Sixty-two percent of Generation Xers have no estate planning documents, the highest share among all generations.

Trust & Will’s 2026 Estate Planning Report finds Generation X the least prepared for managing assets in retirement or after death, a structural concern for wealth continuity. This gap contrasts with Boomers, Millennials, and Gen Z, who show relatively better planning coverage.

The report surveyed 5,000 adults in January and February, revealing only 26% of Americans have a will, and 14% have a trust. Cody Barbo, CEO of Trust & Will, notes Gen Xers prefer attorneys despite a shortage, slowing their planning uptake. Jessica Johnston of the National Council on Aging emphasizes that online wills costing $100 to $150 offer a pragmatic alternative. The pandemic briefly boosted estate planning, but the trend has since reversed, deepening the vulnerability of Gen X’s asset management.

Montana businesses and individuals could find this generational lag significant. Given Montana’s dispersed population and often limited access to specialized legal services, the preference of Gen X for attorney-led estate planning may face practical constraints. Online estate planning tools might mitigate these barriers locally, but awareness and incentives will be critical to shifting entrenched behaviors.

Retirement is looming. Gen X doesn’t have an estate plan.

By , USA TODAY, USA TODAY

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