browser, $19.95.

It doesn't get any easier than this. There are no living-trust or health-care power of attorney forms available -- just a simple way to leave your estate to friends and family and choose a guardian for your minor children. You click and, about half the time, the program fills in the forms for you. For an extra $9.95, you can update -- ahem -- at will. The obvious drawback is the absence of a health-care power of attorney and living-will forms, which came to the forefront in the Terri Schiavo case.

LegalZoom works with just about any Internet browser. Price differ: $39 for a living will with health-care power of attorney forms included, $59.99 for a simple will with an attorney review, and $299 for an AB trust for husband and wife.

Each piece is priced separately. Add them together and this isn't necessarily any cheaper than finding a local attorney who will do the same job. On the other hand, if you don't have an attorney, or for some reason getting to an attorney's office isn't easy, this is a good solution. The attorneys, whose bios are published on the site, appear to be qualified, and the prices are reasonable compared to a big-city lawyer's. Going through the steps to create whatever you want is simple, fast and intuitive.