After years of procrastination, I recently looked death in the face andmade a will.

I used a website calledWilling, after seeing it advertised on Groupon.

Thats right: I bought a will through Groupon.

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It took me 15 minutes to fill out.

Plus, the Groupon was $28.

What did I have to lose?

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But Willings service is completely automated, so theres no chance of getting lured into paying for add-ons.

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Those documents help them identify potential roadblocks for clients and likely challenges the software must avoid.

Why a low-cost automated system over a relationship with a local attorney?

Delgado said that for many people, access to affordable legal services is a nonstarter.

Building an online tool reduces barriers for people of any age who dont yet have a will.

In many cases, Were taking someone in who doesnt know anything, and empowering them, he said.

Making my will through Willing felt like filling out sophisticated Mad Libs.

Answer a question, choose a circumstance, fill in a name.

But before sealing the deal, I sat down with an estate lawyer.

When I arrived at her office, she had already marked up the copy I sent her.

It identified specific ways that my executor could act in the best interest of my estate.

But she circled a few items that gave her pause.

One was the way I would deliver my (limited) assets.

I had designated my retirement account to go to two family members.

How very nice of me.

Except Diamond said that a will doesnt override thebeneficiary, or beneficiaries, listed on the account itself.

Then, I told her those two beneficiaries that I listed are under the age of 18.

A minor cant inherit directly if its above a certain dollar amount, Diamond explained.

There has to be a trust provision and a guardian designated.

This part of our chat made me feel like an amateur.

But we pressed on.

Diamond said that I should get as specific as possible in my will.

For instance, I checked a box asking that my body be donated to science.

Thats not specific enough, Diamond said.

I selected that I would leave it to my family to decide what sort of funeral Id have.

Family usually means next of kin, Diamond explained, But you should name a person whenever available.

Michael Delgado, at Willing, said that a will typically isnt a binding document for final arrangements.

The options in the Willing software provide a fallback plan, in case you havent already communicated your wishes.

Luckily, my personal representative is a blood relative.

But what if I had chosen a friend who lives halfway across the country to settle my estate?

The data suggests that its not really an issue that people are going to run into, he said.

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So, did I spend my money wisely?

Everyone wants value, she said.

Those finer details could make settling your estate a potentially long and expensive process.

If you make a mistake, its a huge expense, she said.

But the companys legal research has determined the most important features to introduce to new will-makers, he explained.

She said the time she would spend reviewing the document would be more expensive than starting from scratch.

You have to know all the facts, and sometimes people dont know themselves, she said.

And a local attorney will know state and local law better than anyone.

you’re free to shop around, she said.

Lisa Rowan is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder.