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 prohibitively high estate planning costs and limited access, especially in rural “legal deserts” with few estate planning attorneys. To address these barriers, Responsive Law advocates for digital estate planning legislation to modernize outdated laws and make essential legal services more affordable, efficient, and accessible. 

The Uniform Law Commission has 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 digital creation and execution of wills, trusts, healthcare directives, and powers of attorney, while UEWA allows for the creation and execution of electronic wills. As of 2024, 13 states and the District of Columbia permit electronic wills, and half of all states have introduced similar legislation. Since 2022, four states have enacted comprehensive digital estate planning laws based on the Uniform Electronic Estate Planning Documents Act, expanding access to these critical services.


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