At Trust & Will, we’re committed to understanding why Americans plan—or delay planning—for the future. That’s why we surveyed 750 U.S. adults, evenly split between people who are married, engaged, and single, to better understand how relationship status affects estate planning behavior. Each participant answered 10 questions about their planning habits, motivations, knowledge, and barriers.
The results reveal a clear disconnect between intent and action—especially among newlyweds and those approaching marriage. While key life events like marriage and having children are proven motivators for estate planning, a large portion of Americans are still unprepared for the future.
This article breaks down the high-level findings from the survey, with more detailed analyses available in our follow-up articles that explore estate planning behaviors by:
Estate Planning Still Lags—Even Among Married Couples
Despite major life events like marriage and having children, 45% of married respondents don’t have an estate plan. While being married does increase the likelihood of having a will (44% vs. just 12% of engaged respondents), action is often delayed—only 10% of married respondents created an estate plan within the first two years of tying the knot, increasing to only 19% within the first four years.
This delay is especially important considering how many people cite peace of mind and protecting loved ones as their top reasons for planning. If marriage is a major motivator, it’s one that often fails to translate into action.
Why People Delay: Knowledge Gaps, Overwhelm, and Misconceptions
When asked why they haven’t created an estate plan, the top reasons included not having enough assets (38%), not knowing where to start (30%), feeling overwhelmed (23%), and cost concerns (18%).
Women were more likely to feel overwhelmed or uncertain, while men were more likely to cite lack of time. This points to a broader confidence gap: only 13% of women reported feeling very knowledgeable about estate planning, compared to 22% of men. And women were twice as likely to say they didn’t know what a healthcare directive is.
In short? Estate planning still feels inaccessible—especially to those who are already managing caregiving or family responsibilities.
Emotional Security Is the Top Motivator—But Financial Triggers Differ by Gender
Across all demographics, the #1 reason people gave for creating an estate plan was peace of mind. Protecting assets, avoiding probate, and safeguarding children were also common motivators—but the emotional driver of wanting to reduce stress for loved ones was dominant.
However, motivations diverged by gender. Women were more likely to be influenced by relationship milestones like marriage, having children, or caring for a loved one. Men, on the other hand, were more likely to be spurred into action by financial events like receiving an inheritance or advice from a financial advisor.
Guardianship and Executor Decisions Are Often Undecided
For parents, one of the most important (and often overlooked) parts of estate planning is naming a guardian for their children. Yet only 23% of all respondents had both discussed and documented guardianship. Women were more likely to have had the conversation without taking action, while men were more likely to have completed this step.
Similarly, only 30% of respondents had chosen and documented an executor or trustee. Women were again less likely to have taken this step—and more likely to say they didn’t know what an executor does.
These gaps aren’t just logistical—they represent potential stress and confusion for loved ones down the line.
Healthcare Directives Are Underutilized and Poorly Understood
Healthcare directives—also known as living wills—are critical for making sure your medical wishes are honored if you can’t speak for yourself. But only 26% of respondents had created one. Another 25% said they planned to, but a surprising 7% didn’t even know what a healthcare directive is.
Women were more likely than men to say they’d never heard of one, and were less likely to have created one already, despite showing higher future intent.
Financial Security and Estate Planning Are Closely Linked—But Not Equally Felt
While over 70% of respondents reported feeling financially secure in their relationship, there was a clear gender divide. Women were significantly more likely to feel financially insecure than men—a factor that may explain their lower rates of completed estate plans.
This difference in perceived financial stability could play a role in shaping how people view the urgency or importance of estate planning, especially when combined with confidence gaps around legal knowledge.
The Takeaway: Estate Planning Shouldn’t Be Left for “Someday”
What we found in this survey echoes what we see every day: most people know estate planning is important. They want to protect their loved ones and feel peace of mind about the future. But too often, knowledge gaps, emotional overwhelm, or the simple inertia of life get in the way.
Whether you’re getting married, having a child, or simply want to make sure your wishes are known—estate planning is one of the most loving and proactive things you can do.
Ready to learn more? Dive deeper into our survey findings in these upcoming companion articles:
The Marriage Effect: Planning Trends by Relationship Status →
From Gen Z to Boomers: Generational Gaps in Estate Planning →
Methodology
This random double-opt-in online survey of 750 U.S. adults aged 18+, evenly split amongst people that are married (250), engaged (250), and single (250), and male (375) / female (375) was commissioned by Trust & Will and conducted by market research company Talker Research, in accordance with the Market Research Society’s code of conduct. Data was collected from May 16 to May 23, 2025. The margin of error is +/- 3.58 points with 95% confidence. This survey was overseen by Talker Research, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society (MRS) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).
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