Originally published: May 27, 2016 | Last updated: September 15, 2025
TL;DR: 55% of American adults do not have a Will. The most common reasons — thinking it is too complicated, too expensive, or too time-consuming — are all myths. Making a Will online takes less than 30 minutes and costs under $50. You should make a Will now because: (1) it is easier than you think, (2) accidents and sudden illness can happen at any age, (3) it prevents family disputes, (4) it lets you plan gifts both large and small, and (5) online services let you update it anytime life changes.
Why Do Most People Procrastinate Making a Will?
The legal insurance company LawPRO discovered through their survey that 56% of Canadian adults lack Wills because they face obstacles regarding Will creation costs and process initiation. The American Bar Association reports that 55% of American adults do not have a Will or estate plan which matches the Canadian statistics.
If you are familiar with USLegalWills.com, you already know this does not have to be the case. Creating a Last Will and Testament does not require a time-consuming, complex process, and does not have to cost hundreds of dollars. Despite this, almost half of adults without Wills report no major cost or time concerns – they still find reasons to delay.
You need to take control of your estate plan right now because of these five strong reasons.
Reason #1: Making a Will Is Easier Than You Think
Creating a Will takes only a short amount of time because you can work through the process at your preferred schedule. The actual process will show you how fast everything moves once you get started. Psychologists refer to this as the “few minutes” productivity rule because we tend to postpone work that appears difficult yet the actual task becomes simpler after we start it. Your brain functions like an engine because it takes effort to activate but once it starts running you can maintain its operation.
You need to decide which essential choices to make before you start writing your Will.
- Executor: Who will manage your estate? Have they agreed to the role? Learn more about the critical people in your Will.
- You need to choose the right guardian who will take care of your children. Have you considered all family dynamics?
- During their life people often donate to charity but they fail to use the simplest way which involves donating 1% of their estate to create major impact for their beneficiaries who receive small amounts.
- You can show your appreciation through your Will by leaving specific gifts to your loved ones such as a travel fund for your niece or your favorite guitar to your best friend.
- Estate distribution becomes a simple process when you have children and marriage. If you do not have family, consider your options carefully .
Once you have thought through these questions, the actual process for making a Will takes less than 30 minutes.
Reason #2: You Never Know What Tomorrow Brings
The majority of people want to die when they have reached old age while surrounded by their family and friends. The world brings unexpected fatal accidents which strike without any signs before they occur. The Department of Transportation reported 32,675 automotive deaths occurred in the United States during the year 2014. The ABA statistics show that 18,000 families faced two challenges which included losing a family member unexpectedly and dealing with the absence of a Will.
People who suffer from aggressive illnesses need to dedicate their time to medical care and healing and spending time with their family members instead of starting their estate planning work. People who wait until death approaches risk facing Will challenges because others could argue they lacked mental capacity to create a valid Will.
People face the risk of passing away without creating a Will. The musician Prince who made approximately $270 million throughout his life became famous because he left no Will after death despite having numerous lawyers and financial experts around him. The occurrence of such an event shows that any person becomes vulnerable to these circumstances regardless of their available resources.
Reason #3: A Will Prevents Family Disputes and Provides Peace of Mind
Some people delay making a Will because they assume the legal system will distribute their assets fairly, or that their family will navigate probate without conflict. People should never trust these types of claims because children under guardianship face dangerous situations which require ongoing protection.
Without a Will:
- The state follows a fixed legal system to distribute all your property after you die.
- The court will choose guardians for your children who might not match your personal choices.
- Family disputes stretch from months to years of extended conflict.
- Your grieving family faces ambiguity and strife instead of closure
The short delay of minutes in completing this process will cause your family to suffer from extended disputes which will continue for many years. A Will gives you a say in your legacy and gives your family clear direction.
Reason #4: Plan for Assets Big and Small
The term “estate planning” creates confusion because it makes people think about large-scale operations. People tend to believe their assets are insufficient to require a Will which creates a dangerous situation because they end up without any legal protection.
People who feel uncomfortable discussing death tend to enjoy creating plans for their personal items which include family heirlooms and special collections and treasured keepsakes. Your Will is an opportunity to:
- You can surprise your family members through the delivery of personal items which carry special meaning to them.
- You can preserve your family history through particular gifts which you include in your will.
- You can choose the right people to receive your sentimental possessions during the process.
- You can set up charitable donations which would exceed the value of all your lifetime gifts.
You need to create plans for all your property including your home and your grandmother’s ring. The document explains the 10-step process which enables people to produce their own Wills.
Reason #5: Online Will Services Make It Easy to Start and Update
Businesses need to wait before they can start new projects because they must save up for the expensive expenses which these projects will generate. You might be waiting for life to become more stable before you take action because you plan to get married or have another child. With USLegalWills.com , you no longer have to wait.
Our service provides users with the ability to check their Will documents before they make changes and print the corrected version at any time they want. You can update your Will whenever life throws something new your way – without booking an expensive appointment to change a small detail. The estate planning process which you start now will provide you with essential information to make wise choices during your entire life span while facing various life changes.
| Feature | Lawyer | USLegalWills.com |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $300–$1,000+ | $49.95 |
| Time | Weeks (scheduling + drafting) | Under 30 minutes |
| Updates | Additional fees each time | Unlimited, no extra cost |
| Convenience | Office hours only | 24/7, from home |
You should also consider complementing your Will with a Power of Attorney and a Living Will to create a complete estate plan.
He has over 20 years of experience helping people to write their Will and other estate planning documents. He has been interviewed by many of the major news media outlets, and has contributed to articles in The New York Times, NY Metro Parents, U.S. News & World Report, and other leading publications. He has also contributed to a number of financial planning books.
Throughout his career, Tim has written extensively on the subject of Will writing and estate planning.
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