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Scorecard

How Ready Is Your Estate Plan?

Gallup and Caring.com surveys consistently show only about half of US adults have a will, with gaps highest among adults under 50 and parents of minor children. Score your estate-planning readiness across core documents, family situation, asset coverage, healthcare and incapacity documents, and recency to see which gap to close first with a licensed estate attorney.

Last updated: May 2026

An estate plan readiness score is a 0 to 100 snapshot of how well your estate plan covers the dimensions that matter most across a typical household: core documents (will, trust where appropriate), family situation, asset coverage, healthcare and incapacity, and recency. US adults with a will typically target Have one and recent.

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What is Estate Plan Readiness Score?

An estate plan readiness score is a 0 to 100 snapshot of how well your estate plan covers the dimensions that matter most across a typical household: core documents (will, trust where appropriate), family situation, asset coverage, healthcare and incapacity, and recency. It is general planning information, not legal advice, and is not a substitute for a licensed estate attorney.

The Formula

Score = Weighted Sum (Core Documents + Family Situation + Asset Coverage + Healthcare + Recency)

Recency is the silent compounding category: plans untouched for over a decade routinely have outdated beneficiaries, named guardians who no longer fit, and references to old state rules.

Worked Example

A 47-year-old parent with a 12-year-old will that does not reflect a recent move and a new child, an unfunded trust, one healthcare directive, beneficiaries on 401(k) reviewed a year ago.

Core Documents: 6 (outdated will, unfunded trust)
Family Situation: 4 (new child not addressed)
Asset Coverage: 7 (some beneficiaries current)
Healthcare and Incapacity: 5 (partial coverage)
Recency: 3 (over 10 years since attorney review)

📌 Score around 50. The highest-leverage move is an attorney review focused on the post-move and post-birth updates. This is general information, not legal advice.

Why This Matters

Default intestate law rarely matches intent

Without a current plan, state intestate succession decides who inherits and who serves as guardian for minor children. The result usually differs from what families would have chosen.

Plans drift with life and law

Marriages, divorces, births, deaths, and moves across states all shift what an estate plan should say. A 3-5 year cadence catches the drift before it produces costly probate.

Common Mistakes

❌ Treating an old will as sufficient indefinitely

A will from before a major life event (move, marriage, birth, business sale) is often functionally outdated even if it remains legally valid. A short update is usually inexpensive insurance.

❌ Skipping healthcare and incapacity documents

A will handles death; powers of attorney and healthcare directives handle incapacity. Without them, families face avoidable court processes during an already difficult time.

Industry Benchmarks

Category	Good	Average	Poor
US adults with a will	Have one and recent	About half of adults	No will, especially under age 50
Recommended review cadence	Every 3-5 years	5-10 years	Once and forget
Basic estate-attorney cost (US)	$300-1,000 simple will and POA	$1,000-2,500 will plus trust	$2,500+ for unusual complexity

Source: Gallup Estate Planning Survey, Caring.com Wills Survey, and AARP Estate Planning research

Benchmark data sourced from Gallup Estate Planning Survey, Caring.com Wills Survey, and AARP Estate Planning research.

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One of the most common mistakes we see when working with clients: treating an old will as sufficient indefinitely. A will from before a major life event (move, marriage, birth, business sale) is often functionally outdated even if it remains legally valid. A short update is usually inexpensive insurance.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I really need a will if I do not have many assets?

Yes, even adults with modest assets benefit from a will. Without one, state intestate succession law decides who inherits, names a personal representative, and decides who serves as guardian for any minor children, in ways that often differ from what you would have chosen. A basic will is one of the most cost-effective documents in legal practice. This is general information, not legal advice.

Do I need a trust, or is a will enough?

A will is enough for many situations. A revocable living trust adds value when you want to avoid probate, hold real estate across multiple states, provide for a beneficiary with special needs, plan for incapacity, or maintain privacy (wills become public records during probate). An estate attorney can determine whether a trust adds value for your specific situation.

How often should an estate plan be reviewed?

Most estate attorneys recommend a review every 3-5 years and after any major life event: marriage, divorce, birth, death of a beneficiary, move to a new state, significant change in assets, or business sale. Plans drift out of alignment with both life and law; periodic reviews keep them aligned without major rewrites each time.

What happens if I die without an estate plan?

Your state's intestate succession statute decides who inherits your property, in a fixed order (spouse, children, parents, siblings, etc.). The court appoints a personal representative and a guardian for minor children. Probate is typically longer and more expensive than with planning in place. The outcome rarely matches what you would have chosen. This is general information, not legal advice; an estate attorney in your state can confirm the specifics.

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