Do I need a lawyer to make a will in Texas?
Texas does not generally require an attorney just to create a will. Whether self-help is a good fit still depends on your situation. This is general information, not legal advice.
The direct answer
Making a will in Texas is something a person can do without hiring a lawyer, if they are allowed to make a will and they follow the signing rules. The Estates Code describes who may make a will and how a standard written will is signed. It does not say “you must use an attorney.”
That is not the same as “a lawyer is never useful.” The Court-approved simple will forms are for limited situations. The Court’s announcement says those forms are not a substitute for legal advice.
See Texas will requirements for the usual signing picture, and official Texas will forms for where the Court forms live.
When self-help may fit
Self-help — filling an official form yourself, or using a guided tool like LoneStarWill — is aimed at people whose family and property fit a basic form, who can answer the questions clearly, and who will print and sign the original correctly.
It is not a shortcut around reading the form’s instructions. It does not decide whether the plan is wise. It does not represent you in court.
When considering an attorney is sensible
Talk with a Texas estate-planning attorney if any of these sound like you, or if you are unsure:
- You are unsure what to choose
- You have a blended family
- You want to disinherit someone
- Someone receiving gifts gets SSI, Medicaid, SNAP, or similar benefits
- You own a business
- You own complex real estate
- You own property outside Texas
- You have a large estate or complicated tax situation
- You expect a family dispute
- You need legal advice
- You have unusual property arrangements
- You need special-needs planning
- You have questions about capacity, undue influence, or someone else’s legal rights
- Your situation is outside the supported official simple will forms
Those examples are planning flags, not a diagnosis of your case.
What LoneStarWill is — and is not
LoneStarWill is guided self-help software. Eligible people answer questions, and the software fills a supported official Texas simple will form. It is not a law firm. It does not replace an attorney. It does not invent its own Texas will form.
If the eligibility check says the form does not fit, stop and get legal advice rather than forcing a simple form to do work it was not built for. More on the four family situations: which Texas will form fits?
What to do next
If a basic form may fit, you can review the official forms on the Texas Judicial Branch site or start LoneStarWill’s eligibility questions. If you already know you need advice, contact a Texas attorney. LoneStarWill support cannot choose a lawyer for you.
Practical steps: how to make a will in Texas.
Texas sources and further reading
LoneStarWill is self-help software, not a law firm, does not provide legal advice, and is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. This page is general information. Creating a PDF is not the same as signing a will correctly.
Source review completed August 2026.