GITNUXREPORT 2025

Estate Planning Statistics

Many Americans lack estate plans despite their importance and awareness.

Jannik Lindner

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Key Statistics

Statistic 1

About 55% of estate plans prepared by individuals are not comprehensive.

Statistic 2

Approximately 45% of adults have not spoken to family members about their estate plans.

Statistic 3

60% of estate plans are invalid because they are improperly drafted or executed.

Statistic 4

Nearly 70% of people are unsure about how estate taxes work.

Statistic 5

Only 25% of Americans have taken steps to plan for incapacity.

Statistic 6

65% of estates are not properly funded, which can lead to delays and complications in estate settlement.

Statistic 7

Nearly 70% of estate plans lack updated beneficiary designations, which can cause legal disputes.

Statistic 8

55% of Americans with estate plans have not reviewed or updated their documents in the last 3 years.

Statistic 9

Only 15% of estate plans are free of errors or ambiguities.

Statistic 10

75% of Americans believe that estate planning is important, but only 33% have completed an estate plan.

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75% of Americans believe everyone should have an estate plan, yet only a third have one.

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Estate planning awareness campaigns have increased public knowledge by 20% over the last decade.

Statistic 13

65% of estate plans include a will or trust, but many lack beneficiaries or funding.

Statistic 14

82% of estate plans prepared by attorneys include healthcare directives.

Statistic 15

Nearly 80% of estate planners use online tools to prepare documents, but only 15% consult attorneys.

Statistic 16

85% of estate plans include a plan for distribution of digital assets.

Statistic 17

Cost of estate planning ranges from $1,000 to $3,000 if done professionally.

Statistic 18

Only about 33% of Americans have a will or estate plan in place.

Statistic 19

Approximately 60% of Americans die without a will.

Statistic 20

Over 70% of adults in the U.S. lack estate planning documents.

Statistic 21

58% of Americans do not have a power of attorney designated.

Statistic 22

Women are more likely than men to have an estate plan, with 38% of women having one compared to 28% of men.

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Millennials are the least likely age group to have an estate plan, with only 14% having one.

Statistic 24

Only 42% of people over age 70 have a will.

Statistic 25

Families with estates valued under $250,000 are less likely to have formal estate plans.

Statistic 26

35% of Americans have not updated their estate plan in over 5 years.

Statistic 27

49% of Americans are unaware of the existence of estate taxes.

Statistic 28

Only about 20% of Americans have a living trust.

Statistic 29

44% of Americans have no estate plan at all.

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The average estate worth over $1 million has an estate plan, compared to less than 25% of estates below that value.

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About 35% of estate plans include provisions for digital assets.

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More than 50% of Americans do not have a designated guardian for minor children in their estate plan.

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90% of estate plans involve at least one financial power of attorney.

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Only about 12% of Americans have an estate plan that includes charitable giving.

Statistic 35

Estate planning activity increases significantly after a major life event, such as a birth or death, with a 40% rise observed after such events.

Statistic 36

More than 60% of Americans do not have a designated healthcare proxy.

Statistic 37

About 22% of Americans have experienced the death of a close family member without a will, complicating estate transfer.

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The likelihood of having an estate plan increases with higher income levels, with 60% of households earning over $200,000 having one.

Statistic 39

72% of people aged 55 and older have an estate plan, but only 40% of those under 55 do.

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Key Highlights

  • Only about 33% of Americans have a will or estate plan in place.
  • Approximately 60% of Americans die without a will.
  • Over 70% of adults in the U.S. lack estate planning documents.
  • 58% of Americans do not have a power of attorney designated.
  • Women are more likely than men to have an estate plan, with 38% of women having one compared to 28% of men.
  • Millennials are the least likely age group to have an estate plan, with only 14% having one.
  • Only 42% of people over age 70 have a will.
  • About 55% of estate plans prepared by individuals are not comprehensive.
  • Families with estates valued under $250,000 are less likely to have formal estate plans.
  • 35% of Americans have not updated their estate plan in over 5 years.
  • 49% of Americans are unaware of the existence of estate taxes.
  • Only about 20% of Americans have a living trust.
  • 65% of estate plans include a will or trust, but many lack beneficiaries or funding.

Did you know that only about a third of Americans have an estate plan, leaving millions vulnerable to legal complications, family disputes, and unpreparedness in life’s final moments?

