LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire - August 5, 2009) - A survey conducted for LegalZoom.com found that nearly 75% of parents do not have a will. While many may think they are too young, don't have enough money or that their property will automatically go to their next of kin, all three common assumptions are wrong. As recent celebrity deaths have shown, life can end unexpectedly in an instant and, without a plan in place, grieving relatives can be tied up in court for years in the process of acquiring and dividing an estate's assets.

In honor of National Make-A-Will Month this August, LegalZoom is encouraging people to create a will as a way to provide peace of mind that their wishes will be honored.

"A will is one of the most important legal documents a person should have," said Brian Liu, co-founder and chairman of LegalZoom. "If you have a house, a child, or a family heirloom you'd like to pass on to a specific person, then you need to have specific written instructions. LegalZoom simplifies the process by helping you prepare a last will or living trust online."

Taking a few minutes now can save your family time and stress during an already difficult time. LegalZoom's simple three step process makes it fast, easy and affordable to create a will. Here are a few reasons why everyone over 18 should prepare a will:

1.  Children.  If you have minor children, you need to specify guardians so
    that you, and not the court system, will determine who would raise your
    children.

2.  Property.  Recording your wishes for the distribution of your assets
    and property not only ensures that your decisions are honored but it
    can also help your family avoid destructive conflicts over these
    issues.

3.  Final decisions.  Grieving the loss of a loved one is hard enough to
    handle.  Sparing your loved ones the stress and anxiety of determining
    how you would like to be honored and remembered can be avoided with a
    will.

LegalZoom's Last Will and Testament packages start at $69 -- a savings of more than $470 compared to hiring a typical lawyer(1).

For more information about LegalZoom's will and last testament, visit www.legalzoom.com.

For more information about National Make-A-Will Month, visit www.nationalwillmonth.com.

About LegalZoom.com

LegalZoom.com is the nation's leading online legal document and filing service. Co-founded by attorney Robert Shapiro in 2001, LegalZoom.com (www.legalzoom.com) offers a convenient and cost-effective way to take care of common legal needs. LegalZoom service offerings include: Wills, Living Wills, Incorporation, LLC Formation, Living Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Divorce, Small Claims, Trademarks, Patents, Copyrights and more. LegalZoom.com is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice or counsel.

(1) Based on an attorney's median hourly rate of $250/hour (2007 Survey of Law Firm Economics, Altman Weil, Inc., for firms with 9-20 attorneys). Actual lawyer fees vary by geography and experience.