Digital Estate Planning
Estate planning gives individuals control over their legal affairs, safeguards their assets, and protects their families' futures. Yet, only one in three Americans has an estate plan, often leaving families to navigate costly and complex probate court proceedings. Many struggle with high costs and limited access to estate planning options, especially in rural “legal deserts” with few attorneys.
Responsive Law advocates for digital estate planning legislation to modernize outdated laws and expand access to essential legal services. By embracing digital modernization, states can make estate planning more affordable, efficient, and accessible.
The Uniform Law Commission (ULC) developed the Uniform Electronic Estate Planning Documents Act (UEEPDA) and the Uniform Electronic Wills Act (UEWA) to modernize estate planning laws and promote consistency across states. UEEPDA enables the electronic creation and execution of end-to-end estate planning, including wills, trusts, health care directives, and durable powers of attorney.
UEWA allows for the creation and execution of electronic wills.
As of 2024, 13 states and the District of Columbia have enacted electronic will laws, and half of all states have introduced similar legislation. Four states have enacted end-to-end digital estate planning laws since the ULC developed UEEPDA in 2022.
In the 2025 state legislative season, digital UEEPDA legislation is pending in Missouri and North Dakota, and UEWA legislation is pending in North Carolina, New Jersey and New York.