Originally published: June 22, 2017 | Last updated: December 25, 2025
TL;DR: As soon as you reach your eighteenth birthday you need to create a Will. A USLegalWills.com survey revealed that 28% of Americans possess a current legal Will but most people under 35 years old do not have any Will at all. A Will serves as a legal document which lets you protect your children by naming guardians and directing how your assets will be divided and stopping your estate from becoming intestate and making it easier for your family to handle legal matters. An online Will costs $49.95 and takes about 20 minutes. The best time to write one is now.
When Should You Write a Will?
The short answer: now. People should not schedule their Will signing for their 70th birthday because a Will functions as a separate legal document. You should begin creating this document today because it needs to evolve as your life situation evolves throughout your life.
The law requires people in most states to reach 18 years of age before they can create a valid Will. Once you reach that threshold, there is no reason to delay. You have no idea how long you will live, and a Will ensures that if something happens unexpectedly, your wishes are documented and your family is protected.
How Young Is Too Young for a Will?
If you are under 18, you do not need a Will yet – most states require you to be 18 or older. The moment you reach adulthood at 18 years old you need to start thinking about making a Will. You need to evaluate your ability to defend valuable things which require protection from others.
Key life triggers that mean you need a Will immediately:
| Life Stage / Event | Why You Need a Will |
|---|---|
| Turning 18 | You are now legally responsible for your own estate, however small |
| Owning any property | A house, car, savings account, or investments need a designated recipient |
| Getting married | Intestacy laws may not give your spouse everything – your parents or siblings could inherit a share |
| Having children | You must name a guardian; without one, a court decides who raises your children |
| Unmarried partnership | Without a Will, an unmarried partner receives nothing from your estate |
| Joining the military | Higher occupational risk makes a Will essential |
| Starting a business | Business assets and succession planning require clear instructions |
| Acquiring digital assets | Domain names, websites, crypto, and social media accounts need management instructions |
Why Do So Few Young People Have Wills?
A USLegalWills.com-commissioned independent survey found alarming statistics:
- Only 28% of all Americans had a legal, up-to-date Will
- Nearly 90% of adults under 35 had no Will at all
- Even excluding under-35s, about two-thirds of Americans lacked an up-to-date Will
- Of millennials (ages 18–36) who did have a Will, 25% were outdated
People commonly share the same reasons for not creating a Will yet their explanations lack accuracy:
- People who want to avoid death discussions will understand because they can create a Will in 20 minutes instead of thinking about it forever.
- A Will allows you to establish guardianship and donate to charities and protect your digital possessions even if you don’t have much money.
- You can purchase an online Will for $49.95 which costs less than what you would pay for a restaurant meal.
- You should create your Will as soon as possible because you need complete mental ability to do so but nobody can predict when your mind will lose its power.
What Happens If You Die Without a Will?
The state of your death without a Will leads government officials to follow state probate laws for deciding how your property will distribute. The results are often surprising and unwanted:
- Unmarried partners receive nothing. Your parents are first in line for intestate succession – your partner is not even in the picture.
- Distant relatives may inherit. The law follows a fixed formula regardless of your relationships, family disputes, or personal wishes.
- Ex-partners or estranged parents could benefit. State law does not know or care about your individual circumstances.
- Your family faces extra costs. The probate process for intestate estates requires more time and money than estates with Wills while also creating disputes between family members who end up in court.
- A court chooses your children’s guardian. If you have minor children and no Will, a judge – not you – decides who raises them.
All of these consequences are entirely preventable by having a valid, up-to-date Will in place.
A Will Is About More Than Money
Even if you have few financial assets, a Will serves critical purposes that go beyond wealth distribution:
- You need to pick guardians who will look after your children until they become adults.
- You need to decide which people should receive nothing from your estate.
- Users can protect their digital assets by following official procedures which cover social media accounts and email and website and domain name and cryptocurrency management.
- You need to name an Executor who will handle your estate management properly.
- You need to decrease both the expenses and mental burden which your family members will experience after you pass away.
- Three main methods exist which bring both different price points and various advantages and disadvantages:
How Much Does It Cost to Write a Will?
Option Cost Pros Cons
| Option | Cost | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estate planning attorney | $800–$1,000+ | Legal advice for complex situations | Expensive; unnecessary for most people |
| Blank DIY Will kit | $0–$20 | Cheap | High error rate; no guidance; may create more problems than it solves |
| Online Will service | $49.95 | Guided step-by-step; includes trusts, guardians; unlimited updates for 1 year | Not suitable for extremely complex estates |
Users can finish the process from their couch using any device which takes about twenty minutes to complete.
What Are the Advantages of an Online Will Service?
- Users can finish the process from their couch using any device which takes about twenty minutes to complete.
- The system lets you begin your work while protecting your progress so you can take breaks for decision-making (such as guardian appointment) before you continue your work.
- USLegalWills.com offers MyLifeLocker as an additional feature which helps users document their assets and select “keyholders” for important files and store essential documents in a digital vault.
- The future remains unknown to you. The longer you wait to create your Will the longer your family will remain defenseless against potential threats. The process is not difficult, not expensive, and not time-consuming. At USLegalWills.com , it costs $49.95 and takes about 20 minutes.
- No appointment needed: The answer to “when should I write a Will?” can be “right now, after dinner”
Stop Procrastinating – Write Your Will Today
No matter what stage of life you are in you should create a Will to protect your valuable belongings and financial resources and to safeguard your children and loved ones.
Related Articles
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- You need a Will because your excuses for not having one do not make any sense.
- People should create their Will without delay because these five reasons exist.
- Are There Even Fewer Americans Without Wills?
- How to Write a Will: Your 10 Step Guide to Success
- Cost of a Will: From Zero to $2,000
- How to Write a Will: Your 10 Step Guide to Success
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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