Mar 12, 2026
When families face a medical emergency or the death of a loved one, women often take a leading role in handling the decisions that follow.
A new analysis of Canadian estate planning documents suggests that pattern also shows up in how families prepare for those moments. The study, conducted by Willful, found women are more frequently appointed to make key healthcare and financial decisions if someone becomes incapacitated or passes away.
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The analysis, which reviewed more than 85,000 wills and over 120,000 incapacity planning documents, found women are consistently chosen for these roles.
“More often than not in an emergency, women are the ones making healthcare decisions, keeping finances moving and handling the logistics after a death,” said Erin Bury, co-founder and CEO of Willful, in a statement.
Women more often named to key roles
Estate planning documents typically assign individuals to manage responsibilities if someone dies or becomes unable to make decisions for themselves.
A will names an executor who is responsible for settling an estate; such tasks that can include closing accounts, managing assets, filing tax returns and arranging funeral or burial plans.
The analysis found 53% of Canadians name a woman as executor, compared with 46% who choose a man.
Women are also more commonly selected to make healthcare decisions if someone becomes incapacitated. The study found 55% of Canadians appoint a woman to act as their medical decision-maker.
Among men, the reliance on women is even more pronounced, with 86% appointing a woman to make medical decisions on their behalf if they become unable to do so.
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Families also frequently turn to women when choosing someone who is not a spouse or romantic partner to facilitate important decisions. There is an even split of people selecting a sister or a female friend — both at 63% — while 71% of those chose their mother.
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Women are often responsible, but not always compensated
Even when a man is named as the primary executor or decision-maker, women are often appointed as backups.
According to the study, 57% of backup executors and 64% of backup medical decision-makers are women.
The responsibilities involved can be significant. Executors may spend months handling legal paperwork, communicating with financial institutions and distributing assets to beneficiaries. People appointed to manage finances during incapacity may also be responsible for paying bills, managing property or overseeing investments.
However, the study from Willful found that despite the workload, many of these roles are unpaid.
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“The responsibility (of executing a will) can be time-consuming, difficult to navigate, and fraught with emotion, and it doesn't always come with compensation, even when it demands countless hours of our time,” Bury noted.
Executors may be entitled to compensation under provincial guidelines, but healthcare decision-makers are typically not paid at all. The analysis also found many women appointed to these roles are not beneficiaries of the estate.
For example, 34% of women named to make healthcare decisions were not listed as beneficiaries, while 33% of women responsible for financial decisions during incapacity were not the primary recipient of assets.
Why planning ahead matters
For seniors and families preparing their estates, experts say the most important step is making responsibilities clear before a crisis occurs.
Completing documents such as wills, powers of attorney and living wills ensures someone has the legal authority to act when needed. Just as important is speaking with the people named in those roles to confirm they are willing to take on the responsibility and understand what it may involve.
Keeping documents accessible and creating an inventory of key financial information — including accounts, insurance policies and debts — can also make it easier for decision-makers to step in when the time comes.
Taking those steps in advance can reduce confusion and help ease the burden on the people asked to manage difficult situations during a family crisis.
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Steven Brennan is a freelance finance writer based in Vancouver, BC. He holds a BA and an MA from Maynooth University, Ireland. His work regularly appears at Canadian Mortgage Trends, Lowest Rates, Loans Canada and other Canadian and US brands, while also working as a ghostwriter for financial influencers.
