Let’s face it: talking about death is uncomfortable. But avoiding it comes at a real cost.
Across North America, the vast majority of people aren’t prepared for their own end-of-life. The result? Stress, delays, legal battles, and thousands of dollars lost for the families left behind.
According to a 2025 survey by Caring.com (source), only 24% of American adults have a will or estate plan. In Canada, the picture isn’t much better. An Angus Reid study from 2023 (source) found that fully 50% of Canadians have no will at all, and among millennials, that number rises to 84%.
That lack of preparation leaves families scrambling.
The costs of not planning:
- Time: Probate can take 6–18 months without clear documentation.
- Money: Legal fees, court costs, and professional services can add up to $10,000 or more.
- Emotional burden: Loved ones are forced to make hard decisions, guess your wishes, and sort through complex financial details while grieving.
Many people assume estate planning is only for the wealthy or the elderly. But illness and accidents don’t check your bank account or birthday.
Here’s what you can do instead:
- Start early. Even a basic record of your assets and contacts is better than nothing.
- Use smart tools. Platforms like Binder guide you step-by-step, making it easy to organize your life and prepare a will without a lawyer.
- Update regularly. Life changes fast. Keeping your information current helps avoid confusion down the line.
How Binder helps: Binder makes it simple to:
- Record your accounts, passwords, and key contacts.
- Store important documents in a secure digital vault.
- Create a legally-sound will through a conversational AI assistant.
- Share access with the right people, at the right time.
Death may be inevitable. But chaos,confusion, and cost don’t have to be.
You can start getting organized in minutes.And your future self—and family—will thank you.
Start your Binder today.
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