Can AI Really Draft Your Estate Plan? What Families Need to Know

Artificial intelligence (AI) has made huge strides in the past few years, bringing futuristic technology into our everyday lives. Tools like ChatGPT can already write emails, brainstorm marketing ideas, answer questions, and even help with educational programs. It’s natural to wonder: could AI eventually replace the work of estate planning attorneys? And more importantly - is it safe to trust a computer with something as important as your family’s future?

We decided to put AI to the test by asking ChatGPT to create a trust. What we found might surprise you.

What Is ChatGPT, Really?

ChatGPT is a powerful language tool created by OpenAI. It’s trained on an enormous amount of human-written content - books, articles, websites, stories - and uses all of that information to generate answers that feel very human. You can ask it to:

• Write emails or articles

• Answer questions

• Create lists, poems, or even songs

It’s incredibly fast and can sound surprisingly sophisticated. But like any tool trained on the internet, it can be wrong, inconsistent, biased, or even a little silly. ChatGPT is impressive, but it still needs human supervision.

How People Use ChatGPT

Because ChatGPT works like a conversation, you tell it exactly what you want. You can say things like “summarize,” “rewrite,” “create a top-five list,” or “make the tone more friendly.” You can give it context, ask follow-up questions, or set boundaries such as wanting a professional tone or a short answer.

The Real Question: Can ChatGPT Draft a Trust?

We tested it by asking the program to create a trust-based estate plan - something that requires careful thought, legal knowledge, and the ability to anticipate future complications. 

Here’s what we discovered:

ChatGPT missed major legal requirements. It left out essential provisions about what happens if the trust maker, trustee, or beneficiary becomes incapacitated.

It included language that could cause tax problems. One clause it generated could actually waste a family’s estate tax exemption—something no responsible attorney would ever allow.

It didn’t understand nuance. State laws, family dynamics, asset types, long-term planning strategies - AI simply can’t personalize these the way a trained professional can.

Bottom Line 

AI can assist, but it can’t replace real planning. If you are ready to get started on your own estate plan, start by booking a Peace of Mind Planning Session. We’ll answer your questions, go over your options and our flat fees, and decide if we want to move forward. Mention this blog and we’ll waive the $450 session fee! Book here:https://tinyurl.com/PeaceofMindCPL