Estate planning, both domestically and globally, is facing a crisis of access and efficiency. Trillions of dollars are set to transfer in the coming years, but without clear, affordable solutions, a significant portion of this wealth will be mismanaged or lost. Wills.com is addressing this problem with a comprehensive, secure, and automated platform that makes estate planning accessible to everyone, regardless of their location or financial status.

Introduction

The landscape of estate planning is undergoing a dramatic shift, driven by demographic changes, increasing global interconnectedness, and the rapid evolution of technology. As we look toward 2025-2030, the need for accessible, efficient, and secure estate planning solutions will be more crucial than ever.

This case study will explore the challenges in both the domestic (US) and global estate planning markets, and will then highlight how Wills.com is uniquely positioned to address these needs with our user friendly platform. We will also reference the article “Estate Planning Guide” by Rachel Lustbader and Victoria Lurie, which highlights the importance of estate planning, the challenges that people face, and how to take the first steps towards creating a plan.

"At Wills.com, we believe that everyone deserves the peace of mind that comes with having a clear and secure estate plan. We're not just building a platform; we're building a movement to empower individuals and families around the world to take control of their legacies, regardless of their location or financial status." - Vincent, CEO of Wills.com."

The Problem: A Looming Crisis in Estate Planning

The Domestic Landscape

• Lack of Preparation: As highlighted by Caring.com’s 2024 Wills and Estate Planning Study, only 32% of U.S. adults have estate planning documents like a will or living trust. This shows a vast majority of people are unprepared for the inevitable, which can lead to significant complications and stress for their loved ones. This lack of preparation is a ticking time bomb that will cause major problems for loved ones in the near future, and for those who wish to make sure their wishes are carried out. The study found that only 43% of the age 55+ demographic had a will (Caring.com's 2024 study).
• Complexity and Cost: Traditional estate planning methods, such as hiring a lawyer, are often perceived as complex, time-consuming, and expensive. The article by Rachel Lustbader and Victoria Lurie notes that "if there are significant assets or a complicated plan for dividing your property, you can pay an attorney to draft your will instead. Expect to pay several thousand dollars in total for attorney services." This cost barrier prevents many people from creating a will, even if they understand the need for one.
• Outdated Systems: The current system for estate planning is often bureaucratic, relying on paper documents and time-consuming processes that are ill-suited to the digital age. This creates unnecessary hurdles and delays, making it more difficult for people to access the services they need.
• The Challenge of Digital Assets: Traditional estate plans often fail to address the growing number of digital assets, such as social media accounts, online subscriptions, and cryptocurrency wallets. This creates a major problem for many families who are left trying to figure out how to manage these assets after someone has passed away.

The Global Landscape

• Cross-Border Complications: Estate planning becomes even more complex when dealing with assets and beneficiaries in different countries. Varying legal systems, language barriers, and cultural differences can make it challenging to create a comprehensive estate plan that is valid across multiple jurisdictions.
• Lack of Accessibility: Many people around the world lack access to reliable and affordable estate planning services, leaving them vulnerable to legal complications and the potential loss of their assets.
• Varying Legal Standards: Different countries have different laws and regulations related to wills, trusts, and estate administration. It’s essential to be aware of these differences to ensure that your estate plan is legally sound, wherever you are in the world.
• Growing Global Wealth: As global wealth continues to grow, the need for secure, accessible and reliable estate planning will become even more crucial, especially for families with loved ones in multiple countries.

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The Solution: Wills.com – A Modern Approach to Estate Planning

Wills.com is designed to address these challenges by providing a comprehensive, secure, and automated platform that makes estate planning accessible to everyone, regardless of their location or financial situation. We are committed to providing a solution that is both easy to use and effective, and we are working to make sure that our users have all the support they need.

