Dying without a will can leave a financial mess for your loved ones to unravel. But only about one in four Americans has a valid will, according to a recent Trust & Will report.
The company's latest Estate Planning Report indicates will ownership dropped five points, from 31% in 2025 to 26% in 2026. The percentage of people who have instituted a trust, however, has bubbled up slightly from 11% to 14%.
More than half (56%) of those surveyed said they have no estate-planning documents at all — no will, trust, medical or financial power of attorney, or HIPAA authorization — even though 73% said estate planning was important to them.
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Online willmaker Trust & Will offers an easy-to-follow question-and-answer format and access to attorneys who can provide a line-by-line review or advise on estate and tax planning topics. You can print your documents or have them shipped to you.
$199 for an individual will, $299 for a joint will; $499 for an individual trust, $599 for a joint trust; $49 per year for membership
Quicken WillMaker & Trust allows users to create wills, health care directives and living trusts, both online and through downloadable software. Its all-access plan includes a digital storage vault through Everplans.
$109 to $219, ($39 per year to make changes after the first year)
“People don’t want to talk about a will for emotional reasons," Mary Clements Evans, a certified financial planner and president of Evans Wealth Strategies, told CNBC Select. "They don’t want to think about their death or their spouse’s death."
But the silence around estate planning can have devastating consequences: Many Americans struggle financially when a family member dies and they're left grappling with both funeral costs and the loss of income.
Homeowners are more likely to be prepared, according to the survey — 40% have a will, compared to just 16% of renters.
While that correlation points to the importance of property in spurring estate planning, wrote Mark LoCastro, senior director of content at Trust & Will, renters "still have dependents, medical wishes, financial preferences, and relationships worth protecting — and they are the most underserved group in the market."
The advent of online will-makers has made estate planning easier and more affordable. Users follow simple prompts and, within a single afternoon, can have a legally binding document recognized in all 50 states.
Without a will, your estate could be tied up in a lengthy probate process, Evans said, "and the state gets to decide who gets your assets."
Online wills FAQs
Do I need to have a will?
You're not legally required to have a will. Without one, however, you won't have control over who inherits your assets or becomes guardian to your children. A will also lets you appoint an executor and can greatly simplify the probate process.
Is an online will a good idea?
An online will is an affordable solution for many people, especially those hesitant about the time commitment and expense of traditional estate planning or uncomfortable discussing end-of-life topics with strangers. However, people with large estates, complex family dynamics or minor children may need personalized care from a qualified estate planning attorney. And even if you choose an online option, you should still consult family members and experts about your wishes.
Are online wills legit?
As long as it meets all of your state's legal requirements, an online will is as binding as one prepared by an attorney. In many cases, you'll need to print the will and sign it in front of two witnesses who are not beneficiaries.
In some states, the relevant parties can sign electronically. In others, it needs to be in ink and notarized.
When should I update my will?
You should review and update your will every three to five years, according to AARP. You may also want to revisit it after life changes — like the birth of a child, a marriage or divorce or a move to a new state.
Meet our experts
We work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. For this story, we interviewed certified financial planner Mary Clements Evans, the president of Evans Wealth Strategies, a wealth-management firm in Emmaus, Pennsylvania.
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