Statistics Methodology

Our statistics come from:

• Government Sources: state statutes (e.g., Florida Chapter 733), U.S. Census Bureau, federal court records
• Peer-reviewed research: academic journals and university-affiliated studies (cited inline where used)
• Industry surveys: Caring.com Wills Survey, Trust & Will Probate Study, Ameriprise Family Wealth Checkup, Cerulli Associates wealth-transfer reports
• Practitioner cost guides: LegalZoom, SmartAsset, Thumbtack

We prioritize primary sources and avoid using statistics from unverifiable secondary sources.

Before publishing any statistic, we:

1. Identify the primary source - We trace statistics back to their original publication, not secondary reporting
2. Verify methodology - We review how the data was collected to ensure it is statistically valid
3. Check recency - We prefer statistics from the past 5 years; older data is noted with its publication year
4. Cross-reference - When possible, we compare multiple sources to confirm accuracy
5. Document sources - All statistics are logged in our internal database with full citation information

Our Guidelines:

• Statistics are rounded to whole numbers when appropriate for clarity
• Ranges are used when sources report ranges (e.g., "$1,000-$3,000")
• We clearly indicate when statistics apply to specific states or demographics
• Context is provided to help readers understand what statistics mean
• We do not manipulate or cherry-pick data to misrepresent findings

Limitations We Acknowledge:

• Survey data reflects respondent self-reporting
• Statistics may vary by state, demographic, or time period
• Estate planning statistics can be difficult to measure precisely
• Industry data may have selection bias

We review our statistics annually and update them when new data becomes available. If you believe a statistic on our website is inaccurate or outdated, please contact us at support@mywillagent.com with the specific statistic and your concern.

We are committed to accuracy and will promptly investigate and correct any errors.

For more information on estate planning statistics, resources include:

• Caring.com Estate Planning Resources
• American Land Title Association
• AARP Estate Planning Guides