Making a will is well-known to be something every adult should do. So you might assume that most of them have already ticked off this task. Unfortunately, that is not the case.
According to the 2026 results of Trust & Will’s annual estate planning report, only 26% of US adults have actually made their will. What’s more, only 44% of US adults have some kind of estate planning documents in place. Or to look at it another way, the estates for 54% of adults are currently destined to be settled by state intestate laws.
Intestate laws distribute the estate according to a strict hierarchy, with no allowance for the wishes of the deceased, so clearly that is not ideal. An unmarried partner, for example, could be left with nothing.
Getting past the inertia
Making an estate plan might not be top of your list of things to do this weekend, but if you have not yet made one, you should consider setting some time aside for it as soon as possible. Even if you just start with some internet research, you will be one important step closer.
Death or incapacitating injuries do not always come with advance notice, and you could be fine without a will one moment, and desperately needing one the next. While the internet can provide some good information and even offer you the chance to make your own will online, it is important to remember that the web contains a lot of inaccurate information. Online will templates are also so generalized that the loved ones of those who used them frequently encounter problems due to things the template did not consider.
The safest way to create your will and estate plan is to seek legal guidance to help you ensure it covers everything you and your family need it to, and is made in a way that complies with state laws.
