The purpose of this study was to determine if there were differences between testate or intestate university employees relative to: 1) demographic characteristics (age, income health, marital status, education, number of children, housing tenure, and gender), 2) planned personal and family retirement income sources (including: savings, individual retirement accounts, mutual funds, stocks and/or bonds, income from property ownership, sale of real estate or other property, annuities, or paid-up life insurance), 3) total number of planned personal and family retirement income sources. The study also examined anticipated decision making difficulty scores on certain housing issues for testate or intestate university employees, to determine if there was a significant difference in university employees' mean decision making difficulty scores on certain housing issues by testacy status, income level, and age, or gender. Data were collected in a 1987 Western Region mail survey (Thinking Ahead to Retirement: Community and Housing Choices), of land grant university employees in nine western states. The sample consisted of 5663 land grant university employees who were at least 40 years of age. Statistical analyses of the data were computed using Chi-square tests, T-tests, and General Linear Models (GLM/ANOVA) procedures with Student Newman-Keuls (SNK) post hoc tests. Chi-square analysis results revealed significant differences among testacy status on all demographic variables. Evidenced by findings, testacy rates were higher among university employees who were 1) older, 2) higher income, 3) higher education level, and 4) male. Chi-square analysis indicates an association between testacy and being married or widowed, having children, and owning one's home. Testacy is more common among university employees who plan more numbers and types of personal and family retirement income sources. Significant differences were also found among testacy status and all of the planned personal and family retirement income sources. Testate employees had significantly larger total number of planned retirement income sources than intestate employees. Testate respondents had a higher mean decision making difficulty score of certain housing issues (1.89) than did intestate respondents (1.86). Results of the decision making question indicate university employees perceptions of how difficult they think it will be to make future decisions about aging and housing issues. GLM /ANOVA results indicated that employees with income above $25,000, aged 40 to 49 years, and male anticipated greater decision making difficulty on certain housing issues than respondents in other categories. Results of this research could be of interest and use to university policy makers, educators, entrepreneurs, and researchers. Applying these results, these groups can target families with high need, and assist these families in achieving personal and family, testacy, and financial goals. / Graduation date: 1991