LegalZoom Data Reveals Half of Americans Lack Estate Plans as Trust Adoption Surges
Event summary
- Only 24% of American adults reported having a will in 2025, the lowest rate since tracking began.
- Trust adoption surged by over 20 percentage points in states like Iowa (+23.2pp), Kentucky (+23.1pp), and Arkansas (+21.7pp) between H1 2025 and H1 2026.
- 85% of LegalZoom customers initiate estate planning on mobile or desktop devices, with half completing the process entirely digitally.
- LegalZoom analyzed over 260,000 consumer estate plans created between January 2022 and June 2026.
The big picture
LegalZoom's report highlights a critical gap in estate planning readiness among Americans, coinciding with the largest intergenerational wealth transfer in history. The surge in trust adoption suggests families are prioritizing wealth preservation and cost efficiency, while digital tools are reshaping how legal services are accessed. This trend underscores the growing intersection of technology and traditional legal practices.
What we're watching
- Digital Adoption Trends
- How the shift to digital estate planning will affect LegalZoom's market share and operational efficiency.
- Regional Dynamics
- Whether states with lower probate costs can sustain higher trust adoption rates over time.
- Wealth Transfer Impact
- The pace at which intergenerational wealth transfer will drive demand for estate planning services.