How Young Is Too Young to Have a Will?

Being young and healthy is unfortunately no protection against an early death, which is why all adults aged 18 and up and especially parents need to have an estate plan, including a will, says a recent article, “You’re Young and Barely Making Ends Meet. Why You May Need a Will,” from Barron’s.

Only about 22% of young adults aged 29—44 and nearly 15% of adult Gen-Zs, aged 19—28, have estate plans. This poses risks for their spouses, if they are married, and their children, if they are parents.

A last will and testament is used to distribute your assets upon death. This is the best-known aspect of estate planning. Still, it’s only one of several documents, including a living will, also known as an advance directive, which designates who may make medical decisions on your behalf in the event of incapacity. While someone in their 20s or 30s may not have children, they may still enjoy activities like rock climbing, bungee jumping and engaging in physically demanding pursuits. People in their 20s and 30s are statistically more likely to be injured in car accidents, skiing, or while travelling.

This doesn’t mean anyone should limit their activities. However, it does mean young adults need to have estate plans in place to express their wishes in case of incapacity or death and protect themselves and their loved ones. Once these documents are prepared and executed, parents or the individual named in the living will are allowed to communicate with doctors, access medical records and be involved in a young adult’s care. Otherwise, decisions may be made by doctors and not family members.

Young adults with small children need a will to name a guardian who will be responsible for raising their children in the event both parents die unexpectedly. If there is no will, or if the will doesn’t include a guardian, a court will decide who will raise the children.

Every adult should also have a power of attorney. This gives a person of your choice the legal ability to manage your finances, including paying bills. A power of attorney can be customized to permit your agent—the person named in the POA—to perform specific actions but not others. For instance, you may want the person to be able to access accounts and pay bills, but not to sell your Pokémon card collection.

Another important aspect of an estate plan is to verify the beneficiaries named on various types of accounts. Any assets with a named beneficiary, such as an IRA, investment account, or insurance policy, will not need to go through probate and can be transferred directly to the beneficiary. However, if the IRA you opened at your first job named your last girlfriend as the beneficiary and you’ve since broken up, make sure to change the name on the account. The beneficiary designation overrides the will, so it won’t matter if you left all your assets to your fiancé; your former partner will still inherit the account.

Estate planning attorneys assist individuals at all ages and stages of life with their estate planning needs. The estate plan you need in your 20s and 30s differs from the one you need in your 60s. However, at any age, an estate plan is essential for being a responsible adult.

At the Werner Law Firm, we believe estate planning isn't just for the wealthy or the elderly—it's for every adult who wants to protect the people and future they care about. Whether you're 28 or 88, our probate attorneys in Los Angeles can help you create a plan that evolves with your life.

If you have any questions, schedule a free appointment with us through our online appointment page.

You can also read reviews from some of the hundreds of clients we have helped over the years.

Reference: Barron’s (March 15, 2025) “You’re Young and Barely Making Ends Meet. Why You May Need a Will”