Making an online will is cheaper: Here's how to go about it

Opting for making an online will can bring your costs down. But, it’s only suitable for those with simple and limited assets. A will can get complicated, depending on the community an individual belongs to, the mix of assets he owns, and their location. In such cases, one should opt for personalised service to bequeath inheritance. If you own assets outside India, make separate wills for each country, as a will made in India might not be legally tenable in another country
 
Online will in five steps
1. Register for the service. Get log-in credentials
2. Pay online using net banking, credit or debit card

3. Enter basic information such as gender, religion, residential status (Indian or non-resident),your occupation, and so on

4. Enter details of family members and assets owned
5. Provide details about who will be the beneficiaries of your assets and how you wish to bequeath and distribute  these
6. Click on submit/generate will. You'll receive a rough draft. Review it and ask for corrections, if any.
 
Cost of a will online

HDFC Securities: Rs 4,000
EzeeWill: Rs  4,000
Muthoot iWill: Rs  4,000
SBICAP TrusteeCo: Rs  2,500
 
Personalised Service

Lawyer:  Rs  10,000-45,000
 
Steps to avoid legal tangles

• On receiving the will, the individual needs to sign it in front of two witnesses
• Videotape the entire signing process, if possible
• To make it legally more robust, the testator should register the will
• The cost of registration starts at Rs 7,000. It could be higher, depending on the state, asset mix and value of assets
• The testator should also get a medical certificate from a doctor, stating he was in sound mind while making the will
• Despite all the above, a will can still be challenged in court. Distributing assets through a trust is a better option