Key Features and How They Solve the Problem:

• State-Specific Legal Documents: Our platform provides access to state-specific legal documents, including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and other essential estate planning documents. This ensures that your documents are legally sound and compliant with all local requirements.
• Secure Digital Storage (Vaultly™): We provide secure and encrypted storage for all your estate planning documents, videos, and other important files, using advanced encryption and blockchain technology. This allows you to have peace of mind, knowing that your documents are protected and easily accessible by your chosen executor when they are needed.
• Remote Online Notarization (RON): Our integrated RON services allow you to notarize your documents from anywhere in the world, without the need to travel to a physical notary. This is especially important for individuals who live or travel outside of the United States.
• Automated Delivery via Mobile App: The Wills app provides you with the ability to set automated delivery protocols that will be triggered by your inactivity timer. This ensures that your chosen executor or beneficiaries will receive all the necessary documents, instructions, and video messages in a timely manner, and without unnecessary delays.
• Digital Legacy Management: Our Media Migrate™ tool allows you to document your digital assets, including online accounts, subscriptions, and digital wallets. You can also leave instructions on how you want these assets to be managed after your passing, ensuring that nothing is forgotten or lost, and that your online presence will be managed according to your wishes.
• Wills Treasury™ for secure digital fund transfer: We provide you with a secure digital wallet that can be used to safeguard funds for your loved ones, and also allows you to set clear and specific rules for how and when those funds should be distributed after your death.
• Charity, Enterprise, and Affiliate Business Accounts: Our platform offers unique business accounts that allow charities, enterprise businesses, and affiliate partners to onboard users and offer our services to their supporters, their customers, and their networks. This helps us to expand our reach and make our platform available to as many people as possible.

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Addressing the Global Market

• Global Accessibility: Our platform is designed to be accessible to individuals around the world, regardless of their location, language, or legal system.
• Country Specific Guides: We provide country specific guides that help individuals to understand the estate planning laws and guidelines in all countries worldwide.
• Multilingual Support: We are committed to providing multilingual support to ensure that our platform can be used by everyone, regardless of their native language.
• Global Reach: By combining our technology with our commitment to accessibility, we are striving to create a global estate planning solution that will empower individuals and families in all countries.

Emphasizing Automation and Security

• Trustless Trustee Model: The Wills app functions as a "trustless trustee," ensuring your wishes are carried out with precision using automated systems that do not require human intervention, therefore eliminating any bias.
• Blockchain Integration: We use blockchain technology to provide a secure and immutable record of all documents and transactions, ensuring that your information is safe from tampering and fraud, and is also easily verifiable by all those who are involved.
• Automated Processes: We automate many of the complex tasks associated with estate planning, freeing up your time and energy so you can focus on the things that matter most.

Caring.com Article and its Sources

• Need for Planning: The Caring.com article by Rachel Lustbader and Victoria Lurie emphasizes the significant percentage of Americans who are unprepared for the inevitable, with only 32% having estate planning documents, which further validates the need for Wills.com and its focus on making estate planning accessible to everyone.
• Importance of Key Documents: The article correctly highlights the importance of wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and advance healthcare directives, all of which are available on the Wills.com platform.
• DIY vs. Professional Assistance: The Caring.com article also highlights that “you can create your own will, use an online estate planning service, or hire an attorney to handle more complex estates.” We believe that Wills.com provides the perfect balance between affordability and reliability, and makes estate planning accessible to everyone, regardless of their situation.
• The Importance of Understanding Legal Requirements: The article stresses the need to research and understand the legal requirements in each and every state, which is something that Wills.com also does, and it uses this information to generate state specific documents.

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The Future: Wills.com

Wills.com is committed to being at the forefront of the movement towards accessible, affordable, and automated estate planning. We are always working to improve our platform, expand our reach, and empower individuals and families around the world to take control of their legacies.

Global Expansion

We are working to make our platform available in more countries, and to support more languages and currencies. We believe that everyone should have access to reliable and affordable estate planning, and we are committed to making that a reality.

New Product Development

We are always working to create new and innovative products that meet the changing needs of our users, and that offer them even greater control over their legacies. Our new products will include enhanced AI integration, more comprehensive planning tools, and a greater ability to manage complex estates.

Strategic Partnerships

We are always seeking out new strategic partnerships that will allow us to expand our reach and provide even more value to our users. We are committed to working with organizations that share our values and our commitment to making estate planning accessible to everyone.

Conclusion: Empowering Everyone to Protect Their Legacy

Wills.com is more than just a platform for creating legal documents. We are a movement towards empowering individuals and families to take control of their futures, and create a legacy that will last for generations to come. We believe that everyone deserves the peace of mind that comes with having a clear and secure estate plan, and we are committed to making that possible. By combining technology with accessibility, and a clear understanding of the needs of our customers, we are creating a future where everyone can leave a legacy that reflects their values, their wishes, and their unique life experiences.

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