Making a will, trusts, or other estate documents requires collecting all the necessary information from clients. For many attorneys, the process can feel repetitive and time-consuming, especially since there are certain legal formalities that also need to be followed in order to make the will valid. All this leads to a backlog of wills that are accumulated over time, since there are only so many hours in a day to draft wills correctly.
This is where estate planning software comes in. These platforms automate much of the document creation process, turning intricate legal drafting into a structured, guided workflow with automated checks and document assembly. With features such as customizable data entry forms and pre-built templates, lawyers can create complete estate plans in a fraction of the time it once took.
In this guide, we’re going to walk you through everything an estate planning software offers, and how it can help streamline document preparation, reduce administrative overhead, and improve practice efficiency.
An estate planning software is a specialized digital tool designed to help attorneys, law firms, and estate planners manage the creation of wills, trusts, and other related documents. Essentially, it streamlines the data collection process by using guided questionnaires or intake forms that collect client data once and then populate multiple forms or templates. Attorneys and planners can then use this data to generate wills and trusts that are legally compliant.
Hence, these types of software not only minimize repetitive work but also reduce the chances of human error. They also serve as a way to standardize the process—instead of relying on exhausting manual systems, attorneys now have a clear-cut process that makes it easier to review and finalize legal documents.
Most systems also work with case management, e-signature, and document storage tools, so firms of any size, from a single lawyer to a large practice, can keep an organized, efficient, and legally correct workflow.
Core Functionalities Of An Estate Planning Software
While no two estate planning software programs are exactly the same, they do share a lot of features in common. Some of these features are:
Single Entry System
These software platforms offer a way to enter client data once and have it populated across all the necessary documents, such as wills, trusts, Powers of Attorney (POAs), and Medicaid applications.
Document Generation
To accelerate drafting and reduce administrative time, estate planning software can generate legal documents such as wills and trusts. These documents are drawn up as per current legal standards, reducing any chances of non-compliance.
Legal Document Templates
In addition to generating documents, estate planning software provides ready-to-use templates for a variety of documents, such as wills. These templates are often also customizable, allowing lawyers to draft them according to their clients’ needs.
Medicaid And Asset Protection Tools
Often, estate planning can overlap with elder law. That’s why many estate planning software programs also offer tools for calculating Medicaid eligibility and asset transfer modeling.
Cloud-Based Access And Security
Estate planning software often utilize cloud databases so that firms can access their data anywhere, anytime. This data is also encrypted, meaning that all client details are confidential and secure.
Having estate planning software can lead to numerous benefits, such as:
Help Save Time In Document Preparation
Modern estate planning tools allow attorneys to input client information once and generate multiple documents with that data. This eliminates redundant data entry and enables much faster drafting of wills, trusts, and POAs
Minimize Human Errors While Staying Legally Compliant
Automated templates and clause libraries ensure that every document adheres to the most current state and federal estate laws. By standardizing terminology and structure, the system minimizes drafting errors and helps attorneys maintain ongoing compliance with jurisdictional requirements and formatting standards.
Streamline File Management And Organization
These tools help firms manage client files, assets, deadlines, document versions, and reminders in one place. On top of this, these files are all encrypted and stored online, meaning that tracking and sharing these documents is easier than before.
Capability To Handle More Clients
Since estate planning software platforms automate most of the drafting process, they allow legal firms and attorneys to handle more legal documents than they could have on their own. This also allows firms to take up more clients and scale their services.
Deliver A More Professional Client Experience
With the right system, attorneys can easily communicate with clients and provide a faster service, leading to an overall better client experience. This essentially enhances client experience by increasing the likelihood of repeat business and referrals for the firm.
While the right estate planning software varies depending on your firm’s size, structure, and operational needs, there are a few steps attorneys can follow to make a well-informed decision. These steps are as follows:
Step 1: Assess Your Current Workflow
The first step involves reviewing how your firm currently handles estate planning matters. Are you still drafting documents manually? How are client records and updates managed? Understanding your existing process will reveal where inefficiencies lie and highlight the specific areas where software can make the biggest difference.
Step 2: Identify The Features That Matter Most
Next, determine which features will have the most impact on your firm’s operations. Do you need automation tools to speed up document drafting? Or are customizable templates and detailed reporting capabilities more important? Confirm that the system supports jurisdiction-specific legal updates and integrates smoothly with existing tools, such as accounting, billing, and document management platforms. The software should also be intuitive and flexible enough for both senior partners and administrative staff.
Step 3: Shortlist Potential Vendors
Once you have a clear picture of your must-have features, start listing software that meets your criteria. Focus on solutions known for ease of use, system reliability, and data security—ensuring they adhere to standards such as SOC 2, HIPAA, or ISO 27001. It’s also worth looking at whether each vendor offers integrations with your current tools or supports multi-user collaboration for larger teams.
Step 4: Compare And Evaluate
After shortlisting, take time to compare pricing, automation capabilities, and reporting functions. Finally, also try considering scalability. A platform that fits your needs now should also be capable of supporting your firm as it grows and takes on more complex estate planning cases.
The 2024 Legal Technology Survey Report conducted by the American Bar Association (ABA) has highlighted that around 73% of firms utilize cloud-based legal tools. This report has also stated that both practice management and document management software are seeing the highest adoption rates. The implication here is that firms are now more ready to adapt cloud-based drafting tools, such as estate planning software.
A survey by Smokeball has also shown that business, estate planning, and family law firms spend more time in software, with about 3 in 10 spending 75% or more of their time using tech. This not only highlights how prevalent software has become in estate planning, but also implies that estate planning attorneys are frequent users of software in the legal profession.
What Do Real Users Have To Say About Estate Planning Software For Attorneys?
The general consensus on forums like Reddit is that estate-planning software are appreciated for their efficiency, template reuse, editing flexibility and for helping younger/smaller firms scale. However, some users caution that these software don’t eliminate all manual work; state-specific customization, document quality, and review all remain critical factors that must be handled manually.
As software becomes more and more entrenched within the legal system, having legal software has become more of a necessity, rather than a nice-to-have. That’s why having estate planning software is crucial for legal firms and attorneys alike—it makes the process of drafting wills and trusts more manageable. As a result of this, legal teams can get through their backlog far more easily and free up time for more pressing matters.