Code as Counselor: How Robo-Will Platforms Are Productizing Estate Planning Services
The robo-will software industry’s market penetration into the world of estate planning has changed how lawyers do their job. An industry taking on a profession—and transforming what traditionally was a service into a product—challenges the lofty ideals of advocacy and professionalism. Meanwhile, lawmakers have taken a largely permissive approach. This Note confronts the robo-will software industry’s beauty and flaws, provides a market overview and outlines the productization of estate planning services, explores the implication of mass adoption, and surveys the legislative landscape shaping the future of estate planning norms. Ultimately, it recommends that the software should be adopted with caution by legal practitioners, and avoided completely by most retail users.
PDF: https://journals.law.unc.edu/ncjolt/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/11/NOTE_Speirs_To_Publish_Final11.25.25.pdf
Author: John Speirs
Volume 27, Issue 2