5 Places That Offer Free Estate Planning for Veterans

Estate planning helps manage and distribute assets, especially for veterans who have unique benefits like pensions, VA benefits and healthcare coverage to consider. Veterans can access free estate planning services, including wills, through various organizations, so they don’t have to handle this process alone or pay for professional assistance.

If you need help with your estate or retirement plan, speak with a fiduciary financial advisor to see how they can potentially help.

The Importance of Estate Planning for Veterans

For veterans, estate planning goes beyond the standard considerations of assets and beneficiaries. Veterans often have unique benefits not available to people who haven’t served. These include military pensions, VA healthcare, disability benefits and insurance programs, all of which need to be accounted for in their estate plan. Without a proper estate plan, veterans risk leaving behind a complicated financial situation for their loved ones that may lead to beneficiaries failing to make best use of available veteran-specific benefits.

An estate plan allows veterans to specify how their assets, including specialized benefits, will be distributed. This helps family members and beneficiaries receive pensions, disability benefits and healthcare entitlements. It also covers long-term care and burial benefits available to veterans through the VA.

Estate planning for veterans can help minimize the tax burden on their heirs by accounting for military pensions and retirement plans, which may be subject to state and federal taxes.

Veterans should use available resources to create an estate plan, especially if cost is a concern. Several organizations offer free estate planning services for veterans, helping them set up the tools needed to carry out their wishes.

5 Places That Offer Free Estate Planning for Veterans

Several organizations and programs are dedicated to providing veterans with access to free estate planning services. Here are five common ones to consider:

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): The VA provides various forms of support for veterans, including access to free legal services in some cases. While the VA doesn’t directly offer estate planning, they partner with other organizations to help many veterans create wills, advance directives and other legal documents. Veterans can inquire through their local VA office to find out what resources are available to them.
American Bar Association Military and Veterans Legal Center: Serves as a central hub for legal programs and resources related to servicemembers and veterans. While it does not directly provide legal services, it helps connect veterans with pro bono programs, legal aid organizations and attorneys who can assist with documents like wills and powers of attorney.
National Veterans Legal Services Program (NVLSP): NVLSP provides free legal assistance to veterans and their families, primarily focused on helping them secure the benefits they are entitled to. While estate planning is not its main focus, it can support broader legal needs tied to those benefits.
Veterans Justice Project NYC: The Veterans Justice Project NYC, part of Legal Services NYC, provides free legal services to veterans, including assistance with wills and other estate planning needs. This organization helps veterans navigate complex legal issues, including planning for their financial future and ensuring their benefits are properly transferred to their heirs.
Stateside Legal: Stateside Legal is a national resource that provides legal information and connects veterans and their families with legal aid organizations. While it does not directly provide representation, it helps veterans find attorneys who can assist with estate planning documents like wills and powers of attorney.

Meanwhile, the ABA’s Military Pro Bono Project connects eligible active-duty servicemembers with volunteer attorneys for civil legal matters. Referrals must come through military legal assistance attorneys, and the program primarily serves junior enlisted personnel. Veterans generally cannot access this program directly but can use other ABA resources and referrals to find assistance.

Online Resources for Creating a Free Will

A soldier and his wife looking for online resources to create an estate plan.

In addition to in-person legal assistance, there are several online platforms that offer veterans the ability to create a free will. Here are six to consider:

FreeWill: FreeWill is an online platform that allows veterans to create a free, legally binding will from the comfort of their home. FreeWill’s services are designed to be simple and accessible, guiding users through the process of estate planning step-by-step. Veterans can use this service to create their wills at no cost and ensure their final wishes are clearly documented.
Law Depot: Law Depot offers templates to create wills and powers of attorney, typically through a free trial period. The platform uses templates that are available in English and Spanish.
Do Your Own Will: Do Your Own Will is a free online resource that helps veterans and others create wills quickly and efficiently. The platform offers customizable templates and walks users through the process of designating beneficiaries, appointing executors and outlining final wishes. Users can download and print their completed wills for legal execution.
Fabric: Fabric is another online platform that offers free will creation. The site is designed to simplify the estate planning process, allowing veterans to create a will in just a few minutes. Fabric also offers additional resources, such as life insurance, making it a comprehensive tool for veterans planning their financial future.
Beneficiary Financial Counseling Service: Veterans enrolled in Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) may have access to estate planning guidance through the VA’s Beneficiary Financial Counseling Service, which is provided by a third-party financial counseling provider.

Military Legal Assistance Offices (JAG)

One resource that’s easy to overlook, and one of the most direct options available, is the legal assistance office on a nearby military installation. These offices are staffed by Judge Advocate General (JAG) attorneys and are specifically authorized to provide free personal legal services, including estate planning, to eligible individuals.

Eligibility isn’t limited to those currently serving. Military retirees who draw retired or retainer pay are eligible for this assistance, along with their dependents and, in many cases, survivors of eligible service members and retirees. This makes it one of the more accessible options for veterans, not just for active-duty servicemembers.

Wills, including those with testamentary trusts, powers of attorney, and advance medical directives are among the most routine services these offices handle. Unlike the online will-creation tools covered elsewhere in this article, working with a JAG attorney means a licensed attorney is preparing the document and can answer specific questions about how military benefits, such as a pension or Survivor Benefit Plan, should be addressed in the plan.

Retirees aren’t limited to seeking help only from an office affiliated with their specific branch. A Navy retiree, for example, can generally receive assistance from an Army legal assistance office, and vice versa, which is useful for those who don’t live near an installation belonging to their own branch.

It’s worth keeping in mind that these offices prioritize active-duty personnel when allocating limited attorney resources, so retirees may experience longer wait times for an appointment, particularly at busier installations. Calling ahead to the nearest office and confirming current availability is a practical first step before relying on this option as part of an estate planning timeline.

Bottom Line

Estate plans help manage and distribute assets to family members and heirs. For veterans, this process becomes more complex because it must coordinate pensions, VA benefits and healthcare coverage alongside traditional elements. Accounting for long-term care, burial benefits and potential tax considerations helps create a more complete plan.

“Veterans have unique retirement and insurance benefits that require different considerations when it comes to estate planning. To ensure these benefits are maximized, it’s smart to work with a professional who has experience preparing wills, trusts and other end-of-life documents for active and retired servicemembers,” said Tanza Loudenback, CFP®.

Tanza Loudenback, CFP® provided the quote used in this article. Please note that Tanza is not a participant in SmartAsset AMP, is not an employee of SmartAsset and has been compensated. The opinion voiced in the quote is for general information only and is not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations.

Tips for Estate Planning

A financial advisor can work with you to create an estate plan based on your specific needs and goals. Finding a financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
If you’re preparing to retire, where you choose to live can affect your future financial security and comfort. SmartAsset’s cost of living comparison calculator can help you see how different cities stack on this vital metric.