Do you have a will? Nearly half of Americans have one

This story version has been formatted as an on-air script for broadcast outlets. See the original research story here.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO GET FROM A LOVED ONE AFTER THEY PASS? WELL NEW RESEARCH SHOWS THAT AMERICANS WOULD RATHER INHERIT A PET THAN A CAR.

ACCORDING TO A POLL OF 2,000 U.S. ADULTS, THE TOP ASSETS PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO INHERIT ONE DAY INCLUDE A HOUSE OR PROPERTY (65%), FOLLOWED BY THEIR FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDS (59%) AND MONEY (58%).

FEWER RESPONDENTS WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE COLLECTIBLES OR A CAR (53% EACH).

CONDUCTED BY ONEPOLL ON BEHALF OF TRUST & WILL, RESULTS ALSO REVEALED THAT ONE THIRD (32%) OF AMERICANS HAVEN’T THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS TO THEIR OWN ASSETS WHEN THEY DIE.

STILL, HALF (51%) OF RESPONDENTS EXPECT TO BE PASSED DOWN SOMETHING FROM A LOVED ONE WHEN THEIR TIME COMES.

TWO IN FIVE EVEN ADMIT THEY’D BE JEALOUS OF FAMILY MEMBERS WHO INHERITED MORE THAN THEY DID.

Survey methodology:

This random double-opt-in survey of 2,000 general population Americans was commissioned by Trust & Will between September 15 and September 20, 2023. It was conducted by market research company OnePoll, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society and have corporate membership to the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).