Frequently Asked Questions

717Legal is an online document preparation service that helps Pennsylvania residents create legally-valid estate planning documents. We provide guided forms to generate wills, trusts, and powers of attorney that comply with PA law, at a fraction of traditional attorney costs.

Yes. All our documents comply with Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes and include the proper legal language, witness requirements, and notarization instructions. Once properly signed and notarized, they have the same legal validity as documents prepared by an attorney.

For straightforward estates, our documents are sufficient. However, we recommend consulting a Pennsylvania-licensed attorney if you have a complex estate, significant assets, blended families, special needs beneficiaries, or specific legal questions about your situation.

Most people complete the online form in 15-20 minutes. You can save your progress and return later. After payment, your document is immediately available for download. The entire process from start to signed document (including getting it notarized) typically takes less than a week.

Yes. We use industry-standard encryption to protect your data. All information is stored securely in encrypted databases. We never sell your personal information to third parties. Payment processing is handled by Stripe, so we never see your credit card details.

We offer four core Pennsylvania estate planning documents: Last Will and Testament, Revocable Living Trust Agreement, Durable General Power of Attorney, and Durable Health Care Power of Attorney. These cover the essential needs of most Pennsylvania families.

A will directs how your assets are distributed after death and goes through probate. A trust lets you transfer assets into a trust entity during your lifetime, allowing them to pass to beneficiaries without probate. Trusts offer more privacy and can avoid probate delays, but require funding (transferring assets into the trust).

At minimum, everyone over 18 should have a will and both powers of attorney. Parents with minor children definitely need a will to name guardians. If you want to avoid probate or have significant assets, consider adding a revocable living trust. Our Complete Estate Plan package includes all four documents.

Yes! Each person needs their own separate documents. You'll complete separate forms for each person, but you can purchase multiple documents in one session. Many couples create matching wills and coordinate their estate plans together.

Our builder guides you through a series of plain-English questions about your situation, assets, and wishes. Based on your answers, we generate a Pennsylvania-compliant document with the appropriate legal language. You can preview the document, make changes, and regenerate it until you're satisfied.

Yes. Your progress is automatically saved as you work. You'll receive a unique session ID and can return anytime to continue. You only pay when you're ready to finalize and download your completed document.

Absolutely. You can make unlimited revisions to your document before finalizing and downloading it. Preview it, adjust your answers, regenerate it as many times as needed—all before making any payment.

Before downloading, you can correct any mistakes by editing your answers and regenerating the document. After downloading, if you catch an error, contact us at [email protected] before getting it notarized. For documents already signed and notarized, you'll need to create a new document (which requires a new purchase).

Individual documents are $49 each. Our Complete Estate Plan (all four documents) is $129. Check our pricing page for full details and savings comparison.

No. The price you see is what you pay. One-time payment, no subscriptions, no hidden fees. The only additional cost is the notary fee (typically $5-10 per signature in Pennsylvania), which you pay directly to the notary when signing.

We accept all major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover) through our secure payment processor, Stripe. We do not store your payment information.

We offer a full refund if you're not satisfied before downloading your final document. Once you've downloaded the completed document, the sale is final as we've delivered the digital product. Contact us at [email protected] if you have any concerns.

Yes. All documents comply with Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes (Title 20 - Decedents, Estates and Fiduciaries) and include PA-specific provisions, witness requirements, and notarization instructions. When properly executed, they are legally valid throughout Pennsylvania.

For a will in Pennsylvania, you need 2 witnesses who see you sign. Witnesses cannot be beneficiaries in the will. Powers of attorney don't require witnesses but must be notarized. Trusts require notarization but typically don't need witnesses. Our documents include specific instructions for each.

Notarization is required for powers of attorney and trusts in Pennsylvania. For wills, notarization isn't required, but a notarized "self-proving affidavit" makes probate much easier later. We include self-proving affidavits in our wills and provide instructions for getting everything properly notarized.

You can get documents notarized at: banks (usually free for customers), UPS/FedEx stores ($5-15), title companies, law offices, mobile notaries, or your employer (many have notaries on staff). In PA, notaries typically charge $5-10 per signature. Search online for "notary public near me" in your Central PA area.

Documents created while you're a PA resident remain valid. However, if you permanently move to another state, you should create new documents that comply with your new state's laws, as requirements vary. Some states may recognize PA documents, but it's best to update them.

You don't file your will during your lifetime. Keep the original in a safe place (fireproof safe, safe deposit box) and tell your executor where it is. After death, your executor files the original will with the Register of Wills in the Pennsylvania county where you lived.

After payment, you'll immediately be able to download your document as a PDF. You'll also receive an email with a link to access your documents. Your documents are stored securely so you can re-download them whenever you need to.

Yes. You can log back in anytime with your session ID and email to download your documents again from the resume page. Save your downloaded PDFs to your computer and back them up — we recommend keeping a copy in your own records.

We store your completed documents securely so you can re-download them anytime via the resume page. Make sure to save your downloaded files to your own devices for safekeeping.

Print your documents. Read the signing instructions included. Sign in front of the required witnesses and/or notary as instructed. Store the originals safely. Give copies to your executor, family, and attorney if applicable. For trusts, also work on funding the trust by transferring assets.

Review your documents every 3-5 years or after major life events: marriage, divorce, births, deaths, significant asset changes, or moves to another state. If changes are needed, create a new document through 717Legal (new purchase required) or consult an attorney.