Quicken WillMaker Plus 2017 Review: Is It Still Safe to Use in 2026?

TL;DR

Quicken WillMaker Plus 2017 is the legacy edition of Nolo's long-running estate-planning kit. The interview-style software still produces usable wills, living trusts, healthcare directives, and powers of attorney for straightforward estates, and the included book explains the legal backdrop in plain English. If your situation is simple and your state is supported, it is a real money-saver versus an attorney's flat fee.

Looking for the current version? This review covers the 2017 edition. Quicken WillMaker & Trust 2026 is the latest release.

Quicken WillMaker & Trust 2026: Book & Software Kit — Check current price on Amazon

Why It Matters

Most Americans die without a will. The reasons are usually the same: it feels expensive, intimidating, and easy to put off. WillMaker collapses all three barriers by turning estate planning into a guided questionnaire. For uncomplicated households, it produces documents that, when properly signed and witnessed, hold up in probate.

Key Specs

• Book plus Windows-compatible software
• Drafts wills, living trusts, healthcare directives, financial powers of attorney, and final-arrangement letters
• Interview-style data entry; no legal jargon required
• State-specific clauses for most U.S. states
• Includes worksheets for asset and beneficiary inventories

Pros

• Interview format catches missing items most DIYers forget (digital assets, pet care, guardian backups)
• Book explains why each clause exists, not just what to type
• Far cheaper than an attorney for a simple estate
• Generates clean, court-ready PDFs

Cons

• This is the 2017 edition; tax thresholds and some state forms have changed since
• Windows-only software; Mac users need a workaround
• Not a fit for blended families with complex trusts, special-needs beneficiaries, or large estates
• Louisiana and a few unique-law states have limited support

Who It's For

Ideal for first-time estate planners with one home, standard retirement accounts, and a clear list of beneficiaries. Also useful as a learning tool before meeting an attorney; you arrive with terminology and worksheets already filled in.

How to Use It

Read the chapter for each document type before opening the software. Gather account statements, beneficiary names, and Social Security numbers in advance. Complete the interview, print the documents, then sign and witness exactly as the on-screen instructions specify. Store originals in a fireproof folder and tell your executor where they are.

Is Quicken WillMaker Plus 2017 Still Safe to Use in 2026?

Short answer: the core documents it produces — a simple will, healthcare directive, and power of attorney — are still legally valid if signed and witnessed under your state's current rules, but a nine-year-old edition is a risky base for anything tax-sensitive. Three things have moved since 2017:

• Federal estate and gift tax thresholds have changed several times since 2017, so any planning the software does around exemption amounts is out of date. For most simple estates this does not matter (they fall far below any threshold), but do not rely on the 2017 edition's tax guidance.
• State execution and notary rules evolve — several states have added electronic-will or remote-notarization options since 2017, and witness requirements are the single most common reason DIY wills fail in probate. Verify your state's current signing rules before executing anything.
• Digital-asset provisions were young in 2017; most states have since adopted fiduciary-access laws, and newer editions handle passwords, accounts, and crypto more thoroughly.

Practical rule: if you already own the 2017 kit and your estate is simple, use it to draft, then verify signing formalities against a current source. If you are buying today, buy the current edition — the price difference is small compared to a document that fails when it is finally needed.

How It Compares

Versus an attorney-drafted plan, WillMaker trades customization for cost. Versus free online will generators, it adds depth, state-specific guidance, and a reputable publisher behind it. If your estate is large, blended, or international, treat WillMaker as a starting outline, not the final document.

Bottom Line

For a simple estate, the 2017 edition still does the job at a fraction of attorney pricing. Just confirm your state's witness and notary rules have not changed before you sign.

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