National Notes

Setting Your House in Order? Many Americans Aren’t

In a recent survey, AARP found that 60% of Americans over 50 have a will, 45% have a durable power of attorney, and 23% have a living trust. However, 36% have none of these important legal documents, and only 17% have all three.

Both income and education affect the likelihood of having these documents:

• 51% of those with a high school education or less have a will, but 80% of those with college degrees have one;
• 39% of those with a high school education or less have a durable power of attorney, while 58% of those with a college degree have one.