Key Takeaways
- 56% of U.S. adults do not have a will or living trust
- Only 33% of Americans have a will
- 67% of parents with minor children lack a will
- 50% of U.S. household wealth is held by those over 55
- Average inheritance in U.S. is $46,200
- Baby boomers expected to transfer $84 trillion by 2045
- 58% of Americans have wills
- 20% of estates use revocable living trusts
- Probate avoidance via trusts in 35% of planned estates
- Federal estate tax affects 0.2% of estates annually
- Estate tax exemption $12.92M per person in 2023
- Average probate cost 3-7% of estate value
- 60% of Americans 65+ have no will
- Women are 20% less likely to have estate plans
- Baby boomers control 52% of U.S. wealth
Most American adults do not have the essential legal documents to protect their families after death.
Demographic and Trend Data
Demographic and Trend Data Interpretation
Estate Planning Participation
Estate Planning Participation Interpretation
Tax and Cost Statistics
Tax and Cost Statistics Interpretation
Wealth and Inheritance
Wealth and Inheritance Interpretation
Wills and Trusts Usage
Wills and Trusts Usage Interpretation
How We Rate Confidence
Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.
Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.
AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree
Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.
AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree
All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.
AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
Marie Larsen. (2026, February 13). Estate Planning Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/estate-planning-statistics
Marie Larsen. "Estate Planning Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/estate-planning-statistics.
Marie Larsen. 2026. "Estate Planning Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/estate-planning-statistics.
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