Canadian Women Frequently Appointed as Executors Yet Overlooked as Beneficiaries in Estate Planning
A recent comprehensive study conducted by Willful, a Toronto-based estate planning service, has uncovered a significant disparity in how Canadian women are treated within estate planning documents. While women are more likely to be appointed to critical positions of trust, such as executors and decision-makers for incapacitated individuals, they are frequently excluded as beneficiaries in related wills.
Women Bear the Burden of Estate Administration
According to the study, which analyzed over 85,000 wills and 121,000 incapacity planning documents created by Willful customers over a two-year period, women are named as executors in 53 percent of wills, compared to just 46 percent assigned to men. This trend extends to medical and financial decision-making roles when a grantor becomes incapacitated.
Women are entrusted to make medical decisions in 55 percent of documents granting power of attorney, versus 45 percent for men. Notably, more than 80 percent of enduring medical powers of attorney generated by men appoint a woman to fulfill this crucial function. Similarly, 53 percent of those named to have powers of attorney for financial decisions in cases of incapacity are women.
The Beneficiary Gap: A Concerning Disparity
Despite being overwhelmingly trusted with these responsibilities, the study reveals that women are often not compensated through beneficiary designations. Specifically, 34 percent of women named to make medical decisions are not listed as beneficiaries in a related will. Additionally, one-third of women appointed to manage finances for someone who is incapacitated are not the primary recipients of their assets.
Erin Bury, co-founder and chief executive of Willful, emphasized that women "are often the planners and holders of medical information" and take on responsibility for "managing finances and keeping the household moving even now in 2026." This reality underscores the additional burden placed on women without corresponding financial recognition.
Compensation Challenges and Family Dynamics
Legislation prescribes compensation amounts for executors based on estate complexity, but Bury notes this sum does not always match the effort involved. Furthermore, there is no legal requirement to pay those assigned to make medical or financial decisions on behalf of a grantor, potentially leaving women uncompensated for significant labor.
A separate study released last week by digital insurance platform PolicyMe on term life insurance designations adds context, suggesting that "financial decisions may be influenced by family roles and responsibilities." This study found that 83 percent of men name a partner as their beneficiary, while women are nearly three times more likely to include children as beneficiaries, reflecting differing priorities and societal expectations.
Recommendations for Reducing Burden
Bury advises that the first step in estate planning should be to complete will and power of attorney documents and ensure loved ones know where to find them. She recommends having conversations with prospective appointees beforehand to confirm their willingness to take on responsibilities and understand the involved tasks.
To alleviate the burden on appointed individuals, Bury suggests "leaving breadcrumbs of information," such as comprehensive lists of all assets and liabilities, to document details beyond legal choices. These steps can significantly reduce the administrative and emotional load on trusted agents, particularly women who frequently shoulder these duties without adequate beneficiary recognition.
