Estate Planning

How to Make a Simple Will as an Immigrant in the US

August 2, 2026 · 7 min read · By the Wyra Team

A 2025 study found that 62% of Hispanic Americans have no estate-planning documents at all — no will, no power of attorney, nothing. And the trend is moving backward, not forward: the share of Hispanics with a will dropped to 22% in 2024, its lowest recorded level. The reason usually isn't that "it doesn't matter" — it's that nobody explains where to start, let alone what happens when your family or property spans two countries at once.

What does a simple will cover?

A basic will answers three concrete questions:

Who gets your US-based assets? Bank account, car, house, savings — you decide, instead of leaving it to whatever your state's default law says.
Who raises your minor children if you and your partner are gone? Without a will, that decision falls to a judge who doesn't know you.
Who carries out your wishes? You name someone you trust (the "executor") to make sure everything happens the way you asked.

For the simple case — assets and family entirely in the United States — putting together a will today is fast and doesn't necessarily require a lawyer: online services walk you through the process step by step, at a fraction of what a traditional law firm would charge.

What a US will does NOT cover: if you own a house, land, or a bank account in Mexico, Colombia, Guatemala, or anywhere else in Latin America, a will made here likely won't reach those assets. Most countries in the region follow "forced heirship" rules (a fixed share of the estate must go to certain relatives no matter what your will says) that a US online template doesn't account for. If this is your situation, you'll need a separate will — or local legal advice — specifically for those assets.

In other words: a simple US will is a real, honest solution for the "everything I own is here" case — not a universal fix for every family with a foot in each country.

What happens if you die without a will?

The state you live in decides for you, following its own "intestate succession" rules — a fixed order of relatives that doesn't necessarily match what you would have wanted. If you have children from a previous relationship, a partner you're not formally married to, or want to leave something to someone who isn't a direct relative, those wishes simply don't count without a will.

Do I need a lawyer?

Not necessarily, for the simple case. Online will services handle standard situations well (US-only assets and heirs, no expected family disputes). If your situation is more complex — you own a business, have assets abroad, a blended family, or heirs with special needs — that's when a consultation with an estate attorney is worth it.

Ready to put together your simple will?

Trust & Will is an online platform that walks you through a basic will step by step, built for the case where your assets and heirs are in the United States.

See Trust & Will →

Frequently asked questions

Is an online will legally valid?

Yes, as long as it meets your state's signing and witness requirements — reputable online services guide you to meet them correctly.

I own a house in my home country. Does this will cover it?

Probably not. Most Latin American countries have forced-heirship rules that a US will doesn't address. You'll need a separate will or local advice specifically for those assets.

How much does a simple will cost?

It varies by platform and state, but it's noticeably less than a traditional attorney for the simple case.

Can I change it later?

Yes. A will can be updated any time your circumstances change — a birth, a divorce, a new property.