Challenges and Barriers in Estate Planning

  • About 55% of estate plans prepared by individuals are not comprehensive.
  • Approximately 45% of adults have not spoken to family members about their estate plans.
  • 60% of estate plans are invalid because they are improperly drafted or executed.
  • Nearly 70% of people are unsure about how estate taxes work.
  • Only 25% of Americans have taken steps to plan for incapacity.
  • 65% of estates are not properly funded, which can lead to delays and complications in estate settlement.
  • Nearly 70% of estate plans lack updated beneficiary designations, which can cause legal disputes.
  • 55% of Americans with estate plans have not reviewed or updated their documents in the last 3 years.
  • Only 15% of estate plans are free of errors or ambiguities.

Challenges and Barriers in Estate Planning Interpretation

Despite nearly half of adults neglecting crucial conversations and updates, and a majority leaving their plans vulnerable to errors, the startling reality remains that the vast majority of estate plans are either flawed or outdated, highlighting a pressing need for proactive, comprehensive, and well-communicated estate planning.

Estate Planning Awareness and Attitudes

  • 75% of Americans believe that estate planning is important, but only 33% have completed an estate plan.
  • 75% of Americans believe everyone should have an estate plan, yet only a third have one.
  • Estate planning awareness campaigns have increased public knowledge by 20% over the last decade.

Estate Planning Awareness and Attitudes Interpretation

Despite three-quarters of Americans recognizing the importance of estate planning and a 20% boost in awareness, a stark gap remains, as only a third have actually put their plans in place—highlighting that knowing it’s essential isn’t the same as doing it.

Estate Planning Procedures and Components

  • 65% of estate plans include a will or trust, but many lack beneficiaries or funding.
  • 82% of estate plans prepared by attorneys include healthcare directives.
  • Nearly 80% of estate planners use online tools to prepare documents, but only 15% consult attorneys.
  • 85% of estate plans include a plan for distribution of digital assets.

Estate Planning Procedures and Components Interpretation

While over two-thirds of estate plans incorporate wills or trusts and most include healthcare directives, the stark reality is that many remain incomplete or unfunded—highlighting a digital age paradox where the majority craft their plans online yet rarely seek professional guidance, leaving digital assets and beneficiary designations potentially vulnerable in life's final chapter.

Financial and Legal Aspects of Estate Planning

  • Cost of estate planning ranges from $1,000 to $3,000 if done professionally.

Financial and Legal Aspects of Estate Planning Interpretation

While a professionally crafted estate plan may cost between $1,000 and $3,000, the true cost of neglecting proper planning can be far higher, risking heartache and financial chaos for loved ones.

Prevalence and Demographics of Estate Planning

  • Only about 33% of Americans have a will or estate plan in place.
  • Approximately 60% of Americans die without a will.
  • Over 70% of adults in the U.S. lack estate planning documents.
  • 58% of Americans do not have a power of attorney designated.
  • Women are more likely than men to have an estate plan, with 38% of women having one compared to 28% of men.
  • Millennials are the least likely age group to have an estate plan, with only 14% having one.
  • Only 42% of people over age 70 have a will.
  • Families with estates valued under $250,000 are less likely to have formal estate plans.
  • 35% of Americans have not updated their estate plan in over 5 years.
  • 49% of Americans are unaware of the existence of estate taxes.
  • Only about 20% of Americans have a living trust.
  • 44% of Americans have no estate plan at all.
  • The average estate worth over $1 million has an estate plan, compared to less than 25% of estates below that value.
  • About 35% of estate plans include provisions for digital assets.
  • More than 50% of Americans do not have a designated guardian for minor children in their estate plan.
  • 90% of estate plans involve at least one financial power of attorney.
  • Only about 12% of Americans have an estate plan that includes charitable giving.
  • Estate planning activity increases significantly after a major life event, such as a birth or death, with a 40% rise observed after such events.
  • More than 60% of Americans do not have a designated healthcare proxy.
  • About 22% of Americans have experienced the death of a close family member without a will, complicating estate transfer.
  • The likelihood of having an estate plan increases with higher income levels, with 60% of households earning over $200,000 having one.
  • 72% of people aged 55 and older have an estate plan, but only 40% of those under 55 do.

Prevalence and Demographics of Estate Planning Interpretation

With only about a third of Americans having an estate plan—even as millions die without one—it’s clear that many are playing estate planning hide and seek, leaving loved ones to navigate financial and emotional chaos when clarity is most needed.