Estate planning is deeply personal. It’s not just about passing down assets—it’s about safeguarding your wishes, protecting your family, and creating peace of mind for the future. But when we examined responses from our latest national survey through the lens of gender, a troubling gap emerged.

Despite having strong emotional motivations to plan ahead, women are consistently less likely than men to complete key estate planning actions. They’re also more likely to feel overwhelmed, under-informed, and financially insecure—leaving their families more vulnerable in the face of life’s unexpected turns.

Different Motivations, Different Outcomes

Our survey revealed that women and men often approach estate planning with different goals in mind. Women are more likely to be driven by caregiving responsibilities, emotional security, and life milestones—like getting married or having children. Men, on the other hand, are more often motivated by financial concerns, such as asset protection, tax implications, or professional advice from a financial advisor.

This difference in mindset translates into a gap in execution. Even though 38% of women say they plan to create an estate plan within the next five years, only 6% currently have a trust. By contrast, men are three times more likely to have one.

The issue isn’t intent—it’s follow-through. Women are thinking about estate planning. They’re just not acting on it at the same rate.

Confidence and Knowledge Gaps Run Deep

Estate planning can feel intimidating, especially without a clear understanding of what’s involved. And for women, the knowledge gap is especially stark.

Only 13% of women say they feel “very knowledgeable” about estate planning, compared to 22% of men. Nearly one in five women say they’re not knowledgeable at all—double the rate of men.

This lack of confidence shows up across multiple areas:

• Men are 41% more likely than women to have a healthcare directive.

• Just 18% of women have both discussed and documented who would care for their children if something happened to them—compared to 28% of men.

• When it comes to naming an executor or trustee, women trail men by 13 percentage points.

The result? Even when women want to protect their families, they often don’t feel empowered to take the legal steps needed to do so.

Emotional Weight Meets Structural Barriers

Women aren’t just less confident—they’re facing more systemic challenges. Many reported feeling overwhelmed by the estate planning process and unsure where to start. A large portion said they didn’t believe they had enough assets to justify a plan at all.

In fact, 41% of women cited “insufficient assets” as a barrier to planning, compared to 34% of men. Meanwhile, 26% of women said they feel overwhelmed by the process, while only 19% of men said the same.

And then there’s the question of financial security: while 78% of men said they feel financially secure in their current relationship, just 69% of women could say the same. This 9-point gap reflects broader concerns around financial vulnerability—and it may explain why many women hesitate to prioritize long-term planning.

The Documentation Divide

When we look at estate planning actions—creating a will or trust, naming a healthcare proxy, assigning a guardian for children—men are simply more likely to have taken the steps needed to turn intentions into protection.

• 32% of men have a will, compared to 21% of women.

• 18% of men have a trust; only 6% of women do.

• 36% of men have named and documented an executor or trustee; just 23% of women have done the same.

In many cases, women say they’ve “thought about” these choices, or even discussed them with a partner. But without documentation, their wishes may not be enforceable—especially in high-stakes moments.

The Path Forward

The gender gap in estate planning isn’t just about paperwork—it’s about access, confidence, and empowerment. Women care deeply about protecting their families. They’re motivated by love, legacy, and peace of mind. But they’re navigating a system that often feels opaque, expensive, or out of reach.

Closing this gap starts with education—making estate planning more approachable, less intimidating, and more clearly connected to the emotional values women already prioritize. It also means making tools and platforms that are intuitive, inclusive, and built to meet people where they are.

What’s Next

This gender divide is just one of the stories revealed in our new survey. To explore how estate planning behavior shifts across life stages and relationship types, read the next chapters in our findings:

• The Marriage Effect: How Relationship Status Shapes Estate Planning →  

• From Gen Z to Boomers: Generational Gaps in Estate Planning →

Methodology

This random double-opt-in online survey of 750 U.S. adults aged 18+, evenly split amongst people that are married (250), engaged (250), and single (250), and male (375) / female (375) was commissioned by Trust & Will and conducted by market research company Talker Research, in accordance with the Market Research Society’s code of conduct. Data was collected from May 16 to May 23, 2025. The margin of error is +/- 3.58 points with 95% confidence. This survey was overseen by Talker Research, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society (MRS) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).