An Assessment of Estate Planning Among Older Adults in Alabama

Doubling of the older adult population and the lack of estate plans throughout the United States have prompted Extension to focus on increasing Americans\u27 awareness of the importance of estate planning. A descriptive research study was conducted throughout Alabama to determine the status of and barriers to estate planning among older adults. Results indicated a significant difference in estate planning and being exposed to information on estate plans relative to ethnicity. African Americans were far less likely to have received information on estate planning than Caucasian Americans. Barriers to estate planning indicated several misconceptions in both groups