Americans Prefer Minimal Inheritance to Managing Cluttered Estates

A Talker Research survey for 1‑800‑GOT‑JUNK? of 1,200 U.S. adults found that 49% would rather inherit nothing than deal with a relative’s belongings, while 51% would prefer a small number of meaningful items over an entire estate. Only 20% said they wanted everything. Respondents estimated it would take about 14 days to sort through their own possessions, and 58% who had already cleared a relative’s home said the process complicated their grieving. CEO Brian Scudamore noted that inherited objects carry “memory, identity, and sometimes unfinished conversations,” underscoring the emotional weight of inheritance beyond material value.