Bridging the Gap: How Estate Planning in 2025 Calls for Attorney-Guided Action
Estate planning in the U.S. has reached a critical crossroads. As Trust & Will’s 2025 Estate Planning Report, fielded from January 3 - 13, 2025 with 10,000 respondents, reveals: while 83% of Americans believe estate planning matters, believe it or not, only 31% actually have a will - leaving 55% with no estate documents at all.
1.
Legacy
It's More Than Money
Americans now define legacy in more personal, diverse ways:
While 23% say their most meaningful legacy is passing down home or property
- 22% focus on financial assets
- 19% on values or life lessons,
- and 13% on sentimental heirlooms.
It's alarming that 17% believe they won’t leave anything meaningful behind.
Younger generations place greater importance on non-financial legacies than traditional wealth transfer, indicating a broadening concept of what constitutes a meaningful inheritance.
2.
AI in Estate Planning
Growing Adoption. Lingering Skepticism
Like it or not, tech is reshaping estate planning - and attitudes are shifting:
20% of Americans trust AI-generated legal advice more than human attorneys, and 34% trust it equally.
Yet ethical worries persist: 47% cite lack of human oversight, 41% cite privacy risk, and 37% cite emotional detachment as concerns with AI in estate planning.
Acceptance varies: Gen Z is 580% more likely than the Silent Generation to trust AI more (34% vs. 5%). High‑income households (over $1M year) are far more comfortable with AI tools than lower-income groups.
Learn more about the dangers of relying on AI for estate planning in my post: Why Can’t AI Replace an Estate Planning Attorney?.
3.
Financial Anxiety
& Proactive Planning
49% of Americans report increased financial anxiety compared to the previous year. 78% say inflation has made achieving life goals harder.
Concerns include:
- 32% fearing family burden,
- 30% about missing out on life experiences,
- and 29% about not leaving enough behind.
This signals that clients are deeply motivated - but often stalled by fear and uncertainty.
Final Takeaway
The Trust & Will 2025 data says it plainly: most Americans are aware estate planning matters - but far too many stop short.
Estate planning today demands more than transactional services.
It requires:
- Understanding generational values,
- Confronting financial anxiety,
- Navigating racial and gender gaps,
- And offering personalized counsel supported by innovation.
By guiding clients across these barriers and reframing planning as proactive legacy stewardship, attorneys can unlock progress - and deliver lasting peace of mind.
📚 Source
Based on Trust & Will’s 2025 Estate Planning Report by EstateOS, fielded Jan 3-13, 2025, with 10,000 U.S. adults (ages 18+) (trustandwill.